Page 74 of Did They Break You

But his arm around me as he walked me over here like he already knew the way, seemingly uncaring if anyone saw us… I blink my eyes open, holding the phone over my face.

I don’t.

He doesn’t take long to respond.

Cortland

Because you miss me?

I have to bite back a smile, and I know I should hate that. I know I should block him. I should’ve done that after that night, but I just never did. I should’ve done it last weekend, but I didn’t. Still, I should put my phone down. This will go nowhere. This can benothing.But in this cocoon of marijuana-laced safety, snug in my bed, I reply anyway.

No.

My heart picks up speed in my chest as I see him typing, and I wonder if I should just slip my phone under my pillow. Let this go.

He’s with Maya.

He doesn’t care about me.

He took me home, drunk, and fingered me.

He could’ve done worse and I’d never know.

But I think about what he said. That I was with some guy in the bushes. He could be lying about that, too. He’s obviously good at it by now.

And that’s exactly what he calls me.

Cortland

Liar.

I don’t respond for a long moment, and his next text comes through.

Cortland

Staying away from blades tonight?

I swallow, hard, thinking of him knowing about my habit.

You don’t care.

It takes him a long time to reply, and I wait for him to cut me down.

Cortland

If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have asked.

Something warm runs through me with his words. I roll over in bed so it’s easier to look at my screen.

Yes.

Cortland

Promise?

I smile despite knowing he reallydoesn’tcare.

Does it matter? You just said I’m a liar.

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