Tryst Six Venom by Penelope Douglas

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to know anything but me.And other times, I’m glad she doesn’t have a clue.
I CLIMB OFF the back of the bike and unfasten the strap under my chin.“Thanks,” I tell Iron.I dump the helmet between my brother’s legs, but he just sucks in a dragfrom his cigarette, looking around me—past me, beyond me—with his lidshalf-hooded.I clutch my backpack straps. “What?”He hesitates a moment, looks down, and then shakes his head as he takesanother puff. “I only approve of Macon paying for this place because I knewyou wouldn’t be interested in the guys ogling the short skirts.”The scent of the dogwoods lining the walkway up to the school wafts inthe morning breeze, and although it’s only February, I can tell they’re aboutto bloom. The wind sweeps through the plumeria already decorating thecampus, and students move across the circular driveway, while others climbout of cars dropping them off for various sports or club meetings beforeschool.Chills spread up my bare legs from the rare bite in the air. Rain is coming.“What about women checking me out?” I tease. “Worried about them?”“Strangely, no.” He looks amused. “They can’t get you pregnant.”I scoff, looking right and see a few students heading down the sidewalktoward us and the front of the school.Clay Collins meets my eyes as she passes with her gray Fjällrävenbackpack, little pink octopuses drawn on the front pocket, and she tries sohard to look bored and intolerant. But the mischief playing on her lips warnsme she had a lot of fun in the dress shop last night. We’re not done.
Page 3 and 4: Penelope DouglasCopyright © 2021 P
Page 5 and 6: Chapter 24Chapter 25Chapter 26Chapt
Page 7 and 8: Stream here“All The Things She Sa
Page 9 and 10: To Abigail
Page 11 and 12: “Yeah!” they cry out.“Then I
Page 13 and 14: “We love you, Clay!” some of my
Page 15 and 16: My mother rushes up to me as the ol
Page 17 and 18: happy when she’s out to hurt my f
Page 19 and 20: Kind of amused, but mostly a warnin
Page 21 and 22: The simple hoop skirt wraps around
Page 23: I rub my thumb over the small tatto
Page 27 and 28: the school. She’s only being nice
Page 29 and 30: into the trash can as I move ahead,
Page 31 and 32: smiles down at me, a clipboard in o
Page 33 and 34: A water bottle falls into the tin g
Page 35 and 36: I’m yelling at a teacher, but I
Page 37 and 38: changing audience. Firefights, car
Page 39 and 40: “If I consider your offer,” I a
Page 41 and 42: I RUN MY hands down my thighs, the
Page 43 and 44: can. Being that different from ever
Page 45 and 46: “I’ll be leaving again tomorrow
Page 47 and 48: her, my gaze catching the dimple on
Page 49 and 50: But she rises from her seat without
Page 51 and 52: that years ago when I first met her
Page 53 and 54: He bats his eyelashes, and I let ou
Page 55 and 56: He thinks theater is stupid. He thi
Page 57 and 58: “The hardest choices were never c
Page 59 and 60: promising more shitty weather to co
Page 61 and 62: She can protect her precious little
Page 63 and 64: my enjoyment as I lower my voice to
Page 65 and 66: overstock here for rehearsals when
Page 67 and 68: She stares at me, unblinking, and e
Page 69 and 70: I look at her through the water in
Page 71 and 72: “MISS CLAY?” BERNIE calls out.
Page 73 and 74: on my hand, I fist the underwear ag
Page 75 and 76:
won’t fit like it’s supposed to
Page 77 and 78:
don’t recognize coming into view.
