Page 63 of Bachelor

I watched her go, her body disappearing in the crowded hallway. I walked to my door and shut it firmly, leaning against it as I took a breath.

Then I walked to my desk and sat down, opening the email I’d been ignoring for the last two weeks.

An email that would change everything.

I opened it but hesitated to respond.

I could leave this behind, go back to research and exploration. The only thing that stood between me and that life was a few sentences.

And Whitney.

I couldn’t leave her behind.

Chapter Twenty-One

Whitney

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INEEDED TO GET THISfrantic, anxious energy out of my system somehow. The rumors that swirled around campus were taking a toll on me. Add in my rapidly approaching midterms, and I was a hot mess.

Jessica made a funny face at me from across the gym as I sprinted as hard as I could on the treadmill before easing up on my pace. Sweat poured down my temples as an audiobook thrummed through my headphones. But even with the book playing, my thoughts were still too loud. I felt everyone was watching me, whispering about me.

So, I’d knocked on Jessica’s door and told her we were going to the gym, and now here we were.

“You can’t run away from all of your problems,” she shouted over the sound of the treadmill and the audiobook. I slowed to a crawl and turned off the treadmill, grabbing my water bottle. Jessica leaned on the treadmill and used it to do a deep stretch, her eyes fixed on mine. “Come lift with me.”

“Fine.” I smirked, still trying to catch my breath as I followed her over to the weights. We were the only ones using the space, but our voices carried over the lofted area and echoed over the pool. But it was quiet here. I could see why Rhys and Tyler liked it here so much. I picked up some fifteen-pound dumbbells and got to work.

“We need to talk about Spring Break,” Jessica grunted as she lowered into a squat.

“What about it?”

“Do you have plans?”

“No, I haven’t thought that far ahead.”

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