Page 113 of Bitter Truths

“Hm. I don’t know. Maybe you can just switch therapists, you know? Don’t people do that?”

“Maybe,” I mull it over. “Hm, maybe that would work.” I could just say I feel more comfortable with a female or something. Shit, why didn’t I think of that? “Aaron, you’re a genius!”

“Well,” he preens.

Laughing, I stare at the side of his face, and I’m filled with a warmth that only he brings, but on the wings of that is the burn of shame because I haven’t asked him about him in a long time.

Shifting in my seat, I decide it’s time to change that. He’s my friend, and I’ve been a self-absorbed bitch.

“Aaron?”

“Yeah?”

“What happened? I mean, you seemed to have a story of your own when you warned me off revenge with Griff, you know?”

“Well,” he says, glancing at me with a strained smile. “It’s-I don’t know. My family doesn’t like that I’m bi, you know?”

“Oh,” I say, my mouth souring. Aaron’s amazing, and anybody who thinks otherwise can go straight to hell.

He rubs his mouth and sighs. “Well, my dad found out my freshman year of high school and demanded that I end it. You know, figure out I’m not gay and move on. I did what he said because you don’t say no to my dad. At least I didn’t then, but I was miserable. And the boy I liked didn’t take it well. He was a mean little shit who broke my heart, even though it wasn’t my choice.”

“How?”

“He fucked my arch-nemesis and told me to my face. It was horribly painful. And I agonized over it until my hurt turned to anger, and I got my revenge. But I exposed his darkest secret to the whole school, and I’ve never, ever regretted anything more. He was so devastated.” Aaron’s mouth curves into a sad smile.

“Oh,” I say softly, the parallels between my mistakes and even Griffin’s running through my head. Hurt can make you a mean little bitch, but maybe this is the way to learn from the painful-ass lesson, even if taking the high road sucks.

“Anyway, I guess I just didn’t want to see you make the same mistake.”

“Well, I didn’t listen. I’m just glad I didn’t go too far,” I mutter, smiling when we pull up to our destination, and I see it’s the ax bar.

It’s a local favorite that I haven’t been to, but I mentioned it to Aaron, and of course, he’s brought me. He always listens when I speak, and this is just another example of how important he is in my life. He’s the best.

“Ready to beat the shit out of a wall?” he asks devilishly.

Chapter Thirty-Three

You make me burn.

HALSEY

The following day, I consider Aaron’s suggestion regarding Dr. Marks. I’m sure my mom would freak if I asked to stop going altogether, and even though I’m uneasy about how he will react, I’m going to see about switching therapists.

Griffin is at class, and Aaron went out. This is a good time to call the clinic. I don’t want Griffin to ask me questions I can’t answer because, for some reason, yet again, what Dr. Marks did and said crawls beneath my skin.

I want nothing to do with him, and I’m hopeful after I get off the phone with an appointment for a new therapist because whatever weird shit he was trying to push will die with this. Some part of me knows I should say something, report it. But once again, I’m worried. What if no one believes me? And I’m scared to say anything because he’s seen the videos. What if he accuses me of lying? I already created a mess of suspicion when I hid this before. What if this whole thing blows up in my face again? I’m tired. I just want to live with Griffin in our safe haven. That’s it.

When Griffin comes home, I’m in an unusually good mood. It feels as though a weight has been lifted from my chest, and I can finally breathe. My appointment with my new therapist is tomorrow, and I’m hopeful. I don’t want to go through all this again, and I wish I could end the treatment altogether, but maybe my new person will have a better outlook. I can meet the requirements of my hospital discharge with my mom, none the wiser.

I am wary of seeing Dr. Marks in the clinic, but with any luck, he’ll have class at that time.

“Hello, sweet,” Griffin says, pulling me into his arms. With a small sigh, I snuggle in and smile against his chest because I think, finally,we can focus on each other, and I’m so fucking relieved.

“Am I interrupting?” Max says stiffly, and I break away, eyeing him with surprise. I wasn’t expecting him, and I’m just about to ask if everything is okay when he speaks. “Aaron invited me.”

“Oh, okay.” I smile, but he has a weird look on his face, and taking in his expression, my heart sinks to my toes. He looks flushed, and his eyes are glassy. Fuck, is he using again?

Griffin stiffens beside me, and I clutch him tighter when I feel the rage in every tight line of his body.

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