Page 69 of An Academy for Liars

“Then what is it, Dante?”

He leveled his gaze, was quiet for a long time. “I am your advisor, and you are my charge. We can’t do this.”

“I’m not a child—”

“I know that.”

“—and I’m not some starry-eyed teen fresh out of high school either. I mean, I’ve beenengaged, for Christ’s sake. If something was to happen—”

“It won’t.”

“But let’s say it does. Let’s say I wanted it to. It’s not coercion.”

“And how do you know? How do you know that I’m not pulling strings? Persuading you to do what I want?”

“So you do want this.”

“That was hypothetical.”

“Was it?”

His eyes turned stern and hard, and she thought he might yell at her. But he just dipped his head and smiled instead. Not with kindness or humor but with sheer disbelief, as if he couldn’t believe he’d been dragged into this. “Do you know why I came here?”

“Damage control?”

“No. I came all this way because Eileen was deeply troubled by your phone call, so troubled that she began to suspect your mind needed to be wiped clean of every memory you’ve ever had of Drayton. I came here to assess whether that needs to be done.”

Lennon stiffened. “What’s your take?”

Dante ignored that question, just sidestepped it like it wasn’t even worth his consideration. “You’re going back to Drayton. Today.”

“Not if you won’t be my advisor,” said Lennon.

“Don’t be difficult.”

“There’s nothing difficult about this. It’s simple. I return to Drayton with you as my advisor, or I don’t return at all, and you take my memories. Which one is it going to be, Dante?”

“Lennon—”

“I’m serious. I mean every word. I don’t want—” Her voice broke on that lie. “I don’tneedor expect to have any relationship with youbeyond advisorship. But if I’m expected to continue my studies—to be this gatekeeper that everyone at the school is so determined for me to become—then I need an advisor who I can trust to guide me. And you’re the only person who fits that description.”

Dante turned quiet and contemplative for a beat. Staring down at his own shoes as he made up his mind. “If we do this, you and me, we can’t be anything. Ever. Our relationship will be strictly contained within the parameters of advisorship. Nothing beyond that. Do you understand that?”

“I understand.”

A muscle in Dante’s jaw jumped and flexed. She swore she felt his presence in her mind, just the briefest touch, there and gone in an instant. She wondered what he saw, what he was looking for. “Let’s get you back to Drayton.”

Lennon nodded, trying to mask just how relieved she really felt. “Can I say goodbye to my family? I’ll be quick.”

“You have fifteen minutes.”

Lennon walked back up the drive to see the faces of her family pressed against the windows on both sides of the door. The questions began as soon as she was inside.

“Why is he here?” Carly demanded.

“That man looks like Black Adonis,” said her mother. “You said he’s your advisor? He doesn’t look like an advisor.”

“Not with those tattoos,” her father muttered. “Did you see the backs of his hands? Anyone who gets tattooed on their hands is an idiot.”

---