Page 7 of For Crosby

“He’s not talking.”

My head snapped back. That didn’t sound like Mr. Hockey. “I’m surprised he doesn’t want whoever did it to be punished.”

“Me too. Which leads me to believe they were people he knew.” He sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. “Everyone knows I take campus hazing very seriously, Miss Marshall. This university comes down hard on anyone found partaking in it. So, I’m not letting this go. The guilty parties need to be punished.”

I agreed completely. However, if Mr. Hockey didn’t tell him, it wasn’t my place to. He might’ve been an asshole, but for whatever reason, he didn’t want the dean to know. “I’m sorry I can’t help you, Dean Edwards.”

His eyes assessed mine for a long uncomfortable moment. Could he tell I was hiding something? Could he see Mr. Hockey told me who did it? Was he waiting me out? He blinked a few times before standing from his desk. “Well, thanks for stopping by.”

I jumped to my feet, elated to be dismissed.

“Please let me know if you remember anything. Even if you think it’s minor, it could help.”

I nodded as I turned to walk away.

“Oh, and Miss Marshall?”

I spun back around.

“Do you make a habit of leaving people tied to trees in the middle of the night?”

My body tensed. “Excuse me?”

“I just can’t figure why you didn’t call for help.”

What was he implying? Did he think I had something to do with it? Did he think I was a horrible person? Was I? “I’ll let you know if I remember anything.” I turned on shaky legs and made my way out of his office before he could say another word.

I stepped outside into the cool November day wondering if I’d done the right thing. Students rushed by me, hurrying to their next classes as the dean’s words rattled around in my head. I may not have been studying to be a brain surgeon, but I knew a threat when I heard one.

* * *

I walked up the sidewalk of a house on the outskirts of campus, cursing every slow step I took and wondering if I should turn back around.

“Hot damn,” a deep voice called from the open front door.

I stared into the eyes of Grady, hating that I’d been forced to be there. “Is anyone else home?” I purposely looked behind him, hoping someone would be around to protect me from the big oaf.

A smile slid across his face. “Nope. Just you and me, babe. I knew it was only a matter of time before you came begging me for it.”

My entire face scrunched in disgust. “Hell has definitely not frozen over yet.”

Grady’s footsteps resounded down the front steps until he stood towering in front of me. “Why you such a hater, girl?”

I stared up at him. He was a huge guy, but his face had slimmed down since last year. I hadn’t noticed at lunch when he was shoving Mr. Hockey’s naked body in my face. “I didn’t come here to be hit on.”

“Do you know how many girls would love to be on the receiving end of my attention?”

I pretended to think about it, using my fingertips as a calculator. “None?”

His head dropped back on a groan. “You’re impossible.”

“You’re single-minded.”

“Have you looked in a mirror? You’re gorgeous. You can’t blame a guy for trying.”

I cocked my head, staring at his pathetic attempt at a goatee. Could I ignore all his lame advances in order to get his help? Could I see the good in Grady that Caden tried to assure us lingered underneath the surface?

“Come on,” he backed down. “You must really need something if you came here to see me.”

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