Page 9 of Karma
It feels as though water sloshes around her head as she nods, but it slowly fades. “Yeah, you sure have.”
“I was wrong, sweetheart. And I should’ve been there. Not just to walk you down the aisle, but to protect you. I’ll forever hate myself because I wasn’t.”
“Well, you’ll have another chance when she’s out and healed,” Venom says. “You can do it then.”
She shakes her head. “No.”
“No?”
The look in his eyes is nothing short of pure terror. Her simple word has him worrying she’s changed her mind about marrying him and being committed to him for the rest of their lives. And she’d have reassured him already if her brain would just move at a normal pace.
Swallowing, Marnie blinks, realizing it’s the pain meds affecting her. “I want to marry you today.”
“Love, you’re not getting released for a couple of days, at least.”
“Then we’ll get married here. You wanted the wedding, but I would have been happy to do it at the courthouse. I just want to be your wife.”
“Marnie—”
“Lex and Colt got married in the hospital. What better couple to mirror our marriage after?”
He searches her face but smiles. “Are you sure?”
“I want to be Mrs. William Maddox as soon as fucking possible. You think Lex is still around? She should be here for this.”
The smile he gives her makes her stomach flutter, and she’s immediately annoyed and disappointed she’ll have to wait to consummate her marriage because of his demented mother.
“I can promise you she’s still in the waiting room with Colt and most of the others. I’ll get them and Gunner, and I’ll be right back, love.”
Everlee takes his place and takes her hand. “What do you remember?”
“I remember it was hot. I always thought it was bullshit when they’d say it on TV or whatever, but it felt like fire ripped right through me. And I remember Lex. She helped save me, didn’t she?”
A shaky smile appears on her lips. “She did everything she could to stop the bleed, but you passed out. I was a frantic mess, but she stayed calm. Kept checking your breathing and all that while the paramedics took their sweet time. Then she gave you CPR until they made it around back and helped bring you back.”
“Well, I get it now.”
“Get what?” Snake asks.
“Why people really hate you for going against her.”
He laughs and nods. “I suppose so.”
“You fucking owe her,” Everlee snaps. “She saved our girl.”
“It’s funny that the woman who threatened to pound me into the pavement saved my life.”
“Oh, don’t think for a second I wouldn’t have kicked your ass if you didn’t make it,” Lex says and walks in with Colt and Gunner. “How you feeling, kid?”
Slowly smiling, Marnie blinks. “They have the good drugs here.”
“Yeah, they really do. Now, Colt, do you see this? How the bride’s supposed to be the one wearing the gown instead of the groom?”
Marnie laughs, her stomach aching only slightly, when Colt reaches out to tickle his wife. She giggles and tries to move out of his reach. Even covered in dried blood, she can lighten even the heaviest of situations, and Marnie’s grateful.
“I made a decision,” Marnie says and turns to Venom. “When I grow up, I want to be Lex.”
“Trust me, I make it look much more glamorous than it really is,” Lex says with a smirk. “So, are we getting you two hitched or what?”
