Page 186 of Return Policy
“I wasn’t in prison.” She narrows her eyes at me. “But yeah, feels nice.”
“I missed you.”
She rolls her eyes. “Missed you too, Eli.”
“Well, you’ll be able to spend plenty of time together next year at CBU,” Mom says.What kinda bomb is that?
“Excuse me?” I laugh in disbelief, eyes bouncing between them.
“Yep, Abbs got her acceptance letter in the mail last month, but I was waiting till we figured out all the details to tell you.”
“You mean you were waiting to make sure they wouldn’t retract my acceptance when they found out where I’d spent the first half of my senior year?”
Mom frowns at her. “That too…”
* * *
My fingertips trail along Sophia’s arms as we lie facing one another in my bed. It’s been over a month since we left Arizona, and I’m finally feeling like myself. Sophia had her first deposition today for Seth’s case, and she’s barely spoken a word.
“How do you feel?” I ask, pausing my touch on her hip.
“I don’t know… relieved? Anxious?” She pauses. “Afraid?”
Her eyes flicker with painful uncertainty, and my frown deepens. “Why are you afraid?”
“What if he doesn’t get convicted?” Her hands tremble, and I take them in mine, placing them between us. “What if he comes back?”
“Sophia.” I kiss her knuckles. “I would die before I ever let him do anything to you.”
She tilts her head and smiles faintly. “That’s a bit dramatic, don’t you think?”
“No. I’m dead serious. This thing with Seth isn’t a game, and he’s obviously not mentally stable. I promise to protect you regardless of the outcome of the trial.”
She shakes her head. “You can’t always be around…”
“Your dad put in an alarm system, so you’re safe in Longwood. And you already know my place is yours. If Seth tries anything… I will put an arrow directly between his eyes.”
“You’re so violent when you’re possessive,” she teases.
“I’m only violent whenabsolutelynecessary. You know that.”
“I know.”
“Trust me, I’m ready to move forward from this as much as you are.” I sigh, unsure how to bring up what’s been bugging me since the game. I’ve tried to forget about Seth’s words, but I was cleared forallphysical activity two weeks ago, and Sophia and I have yet to be intimate. His words paired with her avoidance of the subject are really starting to concern me. “Baby, I need to ask you something…” She places a hand on my hip, tracing circles on my skin. “Seth said something at the game before I got hurt.” I swallow hard, praying he was full of shit. “He said he… tasted you.”
Her hand stills on my side as her mouth parts open. She doesn’t speak for an excruciatingly long time.
“Sophia?” I say gently as my heart stops beating. “Why did he say that?”
Her eyes fall, a tear sliding down her face, and I tip her gaze back to mine. “I didn’t cheat on you.”She seriously thinks that’s where my head is at?
“What?” I drag a hand through her hair. “I know that. Of course I know that, baby. Please, tell me what happened. What did he do to you?”
I tug her closer, and she cries into my chest.What could he have possibly done to elicit this reaction?
“We don’t have to talk about it yet if you’re not ready,” I tell her, even though my entire body aches to know what the hell is going on. She’s been seeing a therapist a few times a week, even found a new one on campus with help from Janine, but maybe she still needs time to process everything.
I know I do.
