Page 176 of Darling Venom
She recoiled at the nickname, cutting off the conversation with her back. I considered kicking her out but swung open the fridge instead, jerking at the collar of my Tom Ford button-down.
She was right.
The weather seemed to change at wild speeds. I was hot all of a sudden. Desperate to get out of here.
I grabbed a bottle of electrolytes and downed half in one gulp. By the time I turned, she’d continued cleaning on the opposite end of the island.
I told my feet to get me the hell out of here. They didn’t budge.
It was a great metaphor for what we were.
Me, the shadow.
Her, the body.
The fuck am I still doing near her?
Get me the hell out of here, feet.
Again, those assholes didn’t listen.
I sat on an island stool, not bothering to hide the fact that I was watching her. “I did some research last night.”
She didn’t reply.
“On the amount of time required to edit a full-length novel, such as Kel’s.”
Still nothing.
“Found some interesting stuff.”
Nada.
I tried another angle.
“I found termites this morning. A full-blown infestation. I’m having my house fumigated. You’ll need to leave. I’m sure by the time it’s done, you’ll also be finished with the manuscript, so no need to return.”
Bullshit and a half.
The termites. The infestation. The fumigation.
All of it.
I didn’t expect any of it to work. Our lives were a carefully crafted web of calamity. A thread could snap, but there would always be more standing. In this case, the threads that snapped were trust and betrayal.
I would never forgive her for keeping secrets from me.
I’d never trust her again, either.
“The fumigation is set for a few hours from now. I expect you to clear out by then.”
Silence.
Charlie seemed distracted. Consumed by her own thoughts.
Her well-being is not your concern, Tate.
I needed to let it go on account of the fact that she knew Kellan wanted to kill himself and never said a thing. My feet finally took the hint and moved. I walked past her and made it halfway up the stairs before I paused.
