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“Who is Cole?” Susan asks, and I cringe just hearing his vile name. I don’t think I can talk or think about him for another second, but then I remember what Susan said in the beginning. This might help other girls in the future. If I don’t speak up now, then Cole will walk away a free man, giving him the chance to do this to another woman and that in itself is enough to keep me talking.
“Cole was Remington’s roommate. He had this strange obsession with me. He’s the one who drugged me and tried to…” I can’t even say the word out loud, because then it feels like it’s real, like it happened, and though I know it almost did, it’s easier to swallow if I don’t say it.
“Then a few days after that, he cornered me. We shared a class together, he didn’t show up, so I thought I was safe, but after class, he got me alone and tried to force me to tell Remington that I wanted it. He made an idle threat about how I would pay if I didn’t. I was scared, but I wasn’t going to tell Remington because it was a lie, I didn’t want it.” Tears stain my cheeks.
“I didn’t want him,” I whisper more to myself than anyone else in the room.
“I know, Jules, I know you didn’t.” Susan comes up beside me, reaching out for me. She places her hand on my upper arm, her touch is gentle and comforting as she rubs her thumb over my skin. It reminds me of how my mother comforted me as a child, how Remington comforted me the night that all of this happened, and I miss that comfort…I miss him.
“It was never Remington. It was Cole. Remington saved me, and I only didn’t say anything until now because I just wanted to forget.”
“You don’t have to explain yourself, this is completely normal,” Susan assures me and somehow that makes me feel better.
I don’t know why but I was sure people would judge me for what happened but now looking at her, seeing that there is no judgment at all in her gaze, and only understanding, I know I was wrong.
A throat clears behind us making me turn to face the noise, it’s then that I notice the detective is now standing, and that Seb has entered the room.
“We have all the information we need now. I just have one question, Miss Peterson.” The detective’s gaze softens as soon as he sees my face.
“Yes?” I croak, blinking through the tears.
“When was the last time you’ve seen or heard from Cole?”
“That day he cornered me after class. I can look at my call schedule and tell you the exact date, but I can’t remember it off the top of my head.”
“That would be great, Miss Peterson. Just email me the information as soon as you can and thank you again. I’m sorry to have had to put you through this again.” He gives me a sympathetic smile and hands me a card. I take it, holding it in my clammy hand.
“While we are handing out cards, here is mine.” Susan hands me a card as well. “If you need to talk again, or simply vent, that’s my office number on the top and my cell on the bottom. You can call me any time, day or night.”
If you would have asked me two hours ago if I would ever call her, my answer would have been hell no, but now that I’ve actually talked to her, I do consider it. I will definitely keep her card close to me.
“Thank you,” I tell both of them and watch as Seb sees them out. As soon as I hear the front door close, I sag onto the couch. Talking about that night lifted a weight off my chest, but it also made me confirm that it happened and that was almost more terrifying than remembering it.
Sebastian walks back into the room, a sad look on his face. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I did hear a bunch of the stuff you said, mostly because you were yelling, which I’m glad you did. You have no fucking idea how glad I am to see you be angry and yelling.”
I give him a sad smile. “I owe you Seb. I owe you lots.”
He grins, walking over to where I’m lying on the couch. Without warning, he’s pulling me to his chest, his arms wrapped tightly around me.
“Never do that to me again, never. I understand why you did it, that you were hurting, but I was afraid, Jules, so damn afraid.”
Hurting Sebastian was never my intention, but I can see now that I had.
“I’m sorry,” I admit, feeling his arms tighten around me.
“Don’t be. The only person that needs to be sorry is that fucker for hurting you, and I swear, Jules…the police better find him before I do, because if I find him first, he’s a dead man. He is never going to pull this shit again.”
