Page 156 of Sweet Venom

“Just make sure Pres doesn’t eat them all.”

She laughs. “Will you be okay? I know you’re not on the best terms with your father.”

“Julian and his wife serve as a buffer.”

“Are you sure?”

“If I’m not, will you join me?”

She flinches a bit, and I curse myself for bringing up something that makes her uncomfortable. “If you…want.”

“I was just kidding.”

She lifts her chin. “I meant it.”

“You don’t have to put yourself through this. My family is kind of fucked up.”

“So is mine.” She grabs the extra helmet. “People like us need to stick together.”

“What about the party you’re hosting?”

“Ah.” She pulls out her phone and types something, then grins. “Dahlia will take care of it. Besides, I wouldn’t enjoy it without you there anyway.”

“Hard to believe with all the Preston entertaining you did.”

“That’s because…he’s easy to talk to.”

“And I’m not?”

“Sometimes? But truly, I did everything so you could officially meet Dahlia and we could have a get-together, but if you hate it…”

“I only hate your attention on someone other than me.” I shove the helmet on her head and reach under the visor to touch the freckles that are visible through it.

God, she’s beautiful.

A part of me knows I shouldn’t drag Violet into my family drama, but as she hops on and wraps her arms around my waist, I feel a sense of peace.

Strength.

And I know that I can handle anything as long as she’s by my side.

My demonsincluded.

31

VIOLET

This wasn’t my brightest idea.

Not sure what I was thinking when I offered to accompany Jude here, but he seemed to be on edge, and I wanted to soothe that somehow.

That’s how I find myself walking beside Jude to the entrance. He’s silent, but his shoulders are bunched, and his brows are knit together.

I want to reach out and do something—not sure what, as long as it helps with the tension.

It’s probably foolish, but ever since I figured out that my feelings for Jude run beyond the physical, I can’t stop myself from trying to be there for him.

In the beginning, I thought it was my bad habit of caring for people too much. But then I mulled it over and decided this is different.