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off you as soon as possible.”I lo
Page 81 and 82:
stomach as I watch her watch me rub
Page 83 and 84:
“What?” she taunts. “I just l
Page 85 and 86:
sit back, shaking my head.But my sm
Page 87 and 88:
My father, I only saw at the end of
Page 89 and 90:
me to Marymount, I didn’t want to
Page 91 and 92:
I thread her hair through my finger
Page 93 and 94:
“Olivia?” I hear the leather se
Page 95 and 96:
“Scared?” she whispers.I almost
Page 97 and 98:
before everything is gone.Clay hesi
Page 99 and 100:
I’m a little scared, but I’m a
Page 101 and 102:
watched Gates stitch a gash from a
Page 103 and 104:
I clutch the arms of the chair for
Page 105 and 106:
dropping it to the floor.I mean, if
Page 107 and 108:
“You wanted it up, so it’s back
Page 109 and 110:
I know, all right? I know. I wasn
Page 111 and 112:
She won’t meet my eyes.“Are you
Page 113 and 114:
are necessary to the success of the
Page 115 and 116:
heard of Biscayne Bay.Bay… Not Sa
Page 117 and 118:
I look back to Iron.“Don’t you
Page 119 and 120:
mumbles, more like she’s arguing
Page 121 and 122:
to the right and assume that’s wh
Page 123 and 124:
I stare at her, the world spinning
Page 125 and 126:
“MACON!” SANTOS CALLS out as if
Page 127 and 128:
move you.”Clay glances to me. A s
Page 129 and 130:
down next to her, pushing her fucki
Page 131 and 132:
“Fine,” I grit out, pushing awa
Page 133 and 134:
himself. Army drives off, Liv next
Page 135 and 136:
air boat, and one with Iron holding
Page 137 and 138:
I slip into the kitchen, Amy lurks
Page 139 and 140:
“What the hell?” someone bellow
Page 141 and 142:
time. Ask me.But she just shakes he
Page 143 and 144:
I SCROLL THOUGH Liv’s Twitter and
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I walk away, looking back at the bo
Page 147 and 148:
So, she left. She let me win.She ju
Page 149 and 150:
But still, I don’t let her go, gr
Page 151 and 152:
needing to run to get rid of the ur
Page 153 and 154:
“DID YOU THINK I wasn’t going t
Page 155 and 156:
video of the assistant coach and me
Page 157 and 158:
happened?I’ll admit, the prospect
Page 159 and 160:
on.”Coomer always takes us out to
Page 161 and 162:
But Clay just sits, her elbows on h
Page 163 and 164:
I YANK MY rubber band out, letting
Page 165 and 166:
I almost smile. In her rush to leav
Page 167 and 168:
“I didn’t let you win,” she t
Page 169 and 170:
I CHEW THE pizza, glancing up at he
Page 171 and 172:
My mom had mental problems her whol
Page 173 and 174:
But the door falls shut, and Amy an
Page 175 and 176:
why hide anything else as if that w
Page 177 and 178:
panties, shivering when I feel the
Page 179 and 180:
between them. Our warmth seeps thro
Page 181 and 182:
she gasps, her hands immediately di
Page 183 and 184:
WE JERK OUR heads, seeing someone
Page 185 and 186:
And without a moment to lose, Liv d
Page 187 and 188:
freefalling.I collapse on top of he
Page 189 and 190:
orders.A shiver runs through me, an
Page 191 and 192:
looks over his shoulder. “Amy! Ca
Page 193 and 194:
SHE DOESN’T GET over it.I called.
Page 195 and 196:
amicably.I grab my test and pencil
Page 197 and 198:
Like it’s inevitable, because he
Page 199 and 200:
as long I shut up about it.Maybe th
Page 201 and 202:
The lighthouse rises above us, a co
Page 203 and 204:
spilling over the rim of her cup. I
Page 205 and 206:
Except for Archie.Old places have a
Page 207 and 208:
“A friend.”“Someone you’ve
Page 209 and 210:
few short nibbles. “I liked it wh
Page 211 and 212:
venom, and sometimes you need poiso
Page 213 and 214:
direction as they bump into each ot
Page 215 and 216:
Clubhouse…“Fox Hill!” I shout
Page 217 and 218:
But no one listens to me.The boys o
Page 219 and 220:
of yours and your friends. This is
Page 221 and 222:
the streetlights off, as well. The
Page 223 and 224:
I can’t take my eyes off her, pai
Page 225 and 226:
I push my finger a little more, her
Page 227 and 228:
breathing hard as she loses her min
Page 229 and 230:
in love. Jesus.”Clay stays silent
Page 231 and 232:
“She was better than I’d dreame
Page 233 and 234:
God, please.”I step back into the
Page 235 and 236:
you weren’t happy. To support peo
Page 237 and 238:
“Right.” I put my practice clot
Page 239 and 240:
and from everyone except her who ti
Page 241 and 242:
She leaves, and I bite my bottom li
Page 243 and 244:
I don’t know if I’m relieved th
Page 245 and 246:
We walk toward the dining room, dow
Page 247 and 248:
bus here, but I’m filled with a s
Page 249 and 250:
“I notice men.” I wave the air,
Page 251 and 252:
minimum to get what she wants but n
Page 253 and 254:
seems to close again, and she sits
Page 255 and 256:
CAN’T WE JUST go park somewhere?
