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“Please, Isaiah, we can work this out. I promise.”
Water fringed Isaiah’s eyes as he stared at Darren. “It’s more than just the Gage Scholar Program.”
“What do you mean, more?”
“They’re threatening to take my scholarship.”
Darren couldn’t have heard him correctly. It didn’t make sense. “It sounded like you said they threatened to take your scholarship?”
“Yes. Unless I stop seeing you.”
Darren blinked. He couldn’t grasp it. What the actual hell? “That’s bullshit! They can’t do that.”
“Yes, they can. Professor Linton talked to me about the terms of my scholarship. They don’t need to give me a reason; they can just not renew it.”
“That’s ridiculous. Why would Linton want to do that to you?”
“Not him.” Isaiah exhaled, and Darren felt it tremble against his jaw. “Jenkins called Linton and told him.”
Darren clenched his teeth. Why did they fuck with Isaiah so much? They wanted to punish him for bringing to light the university’s sins.
Isaiah looked utterly defeated, and Darren tentatively reached out and drew him close. Isaiah made a feeble attempt to pull away.
“Isaiah,” Darren said gently.
Isaiah crumpled against him, all shuddering limbs.
Darren stroked his back.
“I’m sorry, Darren.” He sobbed onto his shoulder. “I want us to be together so bad, but . . . I can’t lose my scholarship.”
Darren tightened his hold. “It’s not your fault.”
Isaiah sniffed. “If I hadn’t filed that complaint . . .”
Darren drew Isaiah back just enough to look him in the eye. He tucked an errant strand of hair behind Isaiah’s ear. “If you hadn’t filed, I’d never have met you. Never have gotten the chance to know you. To kiss you.”
Isaiah’s lips wobbled like he was torn between a sob and a smile.
Darren dipped forward and kissed him gently. “Jenkins isn’t God. I know my dad isn’t the best person to ask for help, given how he feels about my being gay, but my grandfather is fine with it. And he’s still chairman—”
Isaiah pulled back and shook his head violently. “You can’t call your grandfather. Darren, please don’t get involved.”
“But this is absurd. What right does Jenkins have to keep us apart?”
Isaiah slammed his eyes shut. He spoke quietly, and it sent a chill through Darren. “It’s not Jenkins. He’s not the one who doesn’t want us together.”
“But you said he told Linton.”
“He did, but Jenkins was just passing along a message.”
“Then who?” Darren stumbled back. “No.”
It couldn’t be.
Isaiah
Had it been anyone else, Darren probably could have made it better. But this was Darren’s dad.
The ache in Darren’s words sliced into Isaiah. “Dad threatened to take your scholarship?”
“He called Jenkins and said if I didn’t stop dating you, he’d pull my scholarship. And I’m sure Jenkins was only too happy to help.”
Darren shook his head and balled his fists. “Why would he do this?”
“Come on, Darren. You’re a Gage. Even if he accepted you, I’m hardly good enough to be the one you . . . date.”
Darren stared into his eyes and spoke calmly. “You see me, Isaiah. You see me and not my name. You’re perfect.”
Isaiah’s chest somersaulted, and he wished he could cling to those beautiful words. But . . . “Your dad doesn’t agree.”
Darren took Isaiah’s hands. “I’ve got to go. But I mean it.” Darren pressed a warm kiss against Isaiah’s knuckles. “You are perfect.”
Isaiah stared after Darren as he spun on his heel and walked toward the exit.
“Darren! Wait!” He chased after Darren and tugged him around. “Where are you going?”
“To make sure they don’t hurt you ever again.” Darren eased his arm free and walked away.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Darren
Darren hit disconnect before the recorded message finished. No surprise. Of course Dad didn’t pick up. If he wouldn’t take Darren’s calls before he’d threatened to destroy Isaiah’s life, he sure as shit wouldn’t now.
He expected as much.
He stormed down a quiet path that looped around the back of campus. The evening had a shivery bite to it. Just like his mood.
He called his mother.
“Hi sweetie,” she answered. “How are you?”
“I need to talk to Dad and as usual he won’t answer.”
“Oh, he’s working late—probably just busy. Did you leave him a message?”
“Mom, I really need to speak to him. Now. I’m in trouble, and I need his help.”
“Trouble?” He sensed her protective instinct kicking in. “What kind of trouble? What’s wrong?”
“It’s about school. I have to leave Harrison.”
“What?” Her voice took on her momma bear tone. “What’s wrong?”
“Please, Mom. Please get Dad to call me? Please?” The pain of losing Isaiah seeped into his voice.
“You can’t tell me?” He heard her, but he needed her to get his father. To do that he couldn’t tell her why.
“Dad’s the one who did this.”
“Did what?” He flinched at the palatable panic coming from her. “What did your father do?”
“Mom, I need you to get him to call me.”
“Okay. Okay.” The rushed words were followed by a deep breath. “Stay on the line.”
