HAZEL
He crossed the bathroom in three steps. His hands were warm on my shoulders. "What I mean to say is that it's skewed. You would never hurt someone that willingly."
"You don't know that."
"He still forced himself on you. Didn't he?"
The question hung between us. I wanted to say yes. Somehow, I wanted this. I wanted to make him believe that was true. But I knew the truth. The tape had revealed everything. Had shown exactly what I'd done.
"And the rubbish spreading about your sister and how good she is" Baruch's voice hardened. "I've seen it firsthand. What kind of evil bitch she can be. I don't believe a thing they say."
His hands moved to the zipper. He worked it down slowly, carefully, until the dress loosened around my shoulders. The relief was immediate.
"I know she's making you an enemy as some sort of payback. Probably for what happened in the dressing room." He helped me slide the dress down my arms. "But I'm on your side."
