Page 61 of The Lake of Lost Girls

I was still wary of him, but there was an indescribable something about Ryan McKay that had me throwing caution to the wind.

“Sorry, I saw you walking alone, so thought I’d make sure you were okay.” Ryan’s eyes met mine, never wavering. There was a solidity there that I yearned for desperately.

“Why wouldn’t I be okay?” I asked.

“With everything going on, I know people are freaked out.” He glanced around the quad. “The guys on my floor keep saying there’s a killer on campus. I think they’re using it to get girls to let them in their dorm rooms.” His smile was brief and lopsided.

I laughed, though I didn’t think it was at all funny.

Ryan cocked his head to the side as he regarded me. “You never answered my question earlier.” There was a thread of frustration in his tone that should have given me pause. “I hate being strung along, Jess.”

Had Tammy strung him along? Is that why he called her a cocktease? I was nothing like Tammy. Or Phoebe.

“I’m not trying to string you along,” I told him honestly.

His dark look brightened, marginally. “So, maybe I can take you on a date sometime.” It wasn’t a question. He knew my answer.

I bit my bottom lip to stop them from trembling. “Sure. I’d like that.”

Ryan moved closer and confidently took my hand. My cold fingers laced with his. “Do you think we can schedule that rain-checked date—?”

The door of Roosevelt Hall opened, the heavy wood crashing against the brick wall.

“Come on.” Ryan pulled on my hand as we ran around the side of the building, both of us hidden among the overgrown ivy.

“Meghan!” I heard a man yelling.

We peered around the corner to watch the drama unfold. It was Dr. Daniels. He was rushing after the same woman from earlier. Meghan ran down the steps, wiping at her face as if she were crying.

“What the hell?” Ryan whispered beside me. I could feel his warm breath on my cheek as I pressed into him so we wouldn’t be seen.

We watched as Dr. Daniels grabbed hold of Meghan before she could get away. She pulled back, clearly fighting against him.

“Stop it, Clement, please stop!” she shouted, her voice wavering and broken.

“Shut up!” he barked, giving her arm a shake. He darted a look around and Ryan and I automatically moved back into the ivy, obscuring us from his view. I felt my body stiffen as I watched them. Ryan was a bundle of tension beside me. I felt it radiating off him.

Meghan was really struggling, but the professor continued to hold her tightly. He leaned in, his lips close to her ear, and spoke softly. Whatever he said had an immediate effect. She went limp, her head bowing. Dr. Daniels lifted her chin and kissed her.

I felt my insides lurch, but neither Ryan nor I said anything. I felt like I shouldn’t be watching, but I couldn’t help myself.

This is wrong!

I wanted to stop them. I wanted to pull her away from him. I wanted to …

Dr. Daniels broke the kiss first, his voice still too low for us to hear. Meghan was clearly unhappy with his words. She shook her head and tried to back away. Dr. Daniels looked furious. This was a far cry from the kind man I had spoken to earlier.

Finally she pushed away from him. He yelled after her, and this time, he was very clear.

“You stupid girl. I won’t let you ruin my life.” His words were like gunshots.

She let out a strangled sob and ran in the direction of the freshmen dorms. Dr. Daniels stared after her for a few more moments, his fingers combing through his hair, before heading back into Roosevelt Hall.

As soon as the older man was gone, Ryan moved away from me. “She’s such an idiot.” He sounded horrified. Outraged. He was clenching his teeth hard enough to break bone. “I should go talk to her.”

I frowned in confusion—and irritation. “Do you know her?”

Ryan’s wouldn’t quite meet my eyes. “That’s Meghan Lambert. She … uh … yeah, I know her.”

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