Page 71 of Dare To Fall

I do. I do. This is tearing me apart. Help me. Please help me.

She sighs softly. “If you change your mind, I’m here.”

“Thanks, Ele—Mom.”

“Elliot wants to go away for spring break. Just the two of us. I wanted to call you first before letting him book something.”

“Why?”

“Because it means you and Eli will be home alone.”

“Oh.” The thought of being alone with him scares me. Anything could happen with no one there to stop it.

“We don’t have to go—”

“No, you should. I might just find somewhere else to stay. Head to the beach or something. Somewhere peaceful. I quite like the idea of being alone for a while.”

Somewhere I can think. Catch my breath without eyes watching me all the time. It’s everything I yearn for.

Elena hums. “Charge it to your credit card. Maybe go shopping?”

“I will.”

“I can order a car to come to pick you up from school on the last day, if you like?”

Her offer makes me smile. It feels strange on my lips. When did I last smile? “Yes, please.”

“Okay, darling. I’ll arrange it for you and text you the details.”

“I hope you both have fun,” I whisper. “I better go. I have a session with Counselor Clarke soon.”

“Talk to you soon, sweetheart.”

“Bye, Mom.” Ending the call, I roll onto my side and stare at the calendar pinned to the wall. My gaze follows the red crosses over the dates and the ones yet to be ticked off—my countdown until freedom.

Chapter 45

Eli

“When did you last speak to Arabella?”

“What?” I drag my eyes away from the sketch I’m doing and search out where Kellan sits across the table from me.

“Arabella. When did you last talk to her?”

I shrug. I stopped texting her a while ago. I don’t remember when, but she hasn’t been speaking to me since I spanked her. Something changed that day. It had to. To make it believable, I had to cut off any feelings I have for her. It’s the only way I can make whoever is watching believe the role I’m playing.

The days are blurring together into a constant repetition of see her, hurt her, walk away from her, while the words ‘it’s to keep her alive’ roll on a loop through my head.

“Eli!” Kellan’s clipped voice drags my attention back to him. “Have you been with her at all when you’re not in her face?”

“She wants nothing to do with me, so … no.” I focus back on the sketchpad.

“Eli!” He snatches the pad out of my hands and stuffs it in his bag. “For fuck’s sake.”

“What?”

“Look at me.”

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