Page 90 of Consequences

“Leave me alone.” Her lip trembles as she tries to collect herself. “I know I have no one to blame but myself, but the only way I can get through this tonight is to hate you a little bit. I can’t hate you when you’re pitying me.”

Looking up at the sky, she wills the tears to stop. To stop being so weak and show him she’ll be fine without him even if it’s a lie. The last thing Marnie wants is Venom seeing her like this.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do… Whether I’ll move back or go somewhere completely new, but I’ll be far away from you as soon as I figure it out. That’s what you want, and I have to respect it.”

“Marnie—”

“Stop saying my name. I need a favor, though. I need you to pretend like you did love me once. Because someone who once loved me would walk away and not let me humiliate myself more than I already have. Please, Venom. I’m begging you.”

Saying nothing, Venom walks away, and Marnie quickly climbs into her car, holding her middle as she slumps over as the sobs take hold again. The pain feels like a wave pulling her under the surface, and she can’t come back up to gasp for air. She’s not even sure that she wants to right now. Right now, she’s just drowning.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Griffin’s Beach

Venom

Wiping his eyes, Venom stands outside of the clubhouse and takes a deep breath. His hand rests on the door handle, but he knows he can’t face everyone right now.

Lying to Marnie was the hardest thing he’s ever done, and he almost confessed it was nothing more than an attempt to push her away like she said after she broke down. He never expected that kind of reaction, and seeing her in that much pain makes him feel like absolute shit. He can’t remember a time he’s felt worse. Not even when she agreed with Snake that he was nothing more than dirt.

He wants to give Marnie a second chance. He wants to see if she means what she says, but his heart can’t handle theheartbreak. Not again. Hell, he’s not even healed from the first time.

Venom walks around to the back entrance and heads straight to his apartment. He just wants to lay down and fall asleep. Alone. Take one last look at the thoughtful basket he never expected and remind himself it’s for the best. For both of them.

Opening his apartment door, he freezes. The items from the basket lay in disarray and various stages of destruction. The bottles of beer and soda are broken. Licorice litters what he’s sure is a sticky floor. The chips have been crushed and strewn all over his bed, the bags shredded and laying on the dresser.

The room smells strange, and he sees the bottle of cologne Marnie bough him. The top sits on the nightstand while the bottle itself lays broken among the rest of it. He smells cologne, beer, and soda all mixed together.

The fleshlight she gave him—an inside joke between them—sits on a pike of broken glass. It appears to be cut up, and he knows it’s not simply from throwing it with the rest of the items. No, a knife or scissors was taken to it.

“Did you go off and fuck your little admirer?” Cinder growls when she walks out of the bathroom.

A towel is wrapped around her hand with blood soaking it.She cut herself in the blind rage and probably can’t even fucking feel it.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Venom asks.

“Me? I come here to offer you a good time, and I find this little gift waiting on your bed. I’m not stupid. I know exactly who it’s from, and you’re mine, not hers. You don’t need her fucking shit.”

“Then why the fuck act like a goddamned banshee?”

“Because I drove by the hotel to find you standing by her car and waiting. You’ve been gone a long while, and all I can imagineis you taking her to one of those rooms you’ve never taken me to and fucking her. I’m not one to be played, Venom.”

Jesus Christ, you really are batshit crazy.“I didn’t go inside with her. I went there to tell her that the basket was inappropriate. Whatever was between us is done. It’s fucking done.”

“She’s still here, Venom!”

“She’s leaving!” he shouts back. “I lied to make her go, and as soon as she gets things settled, Marnie will be gone.”

“What did you lie about?”

Sighing, he shakes his head, still unsure why any of this surprises him. “It doesn’t matter. She’ll be gone soon, and that’s that.”

“What did you lie about?” she asks again, this time through clenched teeth.

“I’m not—”

“Fucking tell me!”

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