Chapter 48
Anna
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Colin smirk.
He probably thinks I’m going down without a fight.
Good. I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he hears the rest of what I have to say.
It’s going to destroy everything. I can only imagine what the fallout will be.
But I don’t care. He doesn’t get to threaten me. He doesn’t get to call the shots when it comes to my future or my body.
Professor Sullivan’s brow furrows as he looks at me, beyond confused. “What do you mean? You seemed so excited to be part of this.”
“I was. But then Colin just tried to blackmail me.”
Colin’s smile disappears.
Professor Sullivan turns his confused frown to him. Then he chuckles, like what I said was a joke.
“What? That’s absurd,” he says through a laugh.
My shoulders sink, regret lacing through my gut. Of course doesn’t believe me. He works with Colin and thinks highly of him.
But whether or not he believes me doesn’t matter. It doesn’t change how I feel. It doesn’t change what the right thing to do is.
“You may not believe me, Professor Sullivan, but it’s true. While you were out of the room, Colin threatened to push me off this project and ruin my reputation in the biology department. Unless I engage in a sexual relationship with him.”
Professor Sullivan’s jaw unhinges. He looks between Colin and me.
When I turn to Colin, he’s glaring at me. But then he turns to Professor Sullivan, and his expression eases.
He lets out a strained chuckle. “She’s lying. Professor, let me explain.”
Professor Sullivan crosses his arms and frowns at him. “Please do,” he says, his tone is hard and expectant.
“Anna has been a little obsessed with me this whole semester. I think she has a crush on me.” He rolls his eyes good-naturedly. “A while ago, she came on to me, but I told her it was wildly inappropriate for a grad student to fraternize with an undergrad. The power imbalance is quite distasteful.”
He turns to me and lifts an eyebrow, like he’s silently telling me off.
“She’s taking the rejection pretty hard, given how outlandish her accusation is.” He turns back to Professor Sullivan. “You know how hysterical and emotional young women can be.”
I scoff, disgusted. Professor Sullivan is quiet as he looks between the two of us. His expression is serious and unreadable. Like he doesn’t quite know who to believe.
But I know what’s going to happen. He’s going to believe Colin. He’s known him for longer. He has a relationship with him. He’s going to side with him over me.
Tears prick my eyes. I knew it would end up this way. It still hurts though.
I stand up and grab my bag.
“He’s lying to you,” I say to Professor Sullivan. “I know you’re not going to believe me, but I told you the truth. Colin is a predator, and I can’t be around him.”
I walk out of the office and down the hall, my stomach churning. By the time I make it out of the building and onto the main part of campus, I’m dizzy. It feels like my head is heavy and spinning at the same time.
When I make it back to Travis’s place, I burst through the front door.
He stands up from the couch and walks over to me.
“Hey.” His voice is soft as he gently grabs my arms. “What happened?”
I wipe at my tear-soaked cheeks. “I just quit the research team.”
His eyes widen. “What?”
He takes my backpack off and helps me sit down on the couch with him.
“Anna, what are you talking about? I thought you had a meeting.”
I sniffle and shake my head. Then I tell him everything that happened when Colin showed up and threatened me to get me to sleep with him as payback for causing his breakup with Melody.
“He said that if I didn’t sleep with him, he’d get me kicked off the research team and ruin my reputation.”
The concern in Travis’ gaze shifts to unbridled rage.
“Are you fucking serious?” he says.
I nod. “I beat him to the punch. I told Professor Sullivan how he threatened me, and then I quit. And then I left.”
“What did your professor say?”
My shoulders sink. “Not much. He seemed pretty shocked.” I sigh. “I know he doesn’t believe me. I know he’ll side with Colin. They’ve worked together for so long, and he thinks the world of Colin. I just wanted to stand up for myself in that moment.”
Travis cups his hands over my cheeks. The fiery anger in his eyes fades when he blinks. His stare is warm and pained as he gazes at me.
“I’m so sorry,” he says softly. He presses a gentle kiss to my lips. “I’m proud of you.”
I let out a sad laugh. “Proud of me for flipping out?”
“For standing up for yourself. You didn’t let that piece of shit get away with what he tried to do. You called him out. You showed him how brave you are. That you have way bigger balls than he does.”
My mouth curves up in a small smile. “As shitty as it was to go through that, it felt good to see him panic.”
“He fucking deserves it. He deserves worse.”
“I wish we lived in a world where people got what they deserved.” I shrug. “But we don’t. It is what it is.”
Travis wraps his arms around me, hugging me tight. The tension in my muscles starts to fade, and my heartbeat slows. I’m suddenly exhausted. I melt against his body.
“It’s gonna be okay,” he says. “You’re brilliant. You’re a badass. And you’re still going to get into Stanford.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“You will,” he says, his tone firm, like he really believes it. Like it’s an indisputable fact.
I wrap my arms around him, relishing the warmth from his body. How comfortable I feel in his embrace. “You’re sweet.”
“You’re the smartest, most hardworking person I’ve ever met, Anna. I’d bet my life that you’re going to get into Stanford. And that you’re going to be an amazing doctor and help so many people.”
I smile, emotion coursing through me. He pulls me onto his lap so I’m straddling him.
“I’d always bet on you, sweet thing.”
My heart flops around in my chest. It’s never been like this with anyone before.
Today was a disaster. I just lost out on something I’ve worked so hard for. I lost out on my best chance to get into Stanford.
As much as that kills me, I also feel comforted. Safe. Calm.
Because of Travis. He’s here for me. Holding me, soothing me, protecting me.
I know that no matter what, he’ll be by my side, supporting me every step of the way.
I lean back and look at him. My chest goes tight, overwhelmed by just how much I care about him. By how much he cares about me.
That overwhelmed feeling inside of me intensifies. My body is tingly and molten-hot all at once. It’s hard to breathe.
This is different. I’ve never felt this way with anyone before. Overwhelmed, but in a good way. Like I could fall apart and he’d be right there to catch me, pick up all my broken pieces, and make it all better.
He leans back and holds my gaze. Intensity flickers in his eyes. I don’t recognize it. It’s warm and bright and makes my heart flop around in my chest.
He brushes my hair out of my face, his fingertips trailing along the hinge of my jaw.
“Anna, I…”
I hold my breath. Oh my god…Is he going to say he loves me?
But before he can say anything more, the back door opens. Heavy footsteps echo in the house. I hear my brother’s voice.
“Travvie boy, I’m home.” His smile disappears when he sees us. He looks pissed. “What the fuck?”