Page 64 of Those Heartbreak Scars

He has a full day with the team, otherwise I would have asked him to come with me to the university. But that’s okay. I can handle it alone. Alfie might not even be there. And if he is… I’ll avoid him.

I pull on pants and then reach for the hem of the sweater before changing my mind. I have to do this alone, but Everett’s sweater feels like I’m encircled by his arms. I feel safer in it as I grab my purse and leave.

I lock up before I notice Gray waiting for me outside the garden gate. He’s leaning against his car, arms crossed over his chest. Shades perched on his nose.

I have no doubt he intends to accompany me, like he said he would. The anxiety turning my stomach eases, the desire to rush into his arms is strong. But then I recall that he chose hisjob over me, and I remember how angry I am at him. My pulse thumps in my head as my blood pressure skyrockets.

I march down the path. “You can’t be here. I told you—”

“I’m taking you to unenroll. I told you I would.” He straightens and takes his shades off. Standing over me, determination is written all over his face. “You can hate me. Or be angry with me. You can tell me not to call on you. I’ll abide by it. I won’t come by again. But I told you I had your back on this. So I’m taking you.”

“I can’t be around you anymore.” I hate that we can’t just be friends, but once the truth fled the confines of secrecy there was no chance we could go back.

“I know that.” He sounds pained. “And I will be gone as soon as I can be. But for now get in the car.”

“Fine.” I lift my chin as I walk around the car. I hate that deep down I am so grateful that he’s here. And that I’ll be so sad when he’s gone.

The drive to school is tense. After this meeting my future will officially be up in the air. I’ll have to tell my parents. I’ll have to work out my next steps. Gray will be gone. Did Everett not sign yesterday? Is that why he’s still here?

We arrive before I’m ready. The anxiety becomes overwhelming. My hands shake as I climb out of the car. My stomach is rolling like a washing machine.

Gray rests his hand against the small of my back as we walk through the buildings. I should pull away, but his touch is steadying to my nerves, and I don’t have the strength. Not when this is the last time he’ll touch me. Not when my heart still wants him as much as it ever did.

“Before we got in the car you said you’ll be gone as soon as you can.” I finally bring up something that bothered me all the way here, in an effort to distract myself from the sense of dread that I might run into Alfie. “Did Everett not sign yesterday?”

“He… was too busy wanting to punch me in the face.” He scowls. “Not that he knows the guy you were with is me.”

“You’re welcome,” I say bitterly.

“But he did say something else that was interesting. That you’re in love with…”

“Alfie.” He’s straight ahead of us.

“Exactly. But we both know you’re not into the professor, so—”

“No.” I grab the front of his shirt and stop him from moving forward. Alfie is talking to a female student in the shadows of the building. Leaning in like he does when he’s showing interest. He reaches out and touches her arm while he smiles at her.

My pulse races. I fight the urge to puke. Is she the next student whose future he makes harder? Possibly ruins?

“America?” Gray grabs me around the waist, tugging me back against his chest before I can lose my shit.

“He’s a bastard.”

“Yes, he is.” Gray’s response is grim.

“I wasn’t a one-off.” I knew it. I just didn’t want to deal with what that meant. “I have to tell someone.”

“We’ll report it.” Gray wraps his arm around my shoulders and guides me forward.

“America?” Alfie looks up as we pass him. His eyes widen and he flinches when he sees Gray. His lip still has the split in it from Gray’s fist.

What did he end up telling his wife? I turn to the girl. “Don’t believe a word he says. He’ll ruin your life.”

She gasps and narrows her gaze on him.

We walk away while he tries to soothe her ruffled feathers. Hopefully she’s smarter than I was.

Either way I’ll make sure that everyone knows what I didn’t about Alfie.

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