Page 65 of Old Money

And right now, flight is winning.

I can’t go anywhere because I don’t know where is “safe.”

I can’t call anyone because I don’t have anyone who can help me navigate this.

So instead, I hole up in my apartment.

A few more days pass,and I’ve been a recluse to the world. The only person I’ve answered is my mom, and that’s only to keep up the charade that everything is fine. I’ve deleted all my social media and so far have succeeded in keeping the world at bay. But today, classes start again, and it’s time to face the music.

It would be a lot less complicated if the world found out I was dating a billionaire while I was actually in touch with him. Now, I have no idea what the fuck is happening.

But instead of letting him win, I have managed to put on real clothes, brush my teeth, and make my way to campus. It’s been a few more days since the news broke, so maybe it’s old news.

I park my bike in the same bike rack I always have, and as I step foot up onto the red brick walkway, a chill goes down my spine. This corner of campus will always hold so much weight. Despite the new pavers they put down, my eyes will always see the blood spatters and hear the screams. I shake my head and keep walking, rounding the corner onto the main quad.

I try not to make eye contact with anyone, until I am stopped by the flash of a camera in my face. Then another, then another. And then twenty or so students surround me. And then twenty or so more. And suddenly, I can’t breathe.

“Miss Willis, how long have you been dating Julian Everett?” a reporter asks, shoving a microphone in my face.

“We’re here on the Carrington campus, where Sawyer Willis, a student here who is rumored to be dating Julian Everett of the Everett family, has just arrived,” I hear another say.

“Sawyer, hey, let me get a picture!” I hear someone else say.

I can’t breathe. I push to move past them, but I can’t break free.

And then I feel a hand grab my arm. And then another hand grabs my other arm. Tyler on my right, Russ on my left. Tyler tucks me under his arm while Russ pushes through the crowd. I bury myself into Tyler as they rush me to the Escalade, thrusting me inside and peeling out of the parking lot.

I stare out the window at the mob we just escaped when I hear his voice.

“Sawyer,” he says.

JULIAN

My heart fuckingaches.I tried to get out of the car to get to her, but Russ reminded me that that would put her in more danger.

So I sat here like a fucking schmuck while they rescued her. And now she’s here with me, and the ache is real. These last few weeks have been fucking torture. And if she hadn’t gone back to campus today, I would have continued not contacting her. And I would have been a fucking miserable shell of a man like I have been.

“Sawyer,” I say, and her eyes grow wide. She looks scared. She looks confused. And we stare at each other for a moment before she bursts into tears. I lunge for her, pulling her into me and holding her tight. She tries to push me off for a second, but then she resigns, going limp against me as I cradle her.

“Shh,” I tell her. “You’re safe. It’s okay.”

Finally, she composes herself, then she pushes away.

“What the fuck is going on?” she finally says.

I take in a long breath.

“Sawyer, I…”

“No. I want to get out,” she says. “Russ, pull over, please.”

“Sawyer, we’re not?—”

“Pull over, Russ. I want to get out,” she says.

He looks at me through the rearview mirror, and I nod. He drives another minute or two until we get to a little park and pulls in. He parks, and then he and Tyler get out to give us privacy.

“Can we talk before you get out?” I ask her. “Please, Sawyer. Let me explain.”

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