Chapter 46 Bittersweet

Chapter 46 Bittersweet
Max

Aellorah had been quiet since we left the exam room, staring blankly out the window as I pulled onto the road. Her hands clutched the information pamphlets, and she sat rigid in the passenger seat.

“You could have told me, you know?” I blurted out, sounding angrier than I intended.

“It was four years ago,” she replied, her voice a strained whisper. “It was taken care of. I didn’t feel the need—”

“To tell me you had an STD?” I scoffed. “I thought we were supposed to be honest with each other.”

“I haven’t asked you how many women you’ve slept with,” she countered, her voice edged with defensiveness. “I wasn’t hiding it. If I were, I would have asked you to wait outside of the room. Don’t act like you’re some saint, Max. The entire university knows your reputation.”

“I may have a reputation, but I’ve been careful about that shit,” I replied stiffly.

“Right… Well, I’m sorry I hadn’t been more ‘careful’ when my brothers were raping me.” She glared out the window, her jaw clenched as I was flooded with guilt. Of course, none of it was her fault.

“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, pulling off the road and braking at the curb. “You’re right, baby. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that…” Aellorah refused to look at me, her arms crossed over her chest.

“Yes, you did,” she accused in a thick whisper. “Just admit it. You think I’m dirty…”

“Aellorah…”

“I’d like to go back to my dorm now,” she stated firmly.

“Baby, I don’t think that at all,” I told her, reaching for her hand. She refused to move, arms tightening against her chest.

Aellorah

Max reached for my hand, but I didn’t budge, staring at my reflection against the darkening window and trying not to cry. I’d always known my father and brothers had ruined me, but hearing the disgust in Max’s voice hurt more than I could have anticipated.

Of course, he thought I was dirty. Who wouldn’t?

“Aellorah, please, baby… I’m sorry,” Max whispered, unbuckling and leaning over the seat to reach for me.

“Just take me home,” I pleaded in a whisper, biting down on the inside of my cheek to hold back a sob.

“No. No, we’re not going home, baby,” he replied, glancing at the clock on the screen. “It’s almost five. We have three hours to get you a phone and find you a dress for tonight.”

All the excitement and anxiety I’d been feeling about the event had melted and turned to ash.

“I don’t want to go,” I replied stubbornly.

“I know you don’t,” Max agreed softly, “and I don’t blame you. What I just did… I’m an asshole, okay? And I’m sorry.” He brushed the hair from my face, cupping my cheek and forcing me to look him in the eye. “You’re not dirty, Aellorah, and I don’t ever want you to feel like I think less of you for what you’ve been through. I don’t. I was just… caught off guard and responded badly to the situation.”

“Yeah, you are an asshole,” I agreed, glaring at him as I blinked back tears.

“I know… I’m sorry baby. I love you so much,” Max whispered, leaning over to press a chaste kiss to my lips. “I promise, that will never happen again. I don’t think you’re dirty at all. I think you’re incredible.”

“Promise?” I asked in a whimper, trying not to cry.

“I promise, baby,” he assured me in a whisper, pressing another kiss against my mouth, his lips lingering. “You mean everything to me, little dancer. I’m so sorry if I gave you even a moment to doubt that.”

His words were a balm to my aching heart, and I finally allowed him to pull me close, wrapping my arms around his shoulders.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before,” I whispered against his shoulder. “Our relationship hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing, has it?”

Max chuckled as he combed his fingers through my hair. “No, it certainly hasn’t,” he agreed. With one more reassuring kiss, Max flicked on the blinker and pulled out into traffic, heading toward the mall.

“Why don’t you read those to me?” he asked, reaching up to turn on the light. For the next few minutes, I read over the paperwork the nurse had given me. Every so often, Max would ask a question, and we would talk over the potential side effects each option presented.

“The copper IUD seems like the most reasonable choice,” I told Max.

“It does seem like the safest option, but it has complications of its own,” he agreed. “I mean, the doctor said your cervix is already scarred. Putting anything else inside you might cause problems. I’ve also heard some horror stories about those things falling out or getting stuck.” I shuddered at the thought.

“Why don’t we just opt for a patch or something?” I asked. “Yes, it’s hormonal, but it’s something I won’t have to worry about taking every day.”

“Perhaps,” he agreed with a slight nod, eyes focused on the road. “Maybe we just go about it the old-fashioned way.”

“What do you mean?”

“Track your ovulation, pull out, use condoms…”

“Is that alright with you?” I asked anxiously, setting the pamphlets down in my lap. We hadn’t been using condoms since we’d started sleeping together.

“Yeah, I mean, it would make me feel better knowing we’re not fucking all your hormones up just for me to bust a nut,” he replied with a crooked smile. “We can download an app on your new phone. You keep track anyway, right?”

I had been keeping track. For years, I’d been monitoring my ovulation and taking emergency contraceptives after my visits home.

We pulled into the mall parking lot and the argument we’d had was all but forgotten. Max took my hand as we strolled into the building, heading for the cellular store.

“Hi, I need to add my wife to my plan and get her a phone,” he smoothly told the associate, his words sending a thrill through me. His wife…

In less than an hour, I was holding a new phone, my number connected to his by only a slight variance. Max was the first contact I added as I redownloaded some of my old apps, adding on a period tracker. Hayden, Killian, Jax were added next. I sent them a group text, including Max, to inform them I had a new number.

Hayden called as we left the store, and I walked him through the steps to set up the call forwarding on my old phone. “Thanks, Hayden. We’ll see you in an hour,” I said before I hung up.

“Alright, let’s go find you the dress of your dreams so we can have the night of our lives,” Max declared brightly, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and guiding me toward the row of boutiques.