Tryst Six Venom by Penelope Douglas

We’re never done.
Her gaze flicks to Iron, and I turn back to him, seeing his eyes lock on
her, as well, as he smokes the last of his cigarette. But whereas he’s well
aware of the shit she throws my way, he looks like he’s entertaining ideas of
all the things he could do with her in a dark room.
Or a back seat. Idiot.
“You approve of Macon paying for this place,” I say, “so you can ogle
Catholic girls in their short skirts when you drop me off every day.”
“She has to be eighteen by now, right?”
I shake my head. “Hallmark Christmas movie heroines aren’t your type.”
“Everyone is my type when they’re naked.”
Gross. I back away, flipping him the middle finger. “See you after
school.”
But he shakes his head, stopping me. “Nope. Come here.” He flicks his
cigarette, the butt still burning as it lays in the school drive. “This could be
it.”
He holds out his arm, a warm, cocky smile on his mouth.
I sigh, half-rolling my eyes before I come back in and embrace him.
This could be it. The Jaeger family creed. The Tryst Six warning,
however you want to look at it.
Our parents’ passing came at so great a shock that we make it a point to
remind ourselves not to fight with each other now.
Not to waste time.
Not to leave anything unsaid.
This could be it. The last time we see each other.
“Be careful,” I murmur in his ear, dropping my eyes to the tattoo on his
neck. It’s the same symbol that hangs on our wall at home in the garage and
that adorns the leather bracelet all the Jaegers wear. A snake wrapped around
an hourglass.
He holds me tight for another moment and then releases me. “You, too.”
A look, a smile, and then he’s off without a helmet on his head and his
scab-marked elbows hanging out of his black T-shirt from the last time he
rolled his motorcycle. I watch him until he pulls out of the driveway, turns
right, and disappears down the street.
“Hi, Liv,” someone calls.
I glance to see Maria Hoff walking past as I fit my earbuds into my ears.
I grunt and fall in line with the few other students making their way into