Page 142 of Return Policy
“Would it be okay if we talked about it now?”
I nod, setting the frozen bag on the ground and pulling Sophia up into my lap. She wraps her arms around my neck, a soft expression on her face. “My sister, Abigail. She…” I pinch the bridge of my nose to warn off the headache that comes every time I think about her. “She’s in rehab.” Sophia’s eyes widen. “In the parking lot… That was Brayden, her boyfriend… Well, ex now.”Hopefully.“They’d known each other for a while. Always getting into shit together. Once Dad died… she just lost it. Started taking pills—pills I’m pretty sure she got from Brayden. And one night they were at a party, and she took too many.” I swallow the lump in my throat that always appears when I think about that day. “She overdosed in the middle of the woods… and he just fucking left her there.” Sophia gasps beside me. “Thankfully someone found her and by some damn miracle, she lived.”
“That must have been so hard for you…”
I shiver, recalling one of the worst phone calls I’ve ever gotten in my life. “It was… She’d been weird last year, I don’t know why. But after Dad died, she totally spiraled. I was so wrapped up in my own shit I didn’t notice until it was too late. And then it was just easier to pretend she didn’t exist.” My heart restricts as the bitter words leave my mouth.
“You don’t mean that,” Soph says quietly.
“You’re right… It’s just, she was in rehab, she was safe. And it was easier to pretend… to only worry about my own shit. You know?”
“I get it,” she says with a gentle smile, and a relieved breath leaves my lungs.
“Really?”
“Yeah, I mean I tried to ignore the shit that happened with Seth too.” My entire body goes rigid at the mention of his name. “I just hate that you didn’t tell me… about Abigail or your dad. There was this massive cloud hanging over your head, and I had no fucking clue. I should’ve known if something this major was bothering you.” She squeezes my hand. “I mean, honestly, it explains why you’re struggling so much with school.”
“I know. I’m so sorry.” Her back is tense, and I rub my hand along it. “Seriously.”
“It’s okay… Just, please don’t keep me in the dark anymore. I’ve told you all my secrets. I thought you weren’t keeping any either.” Guilt settles in my stomach.
“I want us to be totally open with each other too.” I take a calming breath. “So there’s one more thing I should tell you…” The fear in her eyes has me cursing myself for not sharing sooner. “I talked to Mark and Cole about the hit and run.” She sucks in a breath, jumping off my lap.
“You didwhat?” she shrieks, a fire igniting behind her eyes as she brings a hand over her mouth.
I stand quickly, reaching out for her. “It’s really not what it sounds like.”
“Elijah!” she whisper-shouts. “Are you kidding me?” She drags a hand across her mouth. “No.” She shakes her head. “Oh my God.” She hyperventilates, and it sets off my own panic. “No.”
“Babe.” I grab her arm gently, tugging her to me, and her glossy green eyes find mine.
“I should’ve never told you.” She swallows hard as a tear trickles down her cheek. “Seth was right.”
“What?” I physically recoil, desperate to rein in this out-of-control conversation. “Sophia, I told them I had a friend doing a project for a pre-law class.”
She freezes, face morphing into complete confusion. “What?”
“I told them I had a friend in a pre-law class and thathewas working on a hit-and-run case.”
Her eyes wander all over my face before connecting back with mine. “Did they buy it?”
“I mean, they had no reason not to.”
“What did they say?” she asks timidly.
“That without evidence… it’s almost impossible to make a conviction.”
She frowns and rolls her eyes. “Well, we pretty much knew that.”
“Yeah.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry, baby. I was just trying to help you find a way out of this mess. I hate that he has this hold over you.”
She releases a heavy breath and looks deep into my eyes. “I appreciate you trying to protect me. I’m sorry I freaked out… I just assumed you told them everything.”
I tilt my head with a soft smile. “Come on, Sunflower. Give me a little more credit than that. I would’ve never said anything if I thought for one second they’d figure out I was talking about you. You really think I’m gonna throw the love of my life under the bus?”
A blush creeps up her cheeks. “I guess not…”
“Good.” I kiss her delicately. “I’m so sorry about everything. Really. I don’t want any secrets between us. I want you to know you can trust me.” Her cheeks glisten with tears, and I wipe at them with the pad of my thumb. “I won’t ever keep anything from you again, okay?”
