AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I do. You’re the best thing about this college, and you shouldn’t be judged for one mistake. They can’t give me a second chance at football, and you a suspension.”
She offered me a weak, almost sarcastic smile. “But that’s the thing. They can.”
“They can certainly try, but I won’t let them.”
Her gaze quickly flicked to the floor, as she mumbled out a soft, “Thank you.”
“I’ll miss you.” I rubbed my thumb across her hand because the reality of being without her, even if it was just for a few weeks, felt horrible.
She looked back up, suddenly composed. “Don’t worry. I know I’m not supposed to be teaching you, but I'll make sure to still help. I'll send through study guides, and we can have virtual sessions, but honestly, Tanner, I believe you can do all of this on your own. Now that you've been taught better study techniques, you don't need me.”
“Is that what you think I'm worried about? Needing you to study? Because that's not the case. Ineedyou. Since I've met you, you've become such an important part of my life. I'm not letting you go because some stupid hockey player and cleat chaser didn’t get their way. I’m not letting them chase away the best thing here. Not after all the things that you’ve done for me.”
“I don’t think you can help me.”
“We'll just have to see.”
Whether she was willingly accepting my help or not, I was determined to do the right thing for her and get her the justice she deserved. I just needed to figure out how.
Chapter 22
Tanner:Will you at least text me the time you're leaving so I can come and say goodbye? This whole thing is ridiculous.
I huffed out a breath as I read Tanner's message, and swiped it away, ignoring him for the umpteenth time, and feeling just as crappy about doing it as I did the first time.
It wasn't Tanner's fault I was being like this. For all intents and purposes, Tanner was being a perfect and supportive boyfriend. He was being everything I'd ever imagined I'd want. It was just that it wasn't what I needed right now. Right now, all I wanted to do was wallow in my own pool of self-pity until I knew the outcome of the investigation. I didn't want to bring Tanner down. Or Hazel, and Alex for that matter, either. Connor… Well, he could come straight down to hell with me. Only, I didn't think that was how it was going to play out.
Connor had people on his side. High up people who didn't want to blame him for the cheating. Heaven forbid a faculty member's child cheated to stay on the hockey team bench. No, it had to be the girl that manipulated him into cheating. I was the temptress that introduced Artificial Intelligence to the dumb jock and changed his life. It was all going to be my fault, because what accountability did an athlete need to have?
Glancing around my dorm room, I couldn't believe how empty it was. Two years of my life had been packed up into this one half-filled bag. It was sad but summed up my time here completely.
I never tried to make a fuss. I just wanted to get through with as little evidence that I'd been at the college as possible. Maybe I’d be able to graduate early and make tons of money working in some research lab, and I’d never have to attend a college reunion.
I was happy with that plan.
But then I met Tanner, and that changed everything.
Tanner changed me for the better. He made me care about something more than myself and my own achievements. I’d built not only a friendship with him and his sister, but a bond I never thought I’d find with anyone else.
I loved him, and I could see it every time he looked at me. He loved me too.
And yet, I was ignoring him.
Because it was easier than facing the reality that I was leaving Covey U – ergo him - for the foreseeable future.
I might never return depending on the investigation results. What would I do if I never entered this dorm again? What would happen to me if they found me guilty of all the things Connor accused me of? Would another school accept me with a suspension for cheating on my transcript?
Unlikely.
And the ones that would, wouldn’t be so prestigious.
Tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to let them spill, only wiping away a few errant tears that got away.
All because I trusted the wrong guy.
I stuffed my final few shirts into my bag, cognizant that this could be it. Who knew? Maybe Thea would get my dorm now. I guessed that was at least something good that would have come out of me getting kicked out. Although, she might have the displeasure of having a roommate, and I didn't know how much she'd enjoy that.
