Page 145 of Return Policy
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SOPHIA
“I wanna show you something before breakfast,” Elijah tells me, tugging a tight long-sleeve shirt over his head.
“Okay…” My curiosity increases when he grabs the bow off his bedroom wall. It’s similar to the one at CBU, a dark green metal with arrows clipped to it, but a little bigger. “Hello, Robin Hood.” I chuckle, and he winks at me as we leave his room.
A few minutes later, Elijah slides the door open to a huge red barn on the property. “Here we are.”
I smile, taking in the extremely country open space. “God, this place is like the set of a Hallmark movie. Will the town be showing up later for a jubilee?”
He shakes his head, grinning, and strolls further into the barn. “I have to admit, I’ve had my fair share of parties here.”
Elijah turns on an overhead light, illuminating it entirely, allowing visibility of loads of hay bales spread around the room. On the far wall, my eyes snag on two round targets that must be for archery practice. “Are you about to turn me into Katniss Everdeen?”
“Let’s see if you can hit the target before you go applying to be the Mockingjay,” he teases, and I stick my tongue out at him, happy to be feeling lighter after our conversation earlier.
He may have kept his pain to himself, but with how passionately he professed his love for me, it’s hard to feel he was dishonest about that.
With Seth, there wasn’t some huge declaration of love moment. I think it was just the natural evolution of our relationship. We’d been together a few months, slept together a couple times, and after one of them, he just blurted out the words.
And when you’re seventeen and someone tells you they love you…
When Elijah shared his feelings with me this morning, I could practicallyfeelthe difference—the sincerity in his tone, the assurance in his touch. It’s difficult to imagine Elijah’s love could ever taint to poison the way Seth’s did. Then again, I never would’ve expected Seth to lay a finger on me, let alone choke the air from my lungs. So what the fuck do I know?
“Come here.” Elijah waves me over to a spot directly in front of one target about twenty or thirty feet away.
“Is this place just for archery practice?” I ask, now understanding why the space is so empty.
Elijah shrugs. “It used to be for other stuff too… but with Dad gone, I’ve cleared it out for this, and I guess Mom isn’t using it for anything else.” He unclips an arrow. “Step back a little.” He positions it on the bow, aiming toward the target. My eyes never stray as his shoulders rise and fall. The arrow releases, zipping through the air and hitting the bullseye.
“Elijah!” I squeal with laughter. “That was amazing.”
“Thanks.” He turns around with a sheepish grin. “It’s been a while.”
“Wow. So modest, Mr. Anderson.”
He lowers the bow to his side, stepping closer before bringing his hand around the back of my neck, pulling me towards him. “I love it when you're mouthy.” He presses a soft kiss against my lips.
“And I love it when your mouth’s on me,” I mumble against lips.
“I will gladly make that happen anytime.”
I take a deep breath, shoving down my remaining insecurities and choosing to enjoy the time we’re here. “Later… Now I need you to teach me how to be the Mockingjay.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “Sure, sweetheart. Anything for you.” I switch places with Elijah, positioning myself in front of the target, and he passes me the bow. My hand drops slightly, surprised at its weight, before repositioning it. “Okay, so hold on to the center of the frame, just barely letting your fingers touch.” I slide my hand upward, finding the proper grip. “Good girl.”
I glance over my shoulder. “If you keep saying things like that, I’ll end up with my hand wrapped around your cock instead of this bow.”
His mouth parts slightly before he bites his lower lip. “Is that supposed to sound like punishment? Because that’s suddenly a very appealing option I hadn’t considered.”
I smirk, turning my attention back to the bow. “Okay, moving on.”
“Align your thumb with this bottom edge here.” He points to a spot on the bow, and I place my hand there. “Okay…” His chest presses against my back as he angles me properly, placing his hand over mine on the bow. He brings a wide arm around me, placing another arrow on the string. “Hold on to it.” He guides my hand, pulling the arrow backwards. I lean against him, enjoying the heat radiating off his frame in the cool space. “Breathe in, and then when you breathe out, let go of the arrow.”
“Okay.” I inhale. Then on the exhale, I release. The arrow travels through the air, hitting the edge of the target. “I did it!” I jump up and down, holding the bow in one hand, and spin to face Elijah. He ducks out of the way just before I knock him with it. “Oh, sorry!”
He laughs and kisses me. “That’s okay, and you sure did, Sunflower. Wanna try on your own?”
