Page 176 of Swallow Your Sorries

Damn, it feels good.

“You do love your rags.”

I knock his bicep, but only I end up wincing.

“You don’t go on a shelf like porcelain dolls. You’re soft and warm and the only place I want you is tucked into my bed beneath the covers just like that night in the greenhouse.”

Don’t fall for it Clowny, I mentally chastise myself, but one look into his dark eyes and I’m already putting on the white foundation.

I look away.

Put down the blue eye shadow.

“But I’m a porcelain doll.”

My eyes snap back to him becausewhat?Mark that as the last possible thing I’d ever expect to come out of Gant Auclair’s mouth.

“Fragile.” he goes on as we walk deeper into the forest. “I keep cracking. I don’t want to crack anymore. I’d rather be a ragdoll too.”

Gant…

“Maybe that’s why I keep holding onto you so tight. Because I want to become softer. You’re good at making me soft too. After you’ve made me so hard. After you’ve let me play with you and given me a release.”

I haven’t technically given him a release yet. Still, my ears burn, but they’re soon extinguished by the glassy water of the spring just metres away.

“Where are we going?” But I already know.

“Swimming.”

I dig my heels into the forest floor and I’m about to whip around when Gant grabs me around the waist.

“Put me down!”

“You’ve been in the spring before, remember?”

“That was different. I was trying to get to you.”

I hit him so hard in the groin that he doubles over, and I manage to scramble out of his embrace. I make it two steps before he clotheslines me around the neck. Not hard enough that I choke, but firm enough that I have no choice but to let him drag us closer to the spring.

“So you’re saying I’m more important to you than getting kicked out?”

“I- what? No, of course not!”

“So get in. You can stand, Elle, and I’m right here.”

“That scares me even more.”

“You’ve endured massive amounts of bullying to stay at Beaulieu—”

“Because of you!”

“But you won’t endure a little dip to avoid getting kicked out? Beaulieu takes its reputation that seriously and given the cost of tuition and copious amounts of donations they receive every semester, they won’t be pressed over losing one student who lied.”

“You lied on the application!”

“Especially one that isn’t a standout in any of the arts,” he says, ignoring me.

“You have an uncanny ability to make people feel even worse than before.”

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