“Gummy bears,” I mutter to myself. “Get the damn gummy bears and get out.”
Counting helps.One…two…three…
I walk down the candy aisle, scanning the shelves. My legs bounce with each step, small jittery movements I can’t control. I smooth the hem of my romper, fingers rubbing the fabric again and again like I can iron my nerves away.
I find the gummy bears. My throat loosens a little.
Okay. Good. Just pay and leave.
The cashier looks up the moment I approach. Middle-aged, greasy hair, eyes that don’t stay on my face long enough to pretend he’s decent.
“Hi.” I say, polite, rehearsed. Safe-girl voice.
I set the candy down and slide the card across the counter.
He doesn’t take it. Not right away. He stares, then smiles. No, not a smile. It’s more terrifying than that. Something slow and oily.
“You’re a pretty little thing,” he says quietly.
My stomach drops.
Cold metal. White lights. A hand in my hair?—
I blink the memory away and angle my shoulder so he can’t see the tremor in my hands.
“Can you just ring it up?” I ask, trying not to shrink into myself.
Instead of answering, he reaches across the counter and grips my waist.
I freeze.
Everything inside me goes silent. My breath stutters. The room pulls away like a camera zooming out too fast.
He squeezes, fingers pressing into my flesh. “Bet you taste as sweet as you look.”
The he slaps me. Sharp. Casual. Like he’s done it before. The crack against my ass sends a shock through my entire body.
My vision flickers. My throat closes. I can’t…I can’t breathe.
I push him with both hands, harder than I thought I could. “Don’t touch me!”
He laughs. Like it’s funny. LikeI’mfunny. I back up so fast, I nearly trip over a display of energy drinks. My pulse roars in my ears. The doors feel a mile away.
Get away. Get away.
Get. Away.
The card shakes between my fingers. I drop the candy.
Doesn’t matter. Nothing matters except for getting away. Sunlight hits me like a slap the second I burst outside. I walk straight to the car. I don’t even remember crossing the lot. My legs move because they know how to escape even when I don’t.
I slide into the seat and pull the door shut. The smell of leather helps steady me. Barely.
I can’t look at Nicolo. If I look at him, I’ll fall apart. I stare at my hands instead. They’re shaking. Of course they’re shaking.
Be normal. Be fine.
No one can see this weakness. They’ll use it against you.
