Page 250 of Darling Venom
Or tried to.
With our height difference, it landed right in the gut. I rubbed at my side.
Terry left with a two-fingered salute that turned into one finger—the middle one—when Charlie turned her back to us, drifting toward the kitchen.
It occurred to me that he might’ve done this on purpose. Given Charlie and me alone time. But it also occurred to me that moments of civility between us were less likely than a serial killer finding Jesus.
When I turned, Charlie held a glass of water to her lips, smiling over the rim.
I popped a brow. “Yes?”
“Humans are so weird.” She didn’t elaborate.
I watched, feeling a little strung-out as she took sip after sip, marinating us in silence.
“Spit it out, Charlie.”
She laughed and set the cup down onto the counter.
“Kellan villainized you. You villainize Terry. What’s the point? Where did it get him? Where does it get you?” She stalked toward me. “We either lionize or villainize the people who most impact our lives. There isn’t an in between. A gray area that allows for complexity. For accountability without cancelation. For healing without rage. The gray holds the truth, but we only see black and white.”
“What are you saying?”
“Make up with your father, Tate.”
“I don’t have a father.”
“Oh? How were you born? Immaculate conception?”
“Must’ve been found with the storks.” I flashed her a smile.
“That smile…” She groaned. “It eviscerates my train of thought.”
We settled into silence.
She pinned me with her full attention, waiting.
Just waiting.
Something had changed between us, but it happened so slow. Like water leaking from a faucet, drop by drop. Next thing you know, you’re hit with a utility bill you can’t afford.
“I’ll think about it,” I finally relented, remembering what I’d overhead Terry say.
That he existed to give me something to hate.
To blame.
“Please, do.”
“That’s not a promise,” I warned.
“I know.”
The words held too much optimism, and like a dick, I wanted to extinguish it for the sake of my sanity.
I didn’t, however.
A decision I chalked up to the smile that swept over her face.
