Tryst Six Venom by Penelope Douglas

Even though he has no interest in her.
She rises, glaring at me. “She won’t always have you around, you know?”
And she walks off, the threat hanging in the air.
I peer down at Clay, her arm still holding her shirt to her body, no bra
underneath the camisole. I untie the wet shirt around my waist, throwing it
around her.
“Are you hurt?” I ask.
She shakes her head as she lets her tank top fall away and slips her arms
into my shirt. She stares off, not focusing on anything. Does she even realize
Aracely was about to chop off her hair?
“I’m not gay,” she says quietly, and I have to strain to hear her over the
rain. “I’m just in love with you.”
My mouth goes dry. What?
Tears pool in her eyes. “I can’t apologize for everything I do to hurt you,
Liv.” She finally looks up, blinking against the rain. “Because I can’t promise
I’ll stop.”
I watch her.
“But I promise,” she goes on, “I hurt every time you do.”
My chin trembles.
My instinct is to push back. What does that mean? You think that justifies
the last three-and-a-half years?
But the pain in her eyes splits my heart down the middle, and in that
moment, I don’t care what else she has planned for me, because I can push
back too. Just don’t stop.
Sirens pierce the air, and we both twist our heads, seeing blue and red
lights flash through the rain, making their way down the street. Some of the
girls scatter, running to cars, while others race in between buildings,
disappearing.
I shoot to my feet, pulling Clay to hers.
“My brothers,” I gasp.
They scatter, Dallas racing away in the truck, and I can’t tell if he has
everyone with him, but the streets empty quickly, and I am not going to be
taken in for this.
I grip Clay’s hand. “Come on.”
I run, pulling her behind me, but it only takes a moment for her legs to
catch up, and before I know it, we’re around the corner. I slam into the
boutique door, the neon sign reading Lavinia’s dark. I look around, noticing