Page 32 of Venomous as a Snake

“Later,” he promises, sliding me down his body until my toes touch the floor. “Go before I change my mind. I’m already running late.”

“Hot date?” I tease.

Ali just winks as he leaves me in the entryway to their home.

I don’t need directions from my dragon to find Drew’s room. Even if he hadn’t shouted loud enough for the neighbors to hear, I could have picked it out quickly.

It faces the west, away from the sunrise. Because the nocturnal honey badger prefers the least amount of sunlight possible while sleeping. Otherwise, he’s a cranky bastard.

The hallway in their house is a short L-shape boasting three closed doors and one that’s left wide open.

“I swear to god,” I mutter. “If you’re naked when I walk around this corner, I’m going to kick you in the dick.”

Drew’s quiet chuckle warms my skin. “I’m dressed.”

“Fully?” I inquire.

Normally, I’d rather he be naked. It’s a sin to cover such chiseled perfection. But I’m mad at him. I think…

He hums like he’s not sure how to answer me. “Fifty percent.”

“A surprise,” I mock, deepening my voice as I slink into his room. “You said you were hiding a surprise, not a whole fucking human.”

“A wonderful human.”

“No, Drew.” I frown at him. “That wasn’t how this was supposed to go.”

He nods. “Walker called me. He was pretty pissed with me too, but I explained—”

“Why you let me move into the house right behind him with no warning?” I cut in.

“You were moving on,” he tells me, shrugging.

“I was—” I shake my head and swallow thickly. “I was learning to be happy on my own. That’s not moving on, that’s growing. I haven’t given up on him.”

“You were learning to live without him,” he accuses, but there’s an unusual amount of sadness in his tone.

It’s my turn to nod, though I do it with no small amount of sarcasm. “I’ve been living without him. For years, Drew. Years. I didn’t give up then, and I won’t now. Not until he tells me he’s done.”

“He’s not.”

I scoff at him. “Notice the part of that statement where I said he tells me… Not you.”

Before he can respond, both of our phones ping. I pull mine from my back pocket and open the notification from the security app that’s linked to my cameras.

“Huh,” Drew huffs in amazement. “He’s brave. How long have you been gone?”

“Like… Less than twenty minutes?”

“So he was waiting,” the honey badger murmurs. “Did you see anyone?”

I shake my head while I think through everything I’ve seen in the last few days. “No. I haven’t noticed anyone. No one followed me here either, but…”

He quirks a brow, waiting for me to finish my thoughts.

“I left Hooker outside. So, he’s got free range of the house right now.” I shrug. “Pimp is inside, though.”

“Then they’re not watching you anymore, just your house,” he deduces, then scrunches his face up. “What’s he doing?”