Page 84 of Return Policy
SOPHIA
Unmoving.
Not breathing.
Blood.
Blood everywhere.
Why is there so much blood?
Bile rises in my esophagus as I walk closer.
Please move.
You can’t be dead.
Please, please, please, no.
No.
Wake up.
Please wake up.
Please wake up.
Please wa—
“I know, but I still think I could’ve done better,” Elijah says to Noah, snapping me out of the nightmarish memory that causes a shiver to run down my spine. Elijah’s arm is slung over my shoulder, a whiskey in his other hand as they talk animatedly about today’s loss—again.
It’s been a shit show of a night—Seth’s a prick, Jonathan’s encouraging it, and Sage and Julian got us thrown out of the last bar because they fucked in the bathroom. I honestly can’t wait for the night to be over so I can go home with Elijah and get my second present.
I’m three margaritas deep, but once Seth showed up, any chance I had at a buzz died instantly. If it weren’t for the fact all my friends came out to celebrate me, I’d have left immediately after that fight with Seth. I can’t believe he had the audacity to show up, and I’m flabbergasted Jonathan brought him without warning me first. I knew blocking Seth’s number would result in this shit. He didn’t leave, of course, and I asked Elijah to be cordial so Charlie could spend some time with Jonathan.
We’re at the last bar for the night, and it’s almost two in the morning. Every time I see Seth’s face, I have to fight the urge to vomit. I’m unbearably exhausted from carrying around this secret. It eats at me like a lion with its prey—teeth sinking in, ripping apart my flesh—leaving behind nothing but the carcass of who I once was. I’ve been so distracted with Elijah and school Ialmostforgot about it. The second I saw Seth, the lion of my nightmares returned to haunt me from the shadows of every room I’m in.
“I don’t feel that good,” Charlie slurs, swaying with a scrunched, queasy face as she leans against Jonathan. “I think I’m gonna go to the bathroom.”
“Do you want me to come?” I offer, begging for relief from Seth.
“No, it’s right there. I think I’ll be okay,” she says before disappearing into the women’s restroom. I straighten my back to give myself the strength I’m currently lacking.
“She’s such a fucking lightweight,” Jonathan says to Seth, rolling his eyes.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have shoved shots of vodka down her throat like water,” Noah snaps, surprising all of us.
Jonathan’s jaw goes tight. “Charlie has to learn when she’s hit her limit.”
Noah stares at him, shakes his head, and walks away.
“Girls, man,” Seth says, chuckling and turning his attention to me. “Remember that time you got so shit-faced I had to carry you over my shoulder from the springs to my truck?” He folds over, laughing. “We had to sneak you in through your bedroom window so your dad wouldn’t know.”
My blood boils at his mention of our shared past, and Elijah’s arm tenses around my shoulders.
“You threw up for two days and told your dad you had the flu… and he bought it,” Jonathan adds in, laughing harder as my skin crawls with a thousand cockroaches at the unwelcome memory.
“I swear I was gonna pass out trying to lug your heavy ass up the side of the house to your second-story window,” Seth snorts.
