Chapter Twenty Eight #3
“You’ve been here for twelve hours,” Meg shakes her head and laughs to herself, as if she doesn’t know I’ve been checking up on the campus security for much longer than that.
She finishes the last of her coffee and stands, slinging her backpack and bag over her shoulders.
“Okay, well, I’ve got art, then a group social session and lacrosse practice.
I’ll be done around four if you want to hang out? ”
I can’t help but smile at the sudden shyness in her tone, matched with hope gleaming in her blue eyes. I could stare into those eyes forever.
“If I want to hang out?” My brows raise. “That’s the only reason I’m here, putting myself through courses and dissertations for you.”
“My hero,” Meg touches a hand to her heart, her eyes filled with mirth. However, I could get used to the term of endearment. “Meet me by the stadium. We’ll grab dinner or something.”
“It’s a date,” I agree in an instant. Meg scoffs as if I’m joking, smiling despite herself. I stand too, taking her hand in mine. “No, seriously. It’s a date. No more of that friend-zoning shit, remember. Expect candles and flowers.”
“As long as you expect me to be exhausted and sweaty, because that’s exactly how I’ll be after running drills with those morons all afternoon.
” She groans, remembering her day is going to continue like normal.
Ironically, I’ll almost be less involved because I won’t need to message and check in on her constantly.
As if that’ll stop me. Tucking her hair behind her ear, my thumb traces her jaw to tilt her head back to look up at me.
“Mmmm, and I thought I’d have to put in the work before I got you all exhausted and sweaty,” I bob my eyebrows.
Meg smacks my chest again, yet she holds my gaze for another heartbeat before turning and walking down the path, leaving me alone in the quiet alcove.
I watch her go, a sense of peace stirring in my chest. I drop back down onto the low ledge, fishing my phone from my pocket while finishing the last gulp of my coffee.
One breakfast down, no rapid heartbeat or claustrophobic episode in sight.
I can totally do this student thing. I had no doubts in myself.
Opening the student portal for the second time this morning, I note that the forum is streaming with new posts.
The thread about Laura’s vigil is still pinned at the top, but just underneath, a photo is gaining a lot of attention.
I can’t even bite back my smile. The shot is a crystal-clear image of me dipping Meg back, her ponytail practically touching the pavement while I lean down to kiss the tip of her nose.
Whoever snapped it had perfect timing, the moment caught mid-laugh, Meg’s eyes wide in mock outrage while my grin is completely unapologetic.
I couldn’t have staged it better if I’d tried.
The caption beneath it reads, WHO IS THIS GUY? ??
I snicker, scrolling through the comments that are piling up fast. Questions over my identity are being tossed back and forth, theories of Meg’s new boyfriend being a transfer student mixed with an equal measure of disgust about Meg being happy while Laura is still missing.
I report each one of those latter comments, hoping they’re taken down before Meg sees them.
If they’re not, I’ll have to do some recon when I’m on my desktop.
Meg has been through hell and back. She deserves every moment of happiness she can get without judgement being passed on her.
It fucking sucks that Laura is missing, and I pray to whoever will listen that she’s not suffering, but it’s not Meg’s fault.
The cops need to do their jobs and find her, and everyone else needs to mind their own damn business.
Within minutes, the comments are gone and the conversation has moved on.
Meg’s name is still there, but it’s buried beneath a wave of curiosity.
People are asking about me, where I came from, what program I’m in, whether I’m on a sports team or just some random dude who oozes confidence. If only they knew.
Saving the image, I immediately set it as my phone background.
This is the first photo we’ve ever had together, and it’s perfect.
Meg’s face is alight with delight, her features caught between exasperation and laughter as if she can’t decide whether to throttle me or kiss me.
Her hands slay across my shoulders for stability, the warmth of their touch still lingering against my skin. Yeah, I’ve got it bad.
The clock in the corner of my phone reminds me that I do, in fact, have responsibilities now.
Stepping out of the alcove and back onto the path, the campus is fully awake now.
A few heads turn in my direction, some of them clearly recognizing me from the photo making its rounds of the phones clutched in their hands.
I flash them an easy grin and keep walking, leaving them to keep wondering about the who, where and why. After all, if Hollowbrook wants a new mystery to obsess over, as long as it’s taking the heat off Meg, I’m more than happy to provide one.