“What?” he snapped, his hands firmly between his legs. “You hurt me!”

“You—! You—!” I couldn’t articulate any other words. Prickles of aches and stings resonated as I stood there shaking. My fingers fumbling at the hem of my skirt that was crumpled and hiked way too high. My head whirling because the room spun.

“Me?” He gaped at me. “Whatever. Look at you, Amber!” He pointed to my skirt and silk shirt set. “Look at the way you’re dressed tonight! You were begging me for it!”

I gasped, shaking my head. “I wasn’t. I wasn’t.”

“You were!” he snapped. “And, goddamn, Amber. We’ve been dating a year. This is what girlfriends do. And more.”

I’d fallen into some other dimension where I was the one to blame for not simply letting him do what he wanted with me. Like my body was a privilege for him, not something I controlled.

“Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m not your girlfriend anymore.” I spun around, flinging the door open.

“What?” he called after me. “You’re seriously breaking up with me over that? You’re a fucking tease, Amber!” he shouted out the door as I stomped down the hallway. The entire party heard.

Jake and Hannah met me at the end of the hallway.

One look at Jake’s murderous gaze over my shoulder and I flung my arm out to stop him.

“Jake!” I tried to snap him out of it but could barely yell his name over my sobs. “Please,” I said, sniffing. “Please take me home.”

Hannah wrapped her arms around me, flipping Brandon off regardless of not knowing everything that happened, and ushered me through the door. Jake followed, keys in hand. Hannah sat in the back seat with me as I cried into her chest the entire drive home.

…

I’d barely gotten changed into my favorite Guardians of the Galaxy sweats before Mom knocked on the door.

“Come in,” I said, thankful to be pulled out of the memory as I sank onto my bed.

“Hey, there.” She sat down beside me. “Did you like the arcade?”

“Of course he told you before he told me.” I grinned, shaking my head. Dean was so good. In all sorts of ways. “And I loved it.”

Mom narrowed her gaze. “If that’s the case, then what is this?” She pointed to the creases in my forehead, the stiff line of my jaw.

I smoothed my features. “No, Mom, I seriously loved it. It was perfect up until the end.”

Mom folded her legs beneath her, giving me her full attention. Waiting silently while I tried to work out the battle in my head.

“He tried to kiss me—”

Mom’s excited gasp cut me off.

“But I started crying.”

She jolted, then her face softened. Her arms were around me in an instant, and I willingly leaned against her. “I’m sorry, honey.”