Page 80 of Lured By Shadows

Culver’s absence echoed through the room in a way that left everything feeling strangely exposed, like without him beside me the whole setup had thinned out and lost its shape. A subtle shiver slipped under my collar, and I told myself it was only the chill in the air.

When class finally wrapped up, I dragged out packing my things. I eased my books into my bag with slow movements that gave me an excuse to linger in my seat a little longer without making it obvious. I wasn’t ready to throw myself back into the chaos of the hallway or deal with the sudden shift in attention from students who now seemed to have a reason to notice me.

Their stares didn’t ease until I melted into the crowd and out of sight. I quickened my pace, weaving between people with a forced sense of purpose like I actually had somewhere important to be. The truth was, I wasn’t feeling up for the next class at all, not with a professor who carried himself like he was the center of the damn universe.

He was already there when I walked in, rigid and commanding, draining the room of anything resembling warmth like he owned the air itself. I still couldn’t figure out what his issue with me was. The way he looked at me felt heavy, almost ominous. Like he saw something broken or doomed in me and had already decided how it would end. But unraveling his mindset wasn’t on my list of things to deal with, so I shoved it aside and kept moving.

Oliver and Sienna were already seated together, their closeness effortless, like nothing could wedge itself between them. The moment they spotted me, their expressions lit up. Quick and genuine, like I’d just stepped into something safe.

“Hey, guys,” I muttered as I slid into my seat.

Sienna looked radiant, her entire energy lighter, like a storm that had been hanging over her had finally shifted somewhere else. Maybe they’d talked things out. The sort of conversation that didn’t fix everything but somehow tied people closer together afterward.

“Ira,” Oliver greeted with a smirk, tilting his head as he studied me like he was trying to solve something. “You look a bit shinier today.”

I raised a brow, a short laugh slipping out. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He shrugged, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “I don’t know. You’ve got a glow to you. It’s a good thing.”

Before I could respond, Sienna leaned forward, her hands clasped like she was about to make a wish, her eyes sparkling with teasing warmth. “Oh, you and Carter…” she sang, her tone syrupy with expectation. “How was it?”

I exhaled hard and slumped back in my chair, letting my shoulders drop like I was physically letting the question go. “The party was mediocre at best,” I said quietly. “There was drama because Carter brought me. Typical campus theatrics. He’s a fuckboy, through and through.”

“That is true,” Sienna agreed instantly, her nose wrinkling like she’d tasted something sour. “So… does that mean you and him…?”

She didn’t finish the sentence, but she didn’t need to. The implication lingered between us, thick with curiosity. I hesitated, weighing honesty against comfort, against the easier option of deflecting.

But the need to be real won out.

I gave her the smallest smile. “Yeah, but I don’t think he’s really all that he claims to be.”

Her mouth parted, surprise flickering across her face as the teasing words she’d been ready to say fell away. “I was just going to mess with you,” she admitted quietly. “But you’re serious?”

Heat rushed to my face, fast and unwelcome, and my smile slipped. “Is that… bad?”

“No,” she said quickly, guilt tightening her voice. “Not at all. I’m just surprised, is all.”

Oliver, who’d been unusually quiet, leaned in slightly, his tone dropping. “Let’s just hope Scarbrough doesn’t find out.”

I scoffed, crossing my arms as irritation bubbled up. “You keep saying that like it means something. It doesn’t. He’s not dating me. Hell, I’d even go as far as to say he literally doesn’t care about me.”

“You don’t know that,” Sienna murmured, propping her elbow on the table. Her gaze cut straight through me, too perceptive for comfort. “Your mum working for his family doesn’t explain the way he looks at you.”

“That’s right,” Oliver added, sincerity replacing his usual teasing.

“My ma works for his family,” I repeated, frustration pressing tight beneath my ribs. “That’s the only reason he even acknowledged me. He’s being polite because it would look bad otherwise. There’s nothing else to it. Nothing more to dig up, so stop trying.”

Oliver opened his mouth like he had more to say, but Sienna reached out and placed her hand gently on his arm, her expression soft but firm. “Enough, Olive-boy. She’s clearly uncomfortable.”

“My bad, Ira,” he said, sheepish now. “Do you know when he’s coming back?”

I rolled my eyes, dropping my gaze to my notebook as I scribbled notes I knew I wouldn’t remember later. “Why should I know? He said three days, and I’m not his damn keeper.”

I hated how even saying his name made something hitch in my chest, like my heart couldn’t help but stumble over itself. The emptiness inside me felt louder than the professor droning on in the background. I felt stupid for getting so caught up in a guy I barely knew. My body reacted to him in ways that felt automatic and raw.

If he didn’t show up soon, it almost felt like I’d burn from the inside out.

Just waiting.