Page 95 of Return Policy
I lean down and hug her shoulders. “Char, wehaveto talk about this.”
She sits up, releasing a frustrated breath. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“Try the beginning?”
“I just… I don’t know what’s gotten into him lately.” A tear falls down her cheek that she quickly wipes away. “He’s… he’s always been such a great boyfriend. He was with me through everything. You know how much he helped me with all my family shit in high school. I just… I think playing college ball and all the classes are really stressing him out, and he’s taking it out on me.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t make it okay, Char.” She looks down and starts picking at her pink nail polish. “It doesn’t matter what the stress is in his life. He shouldn’t talk to you the way he does.”
“You sound like Noah,” she grumbles.
“Yeah? What’s going on between you two?”
“What do you mean?” Her curious gaze connects with mine.
“You and Noah…”
Her eyes go wide. “There is nome and Noah.”
“I know… just, you know what I mean.”
“I loveJonathan,” she emphasizes.
“I know that, babe.” She picks at her nails again, and I take her hands in mine. “I’m just curious. Noah seems to really care about you.”
“We’re just friends… We see each other around a lot during and after practices.”
“And at away games,” I point out, waggling my eyebrows.
“Yeah, there too.” She grins with narrowed eyes. “But as I said, we’re justfriends. I’ve got a boyfriend, and Noah has a savior complex.”
“I don’t blame him with the way Jonathan talks to and about you.”
She shakes her head. “You guys just don’t know him like I do.”
“Come on, Char,” I say gently. “Even Noah said Jonathan was being awful to you the morning after Halloween.”
Her eyes fall to her lap. “He’d find any reason to paint Jonathan the villain.”
“Maybe you should stop making excuses for him and realize he might actually be the goddamn villain, Char.”
“Can we talk about something else?” Charlie asks gently, and my mind wanders to the real villain of our story.
I let out a shaky breath. “I don’t know what to do about Seth,” I admit, and her eyes fly to mine. “On Halloween he kept crossing the line…” A chill runs down my spine. “He just—he gives me fucking whiplash. I don’t know what to do anymore. I know he wants that secret kept, but I also know he wants me back. Both things equally terrify me because I’m afraid of the lengths he’ll go to make sure he gets his way.” Charlie’s eyes go wide before she schools her expression. “I’m hoping after Halloween he realizes I’ve moved on and if anything, he’s only worried about our silence. As long as we keep our mouths shut… heshouldleave us alone.”
Charlie runs a hand down her face, not speaking for an excruciatingly long amount of time. “I can’t believe things have gotten so out of hand,” she finally whispers.
“I know.” I clear my throat. “Sometimes I wonder if we made the wrong choice.” Charlie’s eyes connect with mine. “Sometimes I wonder if listening to him was signing our own death sentence.”
25
SOPHIA
We stroll through the third floor of the library, finding an empty table in the corner to sit down. Elijah lets out a loud breath as he takes his books out, and I can’t help but feel like there’s something going on with him today.
He’s been hot and cold since Halloween, and I’m wondering if he heard more of Seth’s and my conversation than he let on.
I won’t dare ask. I’m way too terrified to know the answer.
