Page 65 of Released from the Sin Bin

“Ms. Tomlin, how are you feeling?”

“Better than this guy.” I motion to Carter, who glares at me. “Not really any pain, unless I bang it or hit it. And I only did that twice. It’s hard to get out of the desks with it.” The therapist laughs and removes my boot.

“I’m going to wait in the car.” Carter moves to get up, but I grab his arm and pull him back down.

“No, you’re not. We’re not done with our conversation.”

For some reason, he listens to me and plops back down.

“Was it not hard enough?” I ask while the therapist runs some range of motion and strength tests. “The slap?”

“No, it wasn’t hard enough,” he mutters quietly.

“She looked dainty.” I nod. “You know, there are lots of girls on the hockey team that would love to—”

“No.” Carter shuts my idea down.

“Did she smell?” I ask to keep him talking.

He looks at me like I’ve gone insane. Luca and I used to talk about this stuff all the time. Except with Luca, I didn’t have to ask the questions. He’d willingly give me every disgusting detail that I didn’t ask for.

“No,” he says slowly, with a shake of his head.

“Some girls smell.” I shrug. It’s no big deal. “Vic didn’t enjoy going down on me because I’d get sweaty from playing hockey.” Carter slams his fist on the nearby table.

“Uh, I’ll be back,” the therapist stutters and gets up to either give us some privacy or get my chart.

“You scared him away.”

“Willa,” Carter leans over to get my attention, “Vic is an asshole. He should’ve never said those things to you.”

“It’s no big deal. I get it. Sweat is funky.” I shrug. “I’m an athlete.”

Carter opens his mouth to say something, but the therapist comes back and brings me to the first station.

The tension coming off Carter is thick as he follows me from station to station, watching me struggle to complete each exercise. The exercises weren't even anything intense, but I’m a hot and sweating mess, looking like I just finished three periods of a game without any bench time. I’m happy I wore my shorts and sports bra underneath my thick clothes.

It’s only been a month and I’m so out of shape.

“How do I look? Hot, right?” I joke and flash Carter a smile. He hasn’t said another word the entire time. “I feel gross. Let’s go.”

He helps carry my bag, but once in the hall, he drags me into a private exam room, locking the door behind us.

Carter throws my bag down and paces in front of me.

“Are you ready to talk now?” I stand before him, waiting for the floodgates to open.

He needs to let out all that tension and steam he’s holding in and I’ve been patient, not pushing it like I want to.

He stops and nods his head. “Take off your pants.”

“What?” I laugh, but he is dead serious. “Carter, I’m not having sex with you.”

“No, but I’m going to prove to you that Vic was nothing more than a spineless, gaslighting fool.” He comes closer and backs me into the bench at the center of the small room. “You’re sweating now. Let’s see what you smell like.”

“You’re nuts.” I try to push him back, but he lifts me onto the exam bench and pulls at my shorts. “Carter, I'm disgusting right now.” I squeal and hold him back.

“Prove it. I bet I’ll prove you wrong.” He breathes in the side of my neck. “Mmm, you smell good to me. Now, let’s see what that pussy smells like.”

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