Page 65 of Bitter Truths

Watching his stiff shoulders, I falter, touching his arm. “You sure you want to do this?”

He turns to me and smiles, but it’s full of pain, and my heart clenches once more.

“Yes,” he says firmly, looking away.

“Okay,” I whisper, and he nods at Aaron without meeting his eyes before walking ahead, his head bowed as he disappears into the crowd.

Aaron shifts beside me, and I feel his curious stare. “What was that about?”

“Redemption,” I whisper before tugging him toward the exit.

Chapter Nineteen

Don’t ask me why. I never had the answer.

HALSEY

I don’t hear from Max right away, which leaves me itchy and on edge.

“Everything okay, Halsey? You seem distracted,” Dr. Marks says, drawing my attention back to him.

“Oh, um, yes, just a little tired,” I say, smiling weakly. I’ve got a shit ton on my mind, and frankly, I think my counselor would be horrified to know the extent of it.

“Anything you want to talk about?”

“No, just a lot of schoolwork.”

“I see. Are you sure there isn’t anything else?” He’s gazing at me shrewdly, and I sink into my seat, paranoia flying through my veins.

Can he sense my plans, the euphoria followed by despair that I can’t seem to let go of? It’s the only thing that keeps me rolling out of bed these days. Nothing else gives me a direction, and with every day that I spend without Griff, knowing I pushed him away and he’s truly moved on pulls me further into the abyss.

I want to be with him, but I’m afraid of what might happen if I am. Will revenge be enough to slake the hunger for destruction gnawing at my stomach, or will I discover nothing will ever make me better? Maybe this is me, and I’m forever stuck.

“Could it be the video?” Dr. Marks asks, bringing me back to the present.

My stomach freefalls, and I sit forward in my chair, a burning sensation crawling down my spine. “What?”

“The video, Halsey,” he says quietly, and I frown.

“What are you talking about?” He can’t be talking about . . .?

“It’s all over social media, Halsey,” he says patiently.

“Are you watching me on social media?” I whisper, disturbed by the thought, even though I don’t spend much time on it. Are there no fucking boundaries though?

And he’s seen my shame? Another fucking person who can see past the layers I’ve carefully constructed. Fuck me.

“Halsey, how did it make you feel?”

Is that a fucking yes?

“How do you think it made me feel? Horrified, annoyed, scared, humiliated,” I snarl, standing abruptly. I need to go. I can’t be here. It’s crawling again, writhing wickedly below the surface.

“Sit down,” he says grimly, and I stop, staring at him in surprise. “You heard me. Sit.”

Slowly, I sit back down and cross my arms over my chest, shifting uncomfortably under his stern gaze.

“Now, calm down, and listen.”

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