Page 86 of Novice Girlfriend

“That’s not fair, but given your feelings for Bevin are clearly deep, I understand you’re upset at what happened. It’s why I’ve tried to apologize for how unfair I was to her. I admit when I’m wrong.”

“That’s big of you, but I don’t know I believe that since you’re still not helping.” I swallowed down the rest of what I wanted to say when she looked even more upset. We were dancing in circles and it was my fault when she was asking me what I wanted and I was poking her.

“That’s what this is? You think I should help? With what? Do you want me to get my shit together and give her real therapy? Fine, I’ve already tried to offer that, but she ignored me.” Her tone was so dismissive that it annoyed me and I couldn’t hide it.

Adjusting my neck, I opened my mouth to say something I probably shouldn’t, but she was faster.

“It’s not wrong of me to get away from an abusive situation, Mr. Rose. Maybe I didn’t say it right—probably even given I shouldn’t have as the therapist—or Bevin wasn’t in the headspace to understand that, but none of you know me either. And for you to all come here and start trying to…” She trailed off and chuckled at whatever was on my face.

Shock. I was shocked.

“Oh, you think you were the only one? Maybe at my condo, but you’re not the only one who has had words for me about the situation. I’ve been chewed out already, thank you. I thought you came for something original. Glad you’re all so much better and not even organized enough to talk to each other.”

“Yeah, we deserve that,” I admitted and then snorted. “I feel silly, no, but honestly I didn’t come here to chastise you. I just…” I sighed and leaned back against the wall, relieved when she didn’t push. “Look, this isn’t a conversation for your hallway. I’m not here to hurt you and I didn’t come here to chew you. Can I please have ten minutes?”

The sigh she let out was a bit much, but at least she let me win and we went inside her condo. She set down the grocery bags on the kitchen island and turned to me, clearly out of patience. “Well, get to it, Mr. Rose.”

“Kelton.”

She shook her head. “No, because that accepts a familiarity I’m not allowing here and tolerating this. I’m not.”

Okay then. I went to focus on what I’d come there to say but then sighed, unable to move on. “Wait, I can’t—what did you mean earlier?”

She slowly raised an eyebrow at me. “Well, we don’t get everything we want, so talk or leave.”

“No, that’s not fair when you brought up something as your defense. So explain it,” I countered.

That took the steam out of her and she focused on her groceries. “You think Bevin’s the only one that’s been in that position?”

“You’re accusing your parents?” I hedged.

“No, never,” she mumbled. “They would never force—never.” She set down a bag of apples harder than needed. “They like things neat and clean. They keep everybody safe by being agreeable.”

“What happened?” I asked gently.

The anger in her eyes was so thick that I almost felt it. “What do you think? Do you think Conrad never tried for anyone else and just waited for Bevin?”

“No, Jasmine said Bevin wasn’t the first.” I worried when she was still tense when she went back to her groceries. “Did he hurt you?”

“No,” she whispered and let out a shaky breath. “Not physically, but it was before everyone knew he was a monster. People in the council knew he was someone to avoid.” She gave me a look that was part heartbreak and part anger. “My parents wanted the infighting to stop between the council. What better way than two families to mate?

“How neat and clean, right? And it would secure a seat so a top-tier family couldn’t try and steal it. A seat for Conrad but mated to the Moon girl and isn’t that lovely? They all talked about it like it was done. How lucky for me. How perfect. It was disgusting. Didn’t even realize I’d never even said anything before they were talking about it and Conrad confirmed it.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “Did you tell them that you thought it was unfair and you should get the seat?” I shrugged when she looked at me like I’d grown another head. “There’s no rule against females being council members.”

She snorted. “Yeah, the gods technically can be too. You’ve got a better chance of that happening. The good guys are just as fucking sexist and corrupt.” She wasn’t wrong, but something still irked me about what she’d said.

“You never even fought,” I said sadly. “You never even tried, did you?”

Leigh’s jaw moved as she finished unpacking her groceries and folded the bag. “You have a penis, Mr. Rose. You can never understand what we women go through, especially not in that society. I made the best move I could and made it clear that I didn’t think trophy wife was befitting of a councilman’s daughter.

“That I could be more. That I wanted to help people as he did even in the human world, and having someone in the human world could be helpful. I worked with what I had and got out.” She shot me an annoyed look. “There’s nothing wrong with leaving a toxic situation. Nothing. I left and built my own life far from that fucked up society.”

“You’re right about getting out of a toxic situation, but you judge people who stay in that society and that’s what I have a problem with. We can’t all leave. My familiar is a fucking moose. What would you like me to do? I don’t have money like your family does to get me started? So what are my options?”

“Something that was brought repeatedly to my attention and why my apology to Bevin was genuine,” she said, her voice tired. “I’m just tired of being judged for leaving when people don’t know the full story.”

“You had the chance to make real change because of your position. It’s fair that some judge you for not using it when others would have killed for it.” I gave a half shrug when she couldn’t hide her shock, so I called her on it. “Fine, you didn’t have to fight to try and take the seat they were waving in front of Conrad, but you could have fought to out him as a monster.