Page 169 of Return Policy
He places a hand on my knee, and I flinch, causing him to stiffen. “What’s that about?”
“Nothing.” I swallow hard. “Just… nothing.”
“Sophia,” Elijah says softly. “What happened before I showed up?”
I shake my head and look at him. “Nothing, he just was begging for me back and I told him no.” I don’t want to lie anymore, but I really think Elijah might kill Seth like he promised if he knew the truth.I can’t have more blood on my hands.
“He didn’t hurt you?” His concerned eyes bore into mine.
“No,” I lie, swallowing down the bitter word.
A sigh of relief leaves his lips. “Thank God.”
I turn my attention out the window as he shifts gears and backs out of the parking space.
Fuck, baby, I forgot how good you taste.
A hot tear rolls down my cheek, and I quickly brush it away.
God, I missed you.
I clasp my hands together to keep them from shaking uncontrollably.
You know you were enjoying it.
The memory pounds into my mind relentlessly, and I fight the urge to throw up the entire way home.
* * *
“So, how have things been at school?” Janine asks from her position on the seat across from me. I’m sprawled out on the small couch in her office like I used to do during our sessions.
“Fine,” I clip.
“And how have you adjusted to having taken a pause on your therapy?” she asks, holding a pen between her fingers.
“Super,” I say sarcastically, and she cracks a smile.
“Would you like to share what brought you here today?”
I sit up and wring my hands together. “Not really.”
She nods slightly, her dark ponytail bobbing. “That’s okay.”
“But I think I should…” I add.
“I’m really happy to hear you say that.”
I start off slowly by telling her about my relationship with Elijah and the hurt from him hiding his family. Then I share everything about Seth, from him choking me on the front porch to assaulting me in my bedroom—leaving out any accident-related details—and by the time I’m done, I’m a sobbing mess.
“I just…” I hiccup, blowing my nose into a tissue. “I should have realized it wasn’t Elijah.”
Janine tilts her head. “You can’t blame yourself for being sexually assaulted.” Her blunt usage of the words sends a shiver down my spine. But she’s right, that’s exactly what he did to me. “You had no reason to believe it wasn’t Elijah beside you.”
Staring at the wooden floor, I think about her words. “Seth sexually assaulted me,” I say for the first time out loud, the truth causing my hands to shake.
“Have you considered pressing charges?” Janine asks calmly, and I frown.
“I’ve filed a restraining order… but I can’t file charges for that without proof.” Like Elijah said regarding the accident, without proof, there’s little chance of a conviction.
