Page 16 of Bachelor

“I appreciate it,” I replied as casually as possible. Inside I was coiled tighter than a bow string.

Dan left, closing the door behind him.

Christian was becoming a major problem. But it was his word against mine and Whitney’s. I knew neither of us were going to come clean anytime soon, especially now that we’d ended things and didn’t speak unless it was over email.

I hadn’t seen her since last weekend at Bill’s shop.

I sighed heavily and closed my laptop. It was only five in the evening, and I figured I could pass some time in my office for a few more hours before calling it a night. Hollis Hall had an exceptional faculty lounge, so I made my way to the third floor and went inside, giving my colleagues a tight, kind smile before making myself a cup of tea.

I still hadn't figured out how to use the espresso machine and more often than not found myself in Dan’s office, where he had his own coffee maker.

I sat at a table near the window and pulled out my phone to mindless scroll when a female voice lit up the room.

“How is everyone?” Cassandra beamed, walking over to a table of professors like a ray of sunshine, her wide smile bright enough to blind them if they looked too closely at her.

I wasn’t her biggest fan. I found her a little silly—giggly, in fact. But she was nice, and everyone else seemed to like her well enough.

I settled back against my chair and ignored the conversation taking place across the room when a shadow passed over me and Cassandra sat down, crossing her arms over the table.

“This is how you spend your Friday nights? Sitting in the faculty lounge drinking tea and checking sports stats?”

“I was having a peaceful, quiet moment after a long day of classes,” I retorted.

Her mouth stretched into a grin. She was pretty, I’d give her that. But there was something about her that put me on edge. I had a hard time pinpointing where the feeling came from.

“What, there’s nothing exciting to do in this lively town?” she said with heavy sarcasm.

“If you like books and art, yes.”

She rolled her eyes, crossing her legs. The pink tweed skirt she wore rode up her thighs, and based on her positioning on the chair, that’s exactly where she wanted me to look.

I didn’t. I looked back at my phone, but her manicured nails tapped on the screen.

“Earth to Rhys.”

“Can I help you with something, Ms. Martins?”

“Oh, please,” she giggled, flipping her blond hair over her slender shoulder. “It’s Cassandra. You talk like such an old man for someone in their early thirties.”

“I’m British.”

She waved a hand in dismissal and stood up, smoothing down her skirt. “Since you asked, yes, you can help me with something. I want to check out the town, and I want you to show me.”

***

IQUICKLY LEARNED CASSANDRAwasn’t in the habit of being told no.

“This is it,” I said, sweeping my arm out over the main street lined with bars, restaurants, and shops.

She frowned, shivering a bit in her skirt and white puffy jacket. “Which bar’s your favorite? Let’s go there.”

“I’m not in the habit of drinking at these bars. It’s mostly students.”

We walked along the sidewalk, passing Bill’s shop. I glanced through the window, finding the counter he normally hung out at empty. Good, I thought. I’d rather not have to explain this to him later.

“That’s so boring, Rhys. What’s wrong with hanging out with students?” She nudged me with her hip, grinning up at me. “I’ve heard all of the women on campus just fawn over you.”

“I don’t think that’s true.”

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