Page 180 of Beautiful Venom
That must’ve been her life before everything ended.
I watch her as she watches them, her eyes watery, her hands shaking around a bag of chips.
This time, I don’t hesitate as I take her hand in mind. She shudders, and I think I feel her stiffen before she goes still.
“Does it make you sad?” I ask.
“On the contrary. I’m relieved that the house is well-loved and kept. Mom and Dad would be so happy if they saw this.” She grins. “Hey, Kane?”
“Hmm?”
“Let’s go by the ocean.”
“When it’s this freezing?”
“It’s the best! I know people say coastal towns are depressing in the winter, but it’s like a fairy tale. Believe me.”
“I have my doubts.”
She just laughs and drags me out of the car. We trek by a rocky path that she said she remembers, but it turns out, her memories failed her.
It’s ridiculously icy weather to get lost in, but Dahlia just laughs and says it’s perfect for exploration.
We end up hiking to the peak of a large snow-covered rock that overlooks the deep blue ocean. The colors here are cold—white, navy blue, and unforgiving gray.
Dahlia stares at the violent waves below, throws her hands wide apart, and screams at the top of her lungs, “Mom! Dad! I’m home!”
The echo of her voice is swallowed by the wind as her long brown hair flies behind her. She looks like a goddess.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come back before! I’m doing amazing things. You’d be so proud of me! I have a sister now. Her name is Violet and she’s the sweetest person ever. You would’ve loved her so much.”
Her voice breaks, but she turns around and takes my hand, then pulls me to her side. “I brought someone. You would’ve loved him, too. Probably!”
“Probably?”
“Shh, it’s a fifty-fifty chance,” she whispers, then yells at the ocean again, “He’s filthy rich, buys me ridiculously expensive clothes, and even cooks for me. He’s not that bad sometimes.”
“Sometimes?”
“Just stay silent. This isn’t about you.” She glares and then smiles at the ocean again. “You don’t have to worry about me anymore. Your little girl is a grown-up now. Thank you for everything!”
Her hand shakes in mine, and I squeeze it tight.
“You think they heard me?”
I wrap my arms around her waist. “Hopefully not the part where you said I’m not bad sometimes.”
She chuckles. “You’re so petty.”
“Onlysometimes.”
She laughs, the sound so light and endearing. “Thank you.”
“What for?”
“Accompanying me on this bizarre trip.”
I pull her against my chest, lift her chin with my index finger, and kiss her frozen lips. Warmth seeps between us and she hugs me while kissing me back.
