Page 35 of A Love Like Venom

My brows furrow. "Why would it ruin everything?"

"Alice, please."

I don't know what he's begging for. I don't understand why he can't answer my question. And I don't want to drop it. I have to know why taking a risk isn't worth it. "Why would it ruin everything?"

"Because when someone looks at you like you're a hero you don't want them one day to see you as the villain."

"You honestly believe that's possible?" Inside my heart breaks for him. It's breaks for the possibility of there ever being an us.

"I grew up believing I was nothing but darkness. Then someone came around unexpectedly and showed me that I wasn't. I don't want that to change. And I know if we were to ever go down that path, Alice, you wouldn’t look at me like you are now. I wouldn’t be the person you’d run to.” His voice grows rough.

I swallow pass the lump in my throat as I nod my head. Although it brings me great pain to finally hear it, I can't help but understand him completely. And I can't fault him for that.

A loud chiming that comes from his phone effectively breaks the tension in the air. As I see him pull his phone out and flip it upwards, I notice Caitlin's name on the screen. Glancing down at the phone and then to me he disconnects the call. Before heputs it back in his pocket it rings again. Ending the call once more he then turns of his phone before sliding it in his back pocket.

"You can go, Reed. I'll be okay, really." I try to sound convincing as possible. The last thing I want is to leave and go back to my home where Chris Blackwell is staying for the night.

He grabs my hand gently and interlaces our fingers. I stare down at our hands and can't help but notice the contrast. His hand swallows mine. Rough and callused against my pale smooth skin. It feels right.

"What are you doing?" I then ask. He doesn't reply. Instead, he leads me to the side of his trailer where he keeps a permanent ladder. Gesturing for me to go first he then removes his hand as I begin to climb. When I'm halfway up he starts to climb as well.

I lay down on the middle of the roof of the trailer gazing up at the stars. He then joins me. We both watch as the stars twinkle in the night sky. The wishes are endless.

My hand is splayed out besides me. Just like when we were kids, he interlocks his pinky with mine. I grab a hold of his with a strong grip. I don't want to let him go.

"Make a wish, Alice," he orders softly.

"Only if you do."

"We'll both make a wish. Are you ready?"

I find the star that burns the brightest and close my eyes. "I'm ready," I tell him.

"Me too," he whispers.

With our pinkies interlocked and our eyes closed Reed and I make a wish.

After making my wish I open my eyes and turn my head to find his still closed. Turning his head towards me he then opens his eyes.

"So," I begin with a slight tremble in my voice, "what did you wish for?" I hold my breath as I wait. He always tells me what he wishes for.

"I wished I was strong enough to take a risk. And you?"

My eyes become glassy as I bite the inside of my cheek. When I trust myself to speak, I say, "I can't tell you or it won't come true. You know that Reed." My grand excuse for not ever telling him a single one of my wishes.

"I know, Alice. Maybe one day." His voice sounds hopeful yet sad at the same time and it kills me.

"One day," I promise him. The two words having a whole new meaning than what they did earlier tonight.

As we both lay in silence watching the stars I can't stop thinking about his wish.

His wish and mine are the same.

I wished upon the brightest star for Reed Carter to risk it all for me.

A bleak humorless laugh escapes me. Well, what do you know? Reed Carter didn't risk it all. And in the end, he was right. I did once look at him like he was my very own hero. But after last night . . .

After last night he feels like the villain. A man he once never wanted me to see.

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