Page 205 of Darling Venom
“I did.”
“Oh.” I brought up my lock screen and found it empty of notifications. “I must’ve been on the train.”
He said nothing.
I didn’t, either.
We were such an odd match. Fixated on one another. Unwilling to admit it.
At this point, we’d created a new dance. Where I ducked, and he dodged. He opened; I closed.
Denial. Doubt. Desire.
Whatever we called it, it sucked.
“You’re out late today.” He raised a brow.
I adjusted the strap of my messenger bag, shifting from foot to foot. “I was at your house.”
“Working on the book?”
“Yeah,” I lied. Let’s go with that. “Working hard.”
Or hardly working.
On the bright side, your grouting is the cleanest it’s ever been.
He stared into the night. “You wanna go for a walk?”
“It’s two in the morning.”
And we are liable to go for round two of that kiss if this drags out.
Not sure how I’d explain that to Leah if she happened to catch us. Tate eclipsed me in age and stature and basically every unit of measure besides tragedy, and even that one was a close match.
“That’s not a no.”
“Galileo Playground?” I suggested.
My eyes shuttered as I awaited his answer. A morsel of what I wanted to happen flashed behind my lids.
Us.
Tangled in the jungle gym.
Screwing on the swings.
Him, eating me out on the slide.
I needed to run straight to my room, do fifty Hail Marys, and bathe in holy water. This was the playground I brought Jonah’s daughter to once a week. I’d never be able to play with Rowling there again.
“Sure.”
My eyes shot open.
My heart thumped against its cage like a battering ram.
Open up, it demanded. Let Tate in. I promise I’ll keep beating when he hurts you.