Page 257 and 258:
Turning, she rounds the table and h
Page 259 and 260:
can have problems.”I never though
Page 261 and 262:
never getting away from me, Jaeger,
Page 263 and 264:
I whimper, startled as she pushes u
Page 265 and 266:
“Oh, God,” I moan.She grinds in
Page 267 and 268:
“Don’t apologize, baby.” I ho
Page 269 and 270:
“GOD, I NEED a shower,” Liv whi
Page 271 and 272:
me understands why. And the other p
Page 273 and 274:
appointments for mani-pedis next Fr
Page 275 and 276:
Liv walks to the stationary bike, a
Page 277 and 278:
the bleachers.The drumline beat fil
Page 279 and 280:
gazing at her and seeing myself in
Page 281 and 282:
call, jogging out of the workroom a
Page 283 and 284:
not replying. She’s not even typi
Page 285 and 286:
She gets me going, and while I may
Page 287 and 288:
caressing me through my underwear.I
Page 289 and 290:
I stop. Excuse me? I turn, glaring
Page 291 and 292:
I check my face in my side mirror,
Page 293 and 294:
tell her as I season two oysters.
Page 295 and 296:
sociological, political, and theist
Page 297 and 298:
eyeing my brothers. “Know anythin
Page 299 and 300:
I whip the spoon, the glob slamming
Page 301 and 302:
she peels off my tank top and helps
Page 303 and 304:
God, she’s beautiful.Leaning down
Page 305 and 306:
Wait…“You never did that with a
Page 307 and 308:
“I’m…uh,” Clay stammers, br
Page 309 and 310:
Amy adjusts her bra straps inside h
Page 311 and 312:
Clay, I still wouldn’t have been
Page 313 and 314:
and I lose sight of her, but my bod
Page 315 and 316:
I smile. She must be eating dinner.
Page 317 and 318:
Letters were how old people communi
Page 319 and 320:
“SO, I WAS kind of thinking,” I
Page 321 and 322:
heart.She stands there, her chin tr
Page 323 and 324:
“Have you ever kissed a man?” h
Page 325 and 326:
She hasn’t called. She didn’t a
Page 327 and 328:
“You’re going to leave,” he g
Page 329 and 330:
Oh, shut up.I walk away without say
Page 331 and 332:
“Listen to me,” he says.But I d
Page 333 and 334:
Like Henry.“His brother was makin
Page 335 and 336:
NEW YORK. WHY does the idea of bein
Page 337 and 338:
Does my mom know that’s how I see
Page 339 and 340:
that I’m…”“Well, honey, we
Page 341 and 342:
“YOU’RE NOT ACTUALLY dating Tra
Page 343 and 344:
I hate it. I hate acting like this.
Page 345 and 346:
But then I remember, I blocked her
Page 347 and 348:
on.And then the door at the back op
Page 349 and 350:
“YOU GIRLS LOOK beautiful,” my
Page 351 and 352:
God, shut up. I squeeze my fists, s
Page 353 and 354:
But my dad pulls her back around an
Page 355 and 356:
face falls.“In or out, kid,” Ar
Page 357 and 358:
What do you mean, what? I know what
Page 359 and 360:
that.I’m still not apologizing, t
Page 361 and 362:
value won’t always look like them
Page 363 and 364:
My father steps up behind us and Kr
Page 365 and 366:
starts.“Undo me,” Liv pants, gi
Page 367 and 368:
I BREATHE HARD, sucking my hair int
Page 369 and 370:
can track me, and there are four of
Page 371 and 372:
you.”Milo pulls me back around, s
Page 373 and 374:
“Come on, Milo!” someone shouts
Page 375 and 376:
I glance after Dallas for less than
Page 377 and 378:
“Not here,” I whisper to my bro
Page 379 and 380:
I just laugh, climbing into the cab
Page 381 and 382:
Dammit. I grab it off the floor, kn
Page 383 and 384:
lot of trouble, but of course, he w
Page 385 and 386:
One Month LaterCLAY RUNS PAST me, a
Page 387 and 388:
Her mother’s help to protect the
Page 389 and 390:
confection off the tray and let Cla
Page 391 and 392:
Four Years LaterI’M GONNA BE sick
Page 393 and 394:
He laughs, glancing to Army and the
Page 395 and 396:
“Oh, I need a board, right? I don
Page 397 and 398:
“What are we doing?” I ask.She
Page 399 and 400:
Thank you so much for reading Tryst
Page 401 and 402:
ErikaHE WON’T BE HERE.There’d b
Page 403 and 404:
Trees rose above and all around me
Page 405 and 406:
It was my fault I didn’t love him
Page 407 and 408:
I tucked my hair behind my ear, not
Page 409 and 410:
Other than that one night, he’d i
Page 411 and 412:
smiled, pulling out a heavy steel D
Page 413 and 414:
To the readers—Again, I want to t
Page 415:
Penelope Douglas is a New York Time
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Tryst Six Venom by Penelope Douglas

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