Page 56 of On Broken Wings

“Believe it or not, there is a lot that I don’t know. Lead the way.” He motioned for me to walk ahead of him.

As we climbed the steps, I could feel his stare on my back. It caressed me from the top of my head all the way down to my feet. Heat rose to the surface of my skin and an unwelcomed awareness filled me. I would not give in. He lied to me. We were going to talk and then I was going to tell him to never contact me again.

I glanced over my shoulder when we reached the top of the steps. “In here.” I motioned to a hallway filled with doors. Behind each door was a small four by four-foot room. It had a small table, with four chairs. It was a quiet space for students to use for studying. Because this was the foreign language building, the study rooms were sound proof. This allowed students to practice orally and would give Evan and I some privacy.

I opened the door and let him enter first. I wanted to be close to my escape in case I needed it. I lowered myself into a chair and then unwrapped my sandwich. I glanced at my watch before lifting my sandwich to take a bite. “You’re down to forty-five minutes,” I muttered as I chewed.

“I see you’re making this real easy.” He sighed before sitting across from me. “I’m sorry I lied to you, Jenni. I’m sorry I hurt you, but I want you to know that I meant what I said. I loved you. I still do.”

Chapter 25

Jenni

“If you loved someone, wouldn’t you tell them the truth? I mean, why lie to me?” I slumped back in my chair and crossed my arms over my chest. I’d finished eating at this point and only had a few minutes until I had to be in class.

“I told you. I was protecting you. Several of my marks were on campus. Why do you think I was here?” He leaned his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his hands. He looked frustrated with me, but I didn’t care. Anger was fueling me.

“And what was I?” I cocked my head to the side. I was trying to determine whether he was telling me the truth now, but I had a feeling I was failing miserably.

“You were an unexpected addition. I never planned to talk to you, but I couldn’t make myself stay away. You weren’t part of my assignment.” He rocked back in his chair and smiled at me. “I saw you walking out of Booker one afternoon. You were smiling at something in the sky. You looked so happy. I started watching for you every day. After about a week, I couldn’t make myself stay away any longer. I requested to audit your ethics class along with a few others. When Professor Rice said yes, I had nothing keeping me from talking to you. I thought if I became your friend everything would be fine. I’d tell you who I was once the case was closed, but it took longer than it was supposed to and I fell in love with you. None of this was supposed to hurt you.”

I pressed my lips together and slowly nodded my head. I wanted to believe him, I was just still so mad. I glanced at my watch and noticed it was time for class. “I have to go.” I stood abruptly and reached for my backpack.

“Can we finish this later?” Evan stood between me and the door. “I’ll wait for your class to get out and we can go to my place and talk.”

Did I want that? “Where is that, exactly?” I lifted my backpack onto my shoulder. “I mean, you don’t live in the dorms, do you?” The words left a bitter taste in my mouth. It was another of Evan’s lies.

“No. I have an apartment not far from yours.” He grimaced.

“Was the bookstore job even real?” I shifted on my feet.

“I really had a job there. I don’t any more. I quit once the case closed. I have plenty to do on the force.” He chuckled. “I’ll wait here. I’ll even buy you dinner. Please, Jenni?”

I tried to reach around him to get the door open. “I really need to go.” Evan sighed as he slowly opened the door and stepped out of the way.

“I really am sorry that things worked out this way. I hope you can forgive me one day. I’d love to be able to show you that you know the real me,” he mumbled as I stepped past him.

I slowly stopped moving, letting my shoulders drop in defeat before glancing back at him. “Fine. Meet me out front in an hour.” I pointed at him before rushing to class. I’d be lucky if I got a good seat at this point.

ooooooooo

Evan

Jenni’s French class was the longest hour I’ve ever sat through. If I thought she’d let me, I would have followed her in the room just to make sure that she was actually going to class. When she came around the corner, I sprang from where I was sitting and motioned to the door. It was only about three in the afternoon and it was a beautiful day.

“This way.” I motioned as I jogged down the steps. The wind blew her hair around her face, causing her to constantly be pushing it out of the way. “I can’t believe how quickly it’s getting cold.” I glanced to the side where she had her arms wrapped around her middle.

“Yeah. Summer left pretty quickly.” She squinted. “Where are we going? The lot over here requires a special pass.”

“I know.” I grinned. “I have one.” I pulled my badge from my pocket and handed it to her.

“You used your badge to stalk me?” Her lips thinned as she attempted to sound unamused.

“Maybe.” I shrugged as we reached my car. “Hop in.” I motioned to the passenger side door. I watched as Jenni tossed her backpack in the backseat and then slipped in, buckling herself in the process.

When I climbed into the driver’s seat, her head swung in my direction. “This thing get you a lot of special privileges?” She tossed my badge at me, letting it hit my chest and then fall into my lap.

“Not the one thing that I really want,” I grumbled. “That’s something that I have no idea how to get.”

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