Page 56 of Killing Me Softly

And Aaron had cracked him wide open.

“What do you intend to do?” he asked, already knowing the outcome.

Ellie pursed her lips. “What I intend to do is ensure this doesn’t spiral into a full-scale scandal. For you or this department. You will go on leave, as I’ve instructed. Conveniently, you have the matter of your mother’s passing, which appropriately explains your absence to administration. That is what I will report.”

“And Aaron?”

Ellie tilted her head. “Aaron Jones’ grades, along with the grades ofallyour students, will need to be re-evaluated by an independent reviewer. It’s standard protocol in cases of undeclared relationships between faculty and students.”

Kenny’s shoulders sagged as her words sank in. Of course. It wasn’t just Aaron’s grades. This would ripple out to every student he’d taught. Months, if not years, of work called into question because of one choice.Onerelationship.

As he’d said before, the moment he’d allowed himself to kiss Aaron, it would destroy his entire life.

The question was: did he regret it?

“Kenny, you’re one of the most brilliant minds in this department, but you’ve let your emotions cloud your judgment. Take the leave. Get your head straight. And… consider carefully how you want to move forward.” Ellie stepped toward the door. “This doesn’t have to end your career. But how you handle it from here will determine if it does.”

Kenny watched her leave. The usual hum of administrative chatter had fallen unnervingly quiet, as though the entire department had been holding its breath to listen. After a moment of contemplation, Kenny stood. Then grabbed oneof the plastic boxes stored there for various transferrals of documents, tipped its contents on the leather sofa, then put his life’s work into it.

No.

He didn’t regret it.

* * * *

“So, you saw this Dr Pryce when you were in Barcelona with Lyons?” Mel asked, rustling through a packet of M&Ms open on the table between them.

Aaron wondered why he was even here, sitting in the study area outside one of the smaller classrooms in the psychology block with Mel, laptops and notebooks sprawled across the table, while they worked on their research project information for their upcoming meetings. With none other than Dr Pryce herself.

Bouncing his leg under the table, he tapped his pen rhythmically on his notebook with restless energy. He was antsy, counting the minutes until he could leave. One more lecture, and then he’d be free to go round to Kenny’s and finish what they’d started in his office. That was the only reason he stuck to the routine. Because if Kenny was here, then he should be, too. Well, that and the bursary package, which required him to attend every lecture and complete all assignments on time.

But with the envelope in his bag, his trust fund worth over a million quid, burning a metaphorical hole through the fabric, he wasn’t sure how much longer he needed the bursary. Or the free accommodation. Or, fuck, even this degree.

Aaron double-checked the others waiting on their meeting with Dr Pryce couldn’t hear them before he replied to Mel, but they were all either heads down, earbuds in, or talking through their own childhood traumas. “Yeah.”

“And now she’s here.” Mel crunched through a handful of M&Ms. “Kinda weird.”

“Yeah.”

“What time’s your meeting with her?”

Aaron tapped his phone, lighting up the screen. He noticed a missed call. From Taylor.Strange. He let the screen fade. “Ten minutes.”

“How do you feel about that?”

Aaron raised an eyebrow at her over the table. “Please never ask me that.”

Mel snorted, tossing a M&M into her mouth. “You’re studying psychology, but you don’t wanna talk about your feelings? Groundbreaking.”

“I get enough of it in therapy.”

Mel cocked her head. “There’s more to your story, isn’t there? Like, loads of bits I missed in season one and two.”

Aaron paused mid-scribble. “I’m a messed-up care kid with really fucking awful parents. That enough for you?”

“You can trust me, y’know.”

“Yeah. I know. Thanks.”

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