Page 67 of Broken by my Bully
He stops right at the entrance of the college.
A few students glance over casually as my car door opens.
Bastian doesn’t seem to care if anyone sees him dropping me off. That should make me feel better, but all I can think about is the way I shriveled up inside when he gave me that soul-fucking stare.
…I know who you’re protecting…
Bastian doesn’t know shit.
I slam the car door a little harder than I’d wanted to, and cringe when I walk past his driver’s side door, expecting him to lean out and yell at me.
But he has more self-control in his little finger than I could ever muster.
I watch him drive away, and wait for regret to slam into me like it always does. But it only comes later that day, when I’m back in my car after an exhaustively boring Urban Studies class.
Professor Rooke invited me into his home, and I spat in his face. Sure, he provoked me, but he was just being kind. When was the last time someone was kind to me?
That’swhen the regret hits.
But it’s not aimed at Bastian.
All I see are Kai’s frowning, concerned eyes. I hear his nineteen-year-old self whisper, “Last chance, Heavenly. There’s no coming back from this.”
ThatI regret.
My hand slams into the steering wheel. Then I do it again,because the pain isn’t intense enough, and I can still see Kai’s eyes, that deep eleven between his brows.
Again.
Again.
Breathing out slow and steady, I take my phone out of my tote bag and balance it on my thigh. Then I hesitate and push the button to open the glove box. It falls down, scattering a few things into the passenger-side footwell.
I ignore them.
The good shit is buried deep.
Deep, deep,deep.
I take out an envelope, fold it open, and slip out the page folded up inside.
Smooth it out on my other thigh.
The paper is soft from years of handling, stained with tears.
Emotions I thought I’d annihilated years ago pour back inside me like they never left.
Shock. Guilt. Shame.
I blink back the tears. Inhale a shuddering breath.
Don’t need to read the note. I’ve committed it to memory years ago.
I WISH I NEVER MET U
I FUCKING HATE U
BURN IN HELL
