An open time frame for a contract sounded better. It could end when it needed to. No need to trap herself, even in just a club relationship.

“You look kind of panicky, hun, are you okay?” Leigh asked, reaching out to gently touch Ellie’s knee. “We can change the subject.”

“No, it’s okay... I’m okay,” Ellie said, although now that Leigh had said something she realized her chest was feeling kind of tight. She hated how sometimes her body just reacted without any real reason. “I’m just...” She let out a long sigh. In the back of her head she could hear Dr. Amy’s voice again, encouraging her to open up. To let people in a little. “Anything to do with relationships makes me nervous.”

“So it’s not Michael, specifically?” Angel asked, leaning on the armrest towards Ellie, her hazel eyes sharpening with interest.

“No, definitely not. I feel safer with him than with anyone.”

“When was your last relationship?” Jessica asked.

“High school.” Ellie’s teeth snapped shut as she practically bit off the last word. She didn’t like to think about it. Didn’t like to think about him.

On her knee, Leigh’s fingers tightened in a supportive way, just as Angel reached out to put her hand over Ellie’s, which was when Ellie realized she’d clenched her hand into a fist.

“It’s okay, Ell. We... well, we all kind of figured out something really bad happened to you. You don’t have to talk about it,” Angel said softly, her voice full of compassion and understanding. “You’ve taken my class. We all know there are way too many women out there who have had something happen to them.”

Leigh shivered. Ellie only knew because she felt it. Her eyes were downcast on her own lap, the familiar feelings of shame and humiliation rising up. It was one thing to think people might have guessed, another to realize they actually knew.

“I was attacked in the parking lot here,” Leigh said softly. “If Kate hadn’t come to my rescue, I know I would have been hurt. Maybe raped.”

“My prom date in high school shoved me up against the wall at the after party we were at when I told him no,” Kate said, her voice faraway. Ellie peeked to see the gorgeous blonde staring off into the distance. “Grabbed my boob and almost tore my dress. I started screaming and my friends came running. He apologized later, said it was just because he was drunk, but I never spent any time with him again after that.” Her voice hardened at the end.