Yes. That's what Venus thought. She would be forgiven, wouldn't she, if her heart fell just that little bit, despite her desire to be as prepared as she could be for that inevitable disappointment? OF course it was too good to be true. Of course she isn't anyone's dream girl.

Yes, her face fell even as she took that necessary step forward so that she didn't lose her footing. "You can call me whatever want, darlin'," she said, voice quiet. She just didn't want to be anything but honest. She had gotten beaten and worse for much less.

Letting her thumb paint small circles over Derek's cheeks just for a moment, before letting go.