Page 92 of Consequences

The concern kicks him in the nuts. He betrayed her, and she still came to his rescue. Still cares. “I’ll be fine.”

“Not what I asked.”

Her big sister energy almost brings him to tears. It’s something so simple but so foreign, and the weight of this entire night threatens to crush him. “It’s not what hurts the most.”

“What does?”

Nodding towards the apartment, she follows him. “She was waiting for me in here.”

“I didn’t even see her come inside—What the fuck?”

She stares with wide eyes at the state of his room, and he chuckles when her head tilts as she spots the sex toy. “I mentioned to Marnie once upon a time that I needed one for the times we were apart because my hand just wasn’t enough.”

“Gross,” Lex says and nods. “That bitch really did lose her damn mind.”

“Lex, I’m sorry.”

“For what? That was fun.”

“That was fucking scary,” he says. “Your eyes… They… Fuck.”

Laughing, she shrugs. “I’ve been on a bit of a losing streak, so I needed to make this happen.”

“About us and how you felt betrayed… I’m sorry.”

She waves a hand in the air. “It’s fine.”

“I never want you to think—”

“Relax. I was hurt, but I’m okay now.”

The last thing he ever wants to do is betray her, and he leans against the wall. “You are?”

“I know you didn’t mean to hurt me.”

“You forgive me?”

Smiling, she nods. “Of course. I’m not going to throw you to the curb because you made me angry. Hell, Psycho and I weren’t even on speaking terms when Lacey lost her mind, and he threw a chair at the wall next to me in the Chapel. We’re still tight.”

“He what?”

“It’s not important. When you truly care about someone, you forgive them. Unless it’s completely unforgivable. Like hurtmy husband or children. Otherwise, there’s nothing that would make me cut you out.”

A second chance.

“I lied to Marnie tonight,” Venom blurts out.

When her blue eyes explore his face, he doesn’t try to hide his tears. “About?”

“I told her I didn’t love her. That I wasn’t sure I ever did. She needs to be gone for me to get over her, and it’s the only way she’d listen.”

“Are you sure you want to get over her?”

No! I want to forgive her like you forgave me. Then I want to bury myself deep inside her until we’re too spent to keep our eyes open.“Yes.”

The look on Lex’s face confuses Venom. She looks… sad. “Then you did what you had to do.”

“I don’t know if I have the right to ask, but would you check on her? Make sure she’s okay? She was really upset when I left her, and it’s killing me.”