Page 83 of The Breaking Pointe
“I just want to help.” I try to imply assurance, discontinu- ing his worries.
Herespondswithaself-consciousgazeatthefloor.
Signaling him to relax, I rest a hand on his, lifting his chin with my other hand.“They helped me, in the past.If you give them a chance, they might be able to help you, too.”
His eyes scan over my face before he lets out a gentle sigh. “Okay. For you.”
“No, you need to do it for you, Colton.Please?”I squeeze his hand.
He silences himself again, but only for a moment.“Okay,” he whispers.
“Can I suggest something else?”I ask.
“What’s up?”He looks at me.
“Those meetings that I go to. They’re…for trauma.But it’s like therapy. I thought maybe if we went together, it might help?” I close my eyes nervously, bowing my head.
“Oh wow…uh…” He sighs. “Noelle, I don’t even do well in my own therapy.I’m not sure if I’m ready for that,” he says, quietly.
At least he’s not judging me. That’s all I wanted, for him to not judge me.
Boosting myself up a little, I kiss his cheek.“It’s okay. It’s just a suggestion.About the tapes though, you won’t regret it.”I smile, then take a deep breath.“Now, didn’t you say there was a vegan ice cream shop nearby? Don’t think I forgot,” I say seriously.
A smile creeps on his face. “I did. And you have my word. Let me clean up a little and we can get out of here,” he says, putting the tapes in his bag before picking it up.
21
interrogation
NOELLE
“I’m sorry if this hangout seemed last minute,” I blurt as we wait for the ice cream server to finish making our sundae. “I…wanted to stay out a little later tonight since I worked all day,” I lie, retaining my real reason to come out, which ismy desire to see him.
“So, seeing me was your solution?”he asks, furrowing his eyebrows playfully.
“That’s not an issue, is it?” I reply, giving him a sprinkle of sass.
“If you were anybody else, I’m afraid I would have to say yes.” He nods, watching the server hold out the ice cream for him to grab.He pays for it, carefully taking it into his hands after he does and thanking them before returning his attention to me.“But I think it’s better to admit thatit’s impossible for me to consume too much or get tired of spendingwhatevertimeIhavewithyou.Yourpresenceis
pretty remarkable, if you weren’t aware.”
“I wasn’t aware,” I come back, sticking beside him as we walk away from the stand.
“Consider yourself woke, then.” He chuckles.
“Okay, considered.But you have to tell me what makes me different, huh?” I rebut, wanting to hear more. “Why do I stand out?”
“How about you let me interrogate you,for once?”Hechuckles, holding out the sundae for me to take a bite as we walk.“What made you consider giving me the time of day?”
Fair.I suppose I could test my theory on why he has a chance at making the cut for the role of dutiful boyfriend.
“Alright, fine. If I’m being real, I never thought I would meet anybody again who would be interested in me enough to stick around for more than just sex,” I say, keeping my head high, but relieved in myself for telling him my deep cut. “I thought that after we hooked up, you would be pleased, like most men, and then forget all about the club, and about me.”
He takes a scoop of ice cream, flipping the spoon upside- down before it enters his mouth,then gazes at me in a puzzled manner.He devours his bite, then gives me his million-dollar reply.
“That’s a little ridiculous, no?”He stares at me.
“No. It’s realistic. I’m not immune to the harsh treatment that most men feel the need to shower us women with. I’m no different than any other woman.It’s more common to be another notch on a belt, then be the woman of someone’s dreams,” I say, almost scoffing.
