Page 4 of The Bitterness of Venom

He laughs nervously, dropping his hand. “I was hoping we could start over.”

“First impressions are everything,” I say, scooting around him to go to the kitchen table. I sit next to Elisha, pulling out my sushi.

Jasper takes the seat on the other side of me. I look between both of them as they stare at me. “Am I going to have to eat in my room?”

They both shake their heads, going back to their own food. Pizza. It smells amazing.

The door slams and the boys begin talking to whoever just entered, but I’m too busy researching bell towers to pay attention.

“And this is…”

I look up, my eyes connecting with familiar melted honey. “Desmond?”

TWO

I blink several times,my chopsticks going slack in my hand.

My heart beats erratically as I stare at my used-to-be best friend.

Is what I’m seeing real? Is the boy I spent years searching for finally in front of me?

He is different now. His hair is now a deep brown with the ends lightened by the sun. His whiskey eyes hold the same demons that once lived there, but they seem… darker now. And he is fucking tall. Over six foot. Maybe six-two? His shoulders are broad, wide, and expansive, taking up the width of the doorway he stands in. His shirt looks one stretch of thread away from snapping to accommodate his impressive chest. And his arms—holy fuck, his arms. They look more like boulders, with tattoos covering the entire length of one arm, all the way to his hand. He is fucking massive.

I have to blink again just to make sure it is really him. But when I notice the black freckle right above the right side of his full lips, I know it’s him. His jaw is chiseled, clean-shaven, and sharp enough to cut. His nose is still the same as I remember it, proud and somehow beautiful. Even his cheeks look to be sculpted by the gods. As if he were personally chosen to be bestowed on this earth, a god among us mortals.

If he is surprised to see me, he doesn’t say or even hint at knowing who I am. Maybe with the light pink hair he doesn’t recognize me? Either way, I think I’ll keep it that way. It’s better no one knows my past. Especially the person who has the ability to make it hurt all over again. He knows too much. So even if the gods blessed him in the looks department, it seems as if they gave me one small blessing to grace my devil-made self by Desmond not remembering me.

“Do you know each other?” Jasper asks. I can hear the uncertainty in his voice.

Desmond raises an arrogant eyebrow. It is clear the ball is in my court. The realization that he does know who I am makes my spine stiffen with unease. I shake my head, clearing my throat. “Nope. Just saw a flyer with his picture and name on it, is all.” I smile at Jasper, but I think he knows it’s fake. Itfeelsfake. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to bed. Long day.”

Elisha frowns. “But you haven’t finished your sushi.”

I wrinkle my nose. “You should eat it.”

“Aw.” Jasper pouts. “I wanted it.”

“I’ll arm wrestle you for it.”

“Bet.”

Without looking toward the looming presence behind me, I hurry to my room, shutting the door and locking it, before I slide slowly to the ground.

I’ve got to find a new apartment.

The next morning,I’m on a mission. Black sweats and a cropped tank with my trusted white Air Forces on, I hustle to the office of the apartment manager. She’s a super bitchy woman. It makes me like her until she says, “I’m sorry, I can’t switch your apartment. We have no available space.”

“And here I was starting to like you.” I huff, storming out of the office and back up to my apartment.

I’m greeted with three sets of eyes watching me as I enter. “Good morning, sunshine.” Jasper smiles.

“I’m a rain cloud on a good day, Jasper.”

He frowns, shaking his head. “Why are you so grumpy?”

“Because I exist.”

His frown turns deeper. Elisha chuckles, walking over and putting his heavy arm around my shoulders. “Don’t mind him. He’s not used to rejection.” I look to his arm and glare up at him. “You’re like a little kitten.” He bops—yes, fucking bops—my nose.

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