Page 80 of Going Home

"Did he hit you?"

Lex shakes her head, her face buried in his chest, and Venom cracks his neck. "He lifted his fist like he was going to, and I saw fucking red, man. Told him that if he ever does it again, he's gonna beCaptain Hook'cause I'll cut that fucking hand off."

"Good," he says and looks back at the clubhouse. "Baby, I'm sorry I wasn't out here."

"It's okay. I'm okay. We should go check on the kids, though. Make sure Ky doesn't become a grandpa twice in the same year."

"Fuck me," Ky growls, making Lex laugh, and the three of them walk into the clubhouse.

The way Lex looks back and nods at him gives Venom hope she'll be okay. He's glad he was here, and he's glad he stopped her brother.

"That was intense," Marnie says, walking up to him.

"Yeah, it was."

Her eyes cast towards the ground. "Lex is lucky to have you."

"I'm lucky to have her. She never makes me feel inferior around her. No matter who's in the room, I feel as though I'm the same as everyone else."

"I get it now," she says. "I understand why you're friends."

Chuckling, he leans back on Cinder's car. "I'm glad someone does, because I sure as fuck don't. She took pity on me."

"No, she saw you for who you were before the rest of us could see it."

"I've been seeing Cinder for a short time now. That's why she's here. I figure it's the kind of thing people who date would do."

And I didn't have much of a choice.

"Yeah, that's true. I won't lie and say it doesn't hurt, though."

That wasn't what he expected to hear. "I wasn't sure if you'd be here or not. I didn't do it to hurt you."

Her eyes finally look up to his, and he's surprised by the intensity in her gaze. "Do you love her?"

"It's early. We're still getting to know each other."

"Do you still love me?"

Looking away, Venom shakes his head. "Don't do this, Marnie."

"Yes or no, Venom."

"I can't turn it off no matter how hard I try," he says, his voice so low he's not positive she could hear him. If she didn't, he's not sure he can say it again.

"Then give us a chance. A real chance."

His head snaps up to look at her, and he shakes his head. "I wanted to, and you called me dirt. That woman in there doesn't think I'm only good for her in the shadows. She's willing to give me everything you weren't, and I'm not going to walk away from that because you think you've come to your senses. She doesn't make me feel like I did when I was growing up. That I don't deserve anything good in this life. I do. I know I do."

"You do," she whispers and steps forward. "You do, Venom. I don't want to just be in the shadows. I want to be out here, in the light, with you. For everyone to see."

"I found someone, and I'm trying to be happy. I'm trying to move on, and I need you to let me."

"We can have what you wanted before. I should have said yes, but I was stupid. My eyes are wide open now, and I know what I want."

He sighs, hating the way he knows how she feels. "It's not enough. It doesn't take everything back, Marnie. Now, I have to get back to my date. I'd be careful around her if I were you. Cinder's a little crazy. And possessive."

"I'm not giving up," Marnie calls as he pushes off the car and walks towards the clubhouse. "You're worth fighting for."

---