Page 84 of For Crosby

“Talk!”

People around us paused, watching what appeared to be a lovers’ quarrel.

“There’s a video of you and Parks.”

My heart ricocheted off the wall of my chest. “What kind of video?”

He nodded, the only explanation necessary.

“Who?” I demanded as a cold sweat began to spread over me.

“Who do you think?”

“Say it!”

“Jeremy.”

“Show it to me,” I demanded.

My heart sank as he slipped out his phone. I wanted him to say he didn’t have it, but he pulled it up on his screen as if he had it saved to his favorites. And just like that Crosby and I were going at it in the library one of the nights I kept him company at work. My shirt was off and little remained to the imagination. As soon as I heard myself moan, I stopped the video and forwarded it to myself. “Is this online?”

He shook his head. “Not yet. I think only the hockey team’s seen it.”

Images of the party and the strange looks they gave me came rushing back at me. “Has Crosby?”

He paused.

A million thoughts whirled through my mind while I watched him contemplate his response.

He nodded slowly.

Crosby’s words played in my head. You deserve better than me…Everything I touch goes to hell. He knew. And he was trying to tell me—or at least trying to push me away. Was he trying to protect me?

I shoved the phone back at Mathews. “You need to delete that or I’ll go to the dean. Nonconsensual recordings are illegal. And as far as the dean knows, the one who has it is the one who recorded it.”

I spun away from him and sped across campus with a knot swelling in my throat making it difficult to swallow.

What I’d seen on that video.

What I’d heard.

God.

If it was released, how could I stay on campus? How could I get into law school? A sex tape would follow me for the rest of my life.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, jolting my already jumpy body. I slipped it out and a text from Finlay sat on my screen. He’s in the dining hall.

I quickened my pace, trudging across campus. My scalp felt as though it was about to split in two as the cool breeze whipped my hair around my face. But it didn’t stop me—or ease the heat pulsing in my cheeks.

I entered the crowded dining hall, stopping at Finlay and Caden’s table.

“How’d it go?” Finlay asked as I dropped into the seat beside her, needing a moment to process everything I’d seen.

I didn’t look at her or Caden, too numb to speak. I looked around the busy room. My eyes stopped, zoning in on Jeremy seated across the way with some of his teammates. My heartbeat thumped in my temples, cloaking all the sounds in that noisy room.

I sprang to my feet.

“Whoa.” Finlay grasped my wrist. “What are you gonna do?”

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