“No, I mean—”
“Oh, yeah. And he was my friend. My boyfriend. My everything.” My heart warms and aches all at once.
“Then he made you aware he assaulted a woman? He was required to inform you when he moved into your home.”
I stare at her for a beat.
“I...” I whisper. “He told me something. That he raped a woman. But I... I didn’t believe him.”
“Has he ever been physically or verbally abusive?”
My stomach turns.
“Wait. Are you saying he really did that?”
My heart drops into my stomach.
Then I spin around, rush to a nearby bush, and hurl. Everything: the shots, the cocktails, the fantasy.
Molli stays close, crouching slightly.
“Do you want me to call an ambulance? You might have alcohol poisoning.”
I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, straightening slowly.
“No. I just... I didn’t expect that. I didn’t expect any of this. It was such a good night.”
She studies me.
“Can someone come pick you up?”
“No,” I mutter, shaking my head. “I, um, want to go home with Grayson.”
Her brow scrunches. “Are you sure?”
“I love him,” I say like it’s my weapon and shield. But, my voice is shaky.
She sighs and pulls out a notepad. “Okay. I need your information.”
After that, Grayson has to do a whole walk-the-line thing to prove he’s sober. I sit on the hood of my car, lost in thought. Praying he passes.
He does.
They let us go.
But the car ride after...
Dead silent.
When we arrive home, he parks in my driveway and sighs, annoyed.
“Charlotte, you’re acting like I’ll hurt you. You won’t even touch or look at me. What did that cop say to you?”
I swallow hard and twist my fingers. “She said... that you raped someone.”
He doesn’t look surprised.
“I already told you I did.”
