Page 79 of Did They Break You

“What are your thoughts on it?” she asks softly.

What would she think if I told her my thoughts? If I told her where I was last Friday night? The Monday before that at the gym, letting him touch me? And last night, texting him in bed?

“I don’t know,” I answer her truthfully. Sighing, I snatch up my backpack, toss it over my shoulder as I stand. I glance at the clock beside the window at her back. “I gotta go,” I mutter, seeing I’m only cutting our session five minutes short. “I’m meeting Sloane…” I trail off with my lie and turn from her, heading to the door.

This time, she just lets me go.

But after I open the door, close it softly behind me and start to head down the narrow hallway of the student service’s building, I collide with someone, stumbling back a step.

Their hand comes to my shoulder, steadying me, and when I look up, an apology on the tip of my tongue, my eyes connect with Cortland’s gray ones. Before I can think it through, I’m blurting out, “What are you doing here?”

There’s nothing past Dr. Ravi’s office. It’s like a private island in this two-story brick building, great for therapy sessions.

But there’s no wayCortlandis coming to see her for…

He nods toward the door behind me, dropping his hand and stepping back. I take in his black and teal West River long sleeve shirt, fitted gray pants, black Vans.

And his face… there’s a red mark. Like something hit him. A handprint, maybe?

I can’t stop staring at it, feeling a little unsteady on my feet.What happened?

Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe he popped a pimple. Maybe he got into a fight, or Maya slapped him. I haven’t seen her around campus since the café, and I hope I never do, but still.

He would deserve it.

A cold chill runs down my spine as I think about what she might know. My heart skips a beat. But no. He’d never tell her.I’m a dirty little secret.

That’s all I’ll ever be.

I tear my eyes away from his face, perfect save for that one blemish. He has one hand in his pocket, backpack slung over one shoulder. He bites his lip, avoiding his lip ring as he stares down at me, his eyes expressionless. He’s got the whole brooding pout thing going on, his chestnut hair tousled like he’s run his fingers through it too many times.

As he shrugs, I watch the muscles in his neck flex. “I have an appointment.” He grits those words out, like I’m pissing him off standing in front of him.

I should take the hint and move but my mouth drops open and I blink. “What?”

He smiles cruelly, looking down between us. “Can you move?” he asks, an edge to his question. “I need to get in there.”

I tighten my fingers around the straps of my backpack, hesitant to move and I don’t even know why. I feel that sense of betrayal again with Dr. Ravi, even though, logically, I know it’s irrational. Cortland is a student now, he has the right to access the therapist, too.

But…why?

“Are you like, fucking her?” I don’t know why I blurt that out, but it’s the only thing I can think to say. And maybe that’s why he got slapped. Maybe he’s not just following me in graveyards. Taking advantage of me when I’m drunk. He’s sleeping with his therapist.Fuck.My mind goes wild with different scenarios, each more implausible than the last. Then again, Cortland is anightmare, but I can see his appeal. And sure, Dr. Ravi was on my side in there, but that doesn’t really mean anything.

He laughs, dipping his chin as he raises a brow, disbelief etched onto his handsome face. “I beg your pardon?”

I step toward him, ducking to the side, intending to walk around him and let this go. But he sidesteps me, blocking my path, crowding me against the wall, his hands planted on either side of my head.

My heart stutters in my chest as I freeze, inhaling deep. I catch his scent, reminding me of camping. Fall nights. Morning jogs.

I feel alive in the woods.Free.

Just like I do in the cemetery.

Just like I did when Cortland and I went to the park for dates.

But inhaling his scent, it kind of ruins those memories, too.

“You think I’m fucking my therapist?” he asks quietly, flashing his teeth in a smile. The imperfections of his white teeth make my thighs clench and…

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