Page 181 of Return Policy

“Why are you doing this?” I ask weakly, a single tear streaming down my face as my resolve starts to break.

Don’t let him see you fall apart.

Don’t let him see the power he has over you.

“Isn’t it obvious?” He laughs mockingly, reaching up, and I flinch as he wipes away the tear. “I’m protecting you, baby girl.” My lips twitch at the familiar nickname I’ve come to loathe. He places his hand on my face, and I slap him away. “Now is that any way to thank me?” he snaps, caging me flush against the wall. His warm body presses into mine, and I have to physically hold my mouth shut to stop the sob threatening to rip out of me.

“Get the fuck away from her!” Theo’s voice booms down the hallway, and a shaky breath escapes my lips.

Seth’s head whips in Theo’s direction. “You really wanna stick up for this cunt?” Once again, Seth’s words give me whiplash. Saying he’s protecting me one minute and calling me a cunt the next.

Theo grabs Seth by the neck and throws him against the other wall. “Call her a cunt one more time and see if you don’t end up in the fucking morgue.”

Seth pushes him off, and Theo stumbles backwards just as the door to the waiting room opens and Charlie, along with half of the CBU football team, pours out. Seth’s eyes bounce between them all, and I can tell the moment his tiny brain realizes he’s outnumbered.

“This isn’t over, baby girl,” Seth promises.Why can’t it just be over?

Theo throws his arm around my shoulder, pulling me against him. “Breathe, angel face.”

On my first inhale, a loud sob erupts from my mouth, and I slap my hand over it. My vision blurs as Theo pulls me through the hallways to God knows where. A door opens and closes, and then Theo nudges me to sit down. I wipe chaotically at my face, glancing around at the small, empty room with a few tables and chairs.

“Sophia,” Theo commands with a serious tone I’ve never heard from him before. “Breathe.”

Seconds turn to minutes as I force my pounding heart to settle and my breathing returns to a normal pace. Theo never once pushes me or shows any signs of frustration.

“Shit,” I say, exasperated once I can finally breathe. “I’m supposed to be strong for him, and I’m a pathetic mess who can’t even go five minutes without crying.”

“Sophia, no one blames you for being upset. E’s…” He pauses. “You know… And then your ex… and I know it’s a lot for you. It’s okay to not be okay.”

“No.” I shake my head. “I can do this. I can handle this. I can be there for him.”

Mint chocolate chip ice cream sticks to my fingers as I shift in the uncomfortable chair of the waiting room. When will people stop treating me like a baby? I wanna know what’s happening too.

“Elijah is going to be fine,” Theo says, pulling me out of the unwelcome memory.

My head snaps toward him. “Is he?”

A flicker of doubt flashes in Theo’s eyes before he schools his expression. “Yes.”

“You’re a shit liar.” I roll my eyes, and he releases a breathy laugh. My phone rings, and I pull it out to seeDadflashing across the screen. “I have to answer. He’s already called ten times.”

“Do you want me to leave?”

I stare down at the phone and shake my head. “No.”

The little red button is begging for the touch of my thumb, but I tap green instead and bring the phone to my ear.

“Hey, Dad,” I say weakly.

“Sophia?” His voice comes through so loudly I have to pull the phone away. “I’ve been calling you for hours!”

I swallow hard. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“I saw the game on TV,” he says, and I’m teetering on the edge of a skyscraper. “Is Elijah okay?”

I’m shoved off the building, hurtling toward the ground at record speed. “No.” Theo places his arm loosely over my back, squeezing my shoulder. It’s just enough to keep me from making impact.

“I, well, I saw—I saw it was Seth who took him out…”

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