Page 239
Chapter 239 of "Tempting Venom" begins revealing surprises: āIām sorry,ā I try to say, but my tongue feels thick, my mouth glued with... Read on to find out!
āIām sorry,ā I try to say, but my tongue feels thick, my mouth glued with the taste of iron.
Iām sorry, I loved you.
The words stay trapped behind my teeth as my vision tilts and goes dark at the corners.
āPreston, no! Babyā¦babyā¦babyā¦no!ā
Iām sorry.
Iām so sorry.
Seems thatās what I can do best. Just apologize like my parents.
Iām sorry I ruined your life just like I ruined mine, Marcus.
Turns out, Iām the one saying goodbyeafter all.
33
MARCUS
Ihate my birthdays.
Iāve always fuckinghatedmy goddamn birthdays, and despite Momās attempts to cheer me up during them, Iāve wanted to forget them.
But now, I feel like Iāll never forget my birthday.
On my twenty-second birthday, Preston was shot.
It happened right before my eyes, but I couldnāt stop it.
I could only stand there and watch as a bullet ripped through his chest.
It almost feels surreal. Just minutes ago, he was so touchy and close to Violet and Dahlia.
Yes, I was there most of the time, leaning my back against a tree and watching him like I usually do when he shuts me out.
Itās a sickness, maybe, a desire for something unattainable. The more I canāt have him, the more my entire being roars to life,needingto reach him.
Toxic, yes, but I never claimed to be a saint.
And no, thereās no reality where Preston belongs to someone other than me.
If anything, Iāve been having these thoughts latelyālike I shouldāve pursued him since that first college league game weplayed three years ago. The first time this little rivalry turned into something more.
Or maybe I shouldāve started in high school. When Preston really looked at me, and I meanlookedat me, after that time when we were kids. The first time he noticed me, when he put me on his shit list and vowed to bring me down.
The first time hesawme.
Sure, he only saw me as an opponent he needed to crush, an adversary, a challengeābecause he loves his challenges, my Preston.
Back then, I shouldāve shot my shot.
Shouldāve made him mine and never let him go.
Maybe that way, I wouldnāt have suffered through average sex and a lack of emotional connection.
Maybe, by now, he wouldāve been comfortable enough with me to tell me what the fuck terrorizes him when he closes his eyes at night.