Page 31 of Bachelor

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ISET DOWN MY LUNCHtray at my usual spot by the stained-glass windows in the commons. I sank into my chair and brushed my hair away from my face, closing my eyes for a moment. I was exhausted. I was insane, I knew, for signing up for an entire year’s worth of classes in a single semester. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now I was feeling the mental fog start to roll in.

The turkey sandwich I’d waited in line for twenty minutes for stared up at me, waiting for me to summon the strength to take a bite.

I needed a break. That was clear. And thankfully that ski trip was coming up, and I’d have four days to just... do anything but homework and study.

I sighed heavily and pulled the hot vanilla latte I’d ordered toward me, but I didn’t have time to take a single sip of it before Cassandra Martins entered the commons, saw me, and made a beeline for me.

I gritted my teeth, then relaxed enough to swallow as much as the scalding hot coffee as I could, thankful I’d told the barista to give me two extra shots.

“Whitney Dahl, my favorite student.” She grinned as she sat down with the tiniest salad I’d ever seen on her tray. “Oh, is this seat taken?”

“No, you’re fine.”

“Good, I’ve been meaning to talk to you. I’m so glad you and your friend—oh, what is her name? Jennifer? The redhead—”

“Jessica—”

“Jessica, yes. I’m so excited the two of you are joining me on the ski trip! I am so, so, so looking forward to it.” Her eyes glinted with something other than excitement, but her expression shifted so quickly I didn’t have time to process that odd look behind her eyes. “I was thinking I’d have to invite some underclassmen if enough people didn’t RSVP, but I think I have enough to justify renting a lodge on the university’s dime.” She twirled a lock of her hair around her finger and glanced up at the ceiling with a wistful sigh. “Inviting undergrads would have been fun, though. They do know how to party.”

I arched my brows. “Is that what you want, a party?”

She rolled her eyes to meet mine. “I didn’t go here for my degree, so I didn’t get the infamous Gatlington experience.”

“I mean, if you spend enough time on Greek Row, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.”

She leaned forward, her elbows resting on the table. I realized, a little too late, that I’d been baited into the conversation I knew was coming next.

“What was it like being the most popular girl on campus?”

“I don’t think I was—”

“Oh, please.” She waved a hand in dismissal. “You’re a legend here.”

I picked up my sandwich and took a bite.

She pressed forward. “I mean, president of your sorority? The girlfriend of Christian Brockford—”

“I wouldn’t consider that something to be known for,” I cut in, feeling a little uneasy with the train of conversation.

Cassandra didn’t seem to care, or even notice, that I’d cut her off. “I bet you know all of the hot gossip. I heard a rumor recently, actually.”

“About what?”

“About a certain professor possibly having had an affair with one of his students.”

“Who?” I asked, my heart beginning to race.

She gave me a wicked smile and made a show of looking side to side to make sure we weren’t overheard. “Rhys Ellis and a student. That’s the rumor. No one can confirm it, and after getting to know him, I’m not sure I’d believe it. He’s so... He just doesn’t seem like the type. What do you think?”

“I don’t really have an opinion about it, honestly. I don’t know him that well.” I hoped she couldn’t see past my neutral expression because inside, I was panicking.

“Oh, come on. You’re the person he spends the most amount of time with. Surely you would have heard something—”

“I’m his TA because you assigned me to him,” I cut in. “And no, I haven’t heard anything about him having an inappropriate relationship with a student. Who did you hear it from?”

She arched her brows, considering. “Oh, no one in particular. But if you don’t believe it, given that you must know everything that happens on campus, I don’t believe it then, either.” She smiled at me and forked a piece of dry lettuce. “I’m happy it’s not true. What kind of women is he into, by chance?”

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