Page 23 of Boards & Betrayal

“Honestly, this is something I need to handle myself,” I said, my voice firm but pained. “I can't have you save me every time,Tom. You wound up in jail. You broke Nick's jaw. You could have gotten fired. If the dean hadn't been so desperate…”

“I know,” Thomas said gruffly, his jaw clenched. “I'd do it again. I'd do anything I could to protect you. You know that.”

“I don't need that,” I said, shaking my head, my eyes locking onto his with frustration. “I never did.”

“I know,” he repeated, softer this time. “But that doesn't mean I won't.”

“Why?” I asked, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions. “Why me? You're Thomas Morgan. You don't hook up with a girl and hang onto her. I've heard of your reputation, even before I knew who you were. Out of anyone you could get with…" Her eyes widened. "Is it because I'm… because I was with Nick? Is this some way to get back at him?"

"Do you really think that?" he demanded, anger flashing in his eyes.

I saw something else there too—hurt, maybe. It made me falter, just for a second.

"You're an instigator," I said again, trying to keep my voice steady. "It's the only thing that makes sense. Why you would care. Maybe you enjoyed pissing Nick off. Maybe you enjoyed being with me to get to him?—"

Thomas clenched his jaw, his hand finding the side of my throat. The touch was both gentle and firm, his thumb brushing against my pulse. I should have pulled away, but I couldn't move.

"You can't possibly think that," he said, his voice low and intense.

"Then why?" I asked, my breath hitching. "You could have picked anyone. You picked your son's ex —"

"Maybe it's because I?—"

The door swung open, and Kara walked in, her voice filling the room. "Sorry about that," she said, glancing at her phone. "The editor for the Serpents wanted to see how..."

Her voice trailed off as she took in the scene before her—Thomas still holding my neck, our faces inches apart.

For a moment, no one moved. Kara's eyes widened as she looked between us.

I finally found the strength to pull away from Thomas's grip, but the connection lingered in the air like a charged current.

"Ally?" Kara asked, her voice laced with confusion and concern.

"I… We were just talking," I stammered, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment.

Thomas stepped back, his expression unreadable but the intensity in his eyes still burning bright.

Kara cleared her throat awkwardly. "Right. Well, we should probably get back to work," she said, trying to diffuse the tension.

"Yeah," I agreed, my voice shaky as I tried to regain some semblance of composure.

Thomas gave me one last look before turning away, his jaw still clenched tightly.

"I took the shots you wanted, Kara," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "But I really have to get home. I've got an early day tomorrow."

Kara glanced between me and Thomas, her eyebrows knitting together in concern. "Are you sure? You seem?—"

"I'm fine," I cut her off, forcing a smile. "Really. Everything's covered."

Before either of them could protest, I grabbed my camera bag and slung it over my shoulder. I needed to get out of there before the tension suffocated me. As I walked towards the exit, I feltThomas's eyes on me, heavy and intense, like a weight pressing against my back.

The hallway outside the event room seemed endless, each step echoing louder than the last. My heart pounded in my chest, a chaotic rhythm that matched the storm of emotions swirling inside me. I could still feel the heat of Thomas’s touch on my skin, the way his fingers had traced my throat like he was afraid to let go.

I reached the doors and pushed through them, the cool night air hitting me like a splash of cold water. It felt like I could finally breathe again. The city lights blurred in my vision as tears threatened to spill over. I wiped them away quickly, not wanting anyone to see me break down.

The street outside was quieter than usual, only a few cars passing by and the occasional pedestrian hurrying home. I kept walking, trying to put as much distance between myself and that suffocating room as possible.

In a blur, I grabbed an Uber and was dropped off at my dorm. I fumbled with my keys as I unlocked the door. Once inside, I leaned against it, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.

---