It wasn’t a question, but I nodded anyway.
“Have you talked to Professor Foster since you left class?”
“I texted him.”
“And?” Fallon sat on the chair across from me.
“He said the dean isn’t going to open an investigation with no proof.”
“That’s good, right?”
A fresh wave of tears stung my eyes. “It doesn’t matter anymore. After I told him about Ford catching us, Hayden broke up with me.”
“He did?” he gasped.
I took a shuddering breath. “He said we needed to end things because it was too risky. He thinks I need to take the job I was offered, and a long-distance relationship would be too difficult.”
“What job?”
I forgot I hadn’t told Fallon the details about the call I had received from Vaughn. “Flirting with Fire asked me to go on tour with them and write a blog to give fans a behind-the-scenes look at what happens on the road.”
“Oh, wow. That’s an amazing opportunity. Were you actually considering not taking the job?”
I shrugged. “I hadn’t decided yet. A part of me hoped I’d find something around here and stay in the area after graduation.”
“Because of Professor Foster.”
I nodded.
“It’s probably not the best time to make any major decisions, at least until you have a clear head. And I don’t think you should go anywhere either.” He eyed the bag on my bed.
“If I have to see Ford, I don’t know if I’ll be able to control myself.” The anger I’d felt earlier was building in my chest again.
“I told him to wait downstairs for me, and I’m going to talk to him,” Fallon explained. “He needs to be reminded of what this fraternity stands for and that we don’t throw our brothers under the bus. I promise he won’t be a problem anymore.”
I gave him a sad smile. “Thanks.”
He stood to leave. “That’s what friends are for. If you need anything, I’ve got your back.”
After Fallon left my room, I laid on my bed, emotionally drained from the last twenty-four hours. Only one thing could make me feel better, so I picked up my phone, desperate to hear Hayden’s voice.
Despite being unsure if he would answer, I scrolled through my contacts and called him. It rang several times before it went to voicemail, and I hung up without leaving a message.
A few tears escaped as the realization that things were truly over between us hit me like a freight train. My hands shook as I scrolled for Vaughn’s name in my contacts. Regardless of what Fallon said about having a clear head, I knew I had no other option.
I typed out my message and took a deep breath before hitting send.
No turning back now. My decision had been made.
24
HAYDEN
It had beenyears since Ifeltthe quietness of my house. The air hung heavy with silence, only occasionally interrupted by the distant sounds of passing cars outside. It had been almost two weeks since I watched Tyler get out of my SUV and walk away, taking a piece of my heart with him.
I sighed heavily and dragged myself toward the window, drawn to the gloomy drizzle outside. The raindrops matched the rhythm of my heart, falling relentlessly as if the heavens themselves understood my sorrow and pain. Would it ever get easier? Would I ever find happiness? I thought I had found it with Tyler.
Needing to get my caffeine fix to start my day, I turned toward the kitchen, only for my gaze to drift to the framed photograph of the Eiffel Tower on my wall. The photo was one of my favorites and the reason I had it hanging up, but as I looked at it, it only reminded me of Tyler. It wasn’t because we were together when I took it—because we weren’t—but because the night we met, he’d asked about it. Then, of course, he’d found an image of the famous landmark at night as his first project and had talked about how taking pictures of it lit up was illegal. He’d told me that day in class that he had always been a rule follower, but was tempted to break them. His words were laced with innuendo about going against school policy, which only I understood at the time. However, when we faced the reality of it all, I was the one who couldn’t continue our forbidden relationship.
