Page 75 of Broken by my Bully

Write a cruel word on your partner’s cheek with a permanent marker.

Consequence

Relive your most recent sexual encounter in graphic detail.

We both stare at the card.

“I mean…is he even allowed to do shit like this?” I mutter softly so my voice won’t get picked up by Melissa’s phone.

“Stories I’ve heard?” Melissa’s eyes are round when I glance up at her. “He’s done much worse.”

“What?”

She glances over at her phone. “I need to go pee,” she says loudly. “Gonna hit pause quick.”

On the second try, she gets to her feet, and goes to fetch her phone. I watch her with a cold, sinking feeling in my stomach that has nothing to do with the three shots of tequila simmering down there.

She taps on her phone, and then holds up a finger, leaning in with a serious look on her face. “This is just what I’ve heard, okay? Could all be rumor.”

“Tell me,” I snap.

“Okay, so, one of my sorority sisters told me that Daddy Rooke moved to Agony Hollow because he fucked up real bad at his last college.”

“Fucked up how?”

“He was experimenting on his students.”

I lean back. “Like…in a laboratory?”

She laughs. “No, like psychologically.” She taps her temple. “Manipulation. Gaslighting.” She flicks the card onto the floor between us. “Weird games and assignments.” A shrug. “I mean, it could be total bullshit, but you’ve met him.” The side of her mouth lifts. “You’ve beenalonewith him.”

I hold out my hand. “Stop it. It wasn’t like that. He just gave me that book. The Lucifer Effect? For class.” I realize I’m blabbing, and press my lips closed.

Melissa sits back, taking a deep breath. “Fuck it, I’m not judging, Haven. God knows I’ve done some questionable shit in my life.” For a moment, she looks lost, like she opened a door expecting to see stairs, and found a wall behind it. “But damn it, you’re nasty for not sharing. I need more content for my fantasy folder.”

“You fantasize about Professor Rooke?” My face is getting hotter every second.

“Youdon’t?” She looks disgusted. “What’s wrong with you? You’re not a Mormon, are you?”

That makes me laugh, but it sounds shrill, so I cut it off.

“You’re weird,” she mutters, shaking her head as she crawls back to the dresser to replace her phone.

“Thanks, Haven,” she says woodenly, and much too loudly, as she crawls back to me. “I feel so much better now.”

I snort at her bad acting, and she rolls her eyes at me.

I point to the card. “I will face the consequences!”

She mock-gasps.

But then I realize what I’m about to say, and my cheeks start to glow. “So…uh…there was this guy…”

“Anolderguy?” she says, lips squirming as she tries to keep a straight face.

I lift my hands. “Just a guy, Melissa!”

“Okay, okay.” She crosses her arms. “A hot guy, at least?”