Page 45 of Safe Place

“Who gave you this?” My voice comes out lower than I mean it to, sharp enough to make her flinch.

She doesn’t answer.

“This isn't just a gift, Sophie.” I shove the box shut, the note still crumpled in my fist. “This is him telling you exactly what he wants from you.”

“I didn't ask for it,” she says quietly, eyes dropping to her hands.

Something in my chest pulls. Of course she didn't. Why would she even feel the need to say that?

“I know you didn't.” My voice softens for half a second before I can stop it, then hardens again. “But whoever this is thinks he can just—“ I stop. Exhale. “What's his name?”

She shakes her head. “Micah, please, just—don’t.”

“Don’t?” I laugh, but it’s humorless. “You think I’m going to let some guy send you shit like this and not do anything about it? No way in hell.”

Her eyes dart to mine, and I can see she’s torn—embarrassed, worried, maybe even scared.

I force my voice steady. “Sophie. Let me help you. Just tell me who he is, and I’ll deal with him.”

“Micah, it’s okay. I don’t want to get you in trouble. Really. Please. Let me handle it. I can do this. I’ve been taking care of myself for years.”

But now I can take care of you. If you’d just let me. Why won’t you let me?

My grip tightens on the wheel. I’m resisting the urge to slam my palms against it. It takes so fucking much to resist. Why won’t she let me in? Why won’t she let me help her? I have the resources. The connections. Should I just tell her who I am? Tell her I can make this go away with a single call? Fuck.

Her hand comes to rest on my forearm again, light and grounding, like she knows exactly how close I am to losing it. “Hey, I’ve got this. I promise.”

“Sophie, do you trust me?”

She hesitates. God, she hesitates. “I—Micah—You have to understand. For so many years, I’ve been let down by the people who were supposed to protect me. I had to learn to take care of myself. I’ve survived worse than this.” She looks at me, her voice soft but steady. “I trust you more than anyone else I know. But I trust myself more.”

Shit. I get it. I think. I try not to take it personally, but it still feels like a punch to the chest.

“Fine.” My jaw tightens. “I’ll let it go. For now. But promise me you’ll come to me if—before—things get worse.”

“I promise.”

She opens the door, grabs the Amazon box, and without even a glance at it, tosses the entire thing straight into the trash.

I sit there, watching her, and my gut twists. I told her I’d let it go, but there’s no way in hell I’m dropping this.

Nico better get back to me soon. Fuck, what’s taking him so long?

THIRTEEN

Oh my God. Oh my God. I’m so stupid

SOPHIE

Constitutional law is my personal hell this semester. I’ve been trying to keep up, but my brain feels like it’s drowning.

Two papers, two B’s. It’s not terrible, but it certainly isn’t great either. And the material just keeps piling on. Eighteen credits was already too much, and working two—technically three—jobs isn’t helping. Now I’ve somehow managed to add friends into the mix, thanks to Poppy dragging me out whenever she can.

And then there’s Micah. I’ve been spending way more time with him than I thought I could spare, and—if I’m honest—I like it. I want to see him again.

So I take out my phone before I can overthink it.

Me