William must’ve been truly scared straight because it wasn’t even hours later when June found me walking around on campus grounds. From the way her face was beaming, I could already tell that it was good news.
“Oren! They called me and arranged another interview!” Her eyes were shining and it was only the presence of the other students roaming about that kept me from lifting her up and spinning her around.
I thought back to the day we spoke on the field, right after her rowing practice. She’d been so uncertain of herself back then, eager for so much but too scared to take the jump. And now she stood tall, ready to claim whatever it was that she wanted.
“That’s amazing, June,” I told her, trying my best to slip on a mask of pleasant surprise. “I knew they’d come to their senses eventually.”
She raised an eyebrow at me. “You did, huh? Are you sure you didn’t have anything to do with this?”
“Of course not,” I said. But the glare of suspicion wore me down in pathetic timing. “Okay, fine. I may have had something to do with it. But rest assured, it had nothing to do with favoritism. I genuinely think you deserve the shot.”
“I knew it.” She reached out and hesitated before touching my elbow. It was the only bit of physical affection we could afford right now. Her touch lingered a second longer than what might’ve been deemed appropriate before she withdrew it. A playful smile danced on her lips. “Though I’m sure favoritism had a little something to do with it.”
“No,” I said. I didn’t have to prepare for my next words. This is a bet I would’ve taken if it was nothing more than a shot in the dark. “I did what anyone would do for the woman they love.”
29
~
Ronan
“Run this by me again, would you?” Lucas sounded both puzzled and agitated at what I’d just shared with him. “Just to make sure I noted every detail.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “You’re listening this time?”
“Just verifying the accuracy.”
“Well, pay attention then. Johnson found out I was sleeping with June. It’s safe to say that he knows you and Oren are involved somehow as well and how he came to possess that knowledge, only God knows,” I began.
Lucas looked caught between wanting to throw up either his breakfast or a fist at someone’s face.
“He tried to blackmail me with the information. Apparently, I was his biggest competition for getting tenure and he wanted me out of the way and I must say, a middle-aged professor sleeping with a student at his own university would certainly do the job,” I finished wryly.
Lucas frowned. “And that was what led to June’s application getting denied.”
I nodded grimly. “Oren has that sorted though. One less thing to worry about.”
“What are you planning on doing?” he asked.
“I’m going to see an old friend of mine to try and get ahead of this, preempt him from turning me in,” I said.
“You’re turning yourself into Abe Halliwell?” Lucas looked at me as though I’d just lost my mind.
“Hearing you say the words altogether like that is rather repulsive,” I said.
“There has to be another way around this instead of caving to William’s demands,” he insisted.
“There’s no time to sit and try to think of something,” I said decisively. I rose to my feet. “If I beat him to the punch, he has no leverage. And then June, you and Oren can potentially stay out of the crossfire.”
He shook his head. “This shouldn’t have to be your sacrifice alone. We all had a part to play.”
“Maybe. But I had the responsibility to end things if I saw it was getting too dangerous. As long as she’s okay and the two of you don’t get dragged down with me, I’ll be fine,” I said.
Lucas didn’t look as though he agreed but he couldn’t do anything to stop me.
The trek to Abe’s office felt like some kind of descent to hell. But I was resolute in my decision. I meant what I said to Lucas. I was the oldest, the one with the most experience. I’d been aware of the potential repercussions from the very beginning and I’d still chosen to take the risk.
It was best I tried to mitigate as much damage as possible.
