Tryst Six Venom by Penelope Douglas

fingers.
I clear my throat. “So, what happens if my father and Callum’s father
push your family out of Sanoa Bay?”
“What do you care?”
She jerks the corset tighter, and I dig my toes into the carpet to keep
myself from falling.
“I care.” I put my hands on my hips as she works. “You’re my fun.”
I like you around.
She doesn’t look up, and I can tell she won’t. She’s not giving an inch.
“You’ll split up,” I tell her, already knowing, but my chest hurts hearing
myself say the words. “Macon will stay close to St. Carmen. He’s rooted here
with the businesses, right?”
She presses her lips together.
“Dallas, and maybe Trace, will join the military.” I throw guesses out
there, because what else do men who have zero direction or education do but
go somewhere with job training and a guaranteed paycheck and housing?
“The rest will scatter.”
Army Jaeger, I think, has a kid, and Iron has too many priors. The
military won’t take him.
“And you?” I press. “What will happen to you?”
“My plans won’t change,” she finally mumbles, finishing my hooks. “I’ll
still get the hell out of this shithole.”
“And far away from me,” I say.
She stands up straight, still behind me, and meets my eyes in the mirror.
“You think you’re a factor in any of my decisions? Dartmouth was always
the plan. You don’t matter.”
Dartmouth?
New England? Has she ever been out of Florida?
I stare at her longer than I should, the wheels in my head racing, and I
know she can tell I’m taken off guard.
I swallow the lump in my throat and drop my eyes, twisting the corset to
make sure it’s sitting straight.
You don’t matter. That’s what she said. She’s just going to leave. She’s
already got plans. Like she’s been waiting for the day to run and… How
can…
I try to swallow again, but my mouth is dry.
Snapping out my hands, I unzip the dress bag and peel it away, a dress I