I glanced at the car service app on my phone.
One minute away.
"Maria, please could we –"
"Sir, we can't let you leave without settling your bill."
"Fuck!" Brian's anguished shout filled the still night, but I didn't care. Although, it did give me satisfaction that he would probably be barred from Da Vinci's for attempting to skip out on the check.
I spied my ride coming down the street and calmly waved it down. With dignified grace, I climbed in and firmly shut the door behind me, murmuring a greeting to the driver. I was proud of how steady I sounded.
As the car took off, I never once glanced back.
Chapter 13
Maria - 14 Years Old
FROM THE PRIVATE NOTES OF DR. ANNA MORRIS
I twisted my hands together as I stood a distance away, watching Jason go around his group of friends, slapping hands and doing that shoulder hug thing. He barely acknowledged me except for a slight chin lift when I arrived. It made me feel like shit. But he was probably too preoccupied with saying goodbye to his school friends before he had to leave.
Kel, Jason's best friend, met my gaze over Jason's shoulder and sent me a sly wink. I smiled prettily even though my insides repelled. I repressed a shudder as I recalled his sweaty hands on my body, stroking me intimately as Jason watched.
He swore that sharing me with his best friend would prove my love for him and bring us closer together. And for a brief time, it did. He couldn't get enough of me, even though it bothered me that all we did when we met up was have sex.
Lately, though, I couldn't help the panic that Jason was pulling away from me. He barely texted me anymore, and when we did meet up, Kel or one of his friends were always there with him.
I knew he had a lot on his mind. He was leaving for college, so he was busy finding a job, buying books, checking out his dorms, and hanging with his family and friends before he left for three years. It was a lot for him. And I was too needy of his time when he should be fixated on his future. One I hoped still included me.
I forced my worry aside as I remembered his promise that he'd send for me once he was settled. I’d finally confessed my age to Jason after we slept together, and, surprisingly, it didn't bother him. Still, I kept my relationship with him a secret, even from Lissa. I wasn't stupid. I knew that if people found out, it could get him into a lot of trouble. His friends didn't mind either and had no problem showing me. The attention felt nice, even if it made my skin crawl.
Jason clapped Kel on the back before strolling over to me with a confident smirk on his handsome face.
"Hey, baby."
Before I could reply, he grasped my ass and pulled me to him. His lips landed on mine in an overly aggressive kiss, his tongue forcing entry as his fingers dug painfully into my ass. Memories of the day I lost my virginity to him came crashing back. He hadn't been gentle or caring then, so I didn't expect him to start now.
"That's the way guys like it," he had told me.
Once he pulled away, I fought the urge to wipe my mouth. I gave him a wide smile as I patted his chest, lifting on my tip toes to nuzzle him. His strong aftershave tickled my nose.
"You'll call me when you get there, right?" I tried to keep my tone neutral so he didn't sense my desperation.
"Sure, babe." He bopped my nose like I was a first grader before whistling at his friends. "Yo, Kel! Give my girl a ride back."
My stomach fluttered when I heard him call me his girl. It helped assuage my panic at being anywhere near Kel and the rest of Jason's friends.
My breathing quickened when I sensed him behind me. The smell of his cologne always made me gag. My shoulders tensed as a heavy arm fell over them. "Sure thing, man."
With a last fist bump to his boys, I watched the guy I loved hop in his car and drive away.
"And what happened next?" Dr. Anna Morris crossed her legs as she scribbled a note on her giant pad.
I picked at an invisible spot on my jeans. Not for the first time, I wondered if it was a good idea to seek out therapy. I hated reliving my past.
"I never heard from Jason again." I took a deep breath as I debated telling the next part. It reeked of an immature, vindictive girl. When I finally told Lissa about Jason and what I almost did, she berated me for potentially ruining another guy's life.
"I - I threatened to go to the police about underage sex with him and his friends if he didn't contact me." My voice was small, and I refused to look up. "He got his friend, Kel, to pass on a message that he was done with me, and if I reported him, it'll be their word against mine."
