Page 84 of The Sound of Us

“That was very brave.” I squeezed her hand. “How did he take it?”

Isla’s eyes watered even as her lips quivered with a smile. “He was furious. I’d never seen that side of him. We were in the food court, and he threw his tray on the ground. He couldn’t believethe police hadn’t caught the guy. He wanted to go down to the police station right then and demand they reopen the investigation.”

“He’s protective of you,” I said. “Not that I’m condoning violence toward plastic trays, but it was kind of sweet.”

“Now, he waits for me after my night class to walk me home, and when I’m studying late at the library, he shows up with a pizza picnic. Next week, after I get back from visiting my parents, he’s taking me to learn Krav Maga. He said he’s in no rush and he’s happy to be friends for as long as it takes. He said I’m worth waiting for.”

“Oh, Iz.” I was happy for her. She deserved someone as kind and thoughtful as Nick. She deserved to be someone’s everything. I just wished I could be someone’s everything, too.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR“I Melt with You” by Modern EnglishDante

James Dunn from the university’s legal department didn’t look much older than me, despite the sweater vest he wore over his rumpled blue shirt, and the thick black glasses he put on to read the list of famous WJPK alumni posted beside the station’s front door.

“Thanks for meeting with me,” he said, shaking my hand. “I know this must be a difficult time for you and everyone at the station with Noah ill and—”

“I didn’t have a choice.” After the guilt trip Siobhan had laid on me before Christmas, and with Noah home and feeling well enough to guilt me into helping Siobhan run the station, I had reluctantly agreed to meet with James after he’d sent a message about an urgent legal matter.

“Should we go to your office?” He gestured awkwardly down the hallway.

I took a step forward and my body seized. It had taken all my willpower to walk through the door, but I couldn’t go any farther. There was no way I could sit in Noah’s office if he wasn’t there. I’d lost too many people I cared about. I couldn’t handle the stark reminder that I might just lose another.

“Let’s grab a coffee upstairs.” I led James up to the food court and we ordered our drinks.

“I actually just came for quick chat,” James said after we’dfound a quiet table in the corner. “The university wanted me to pass on the message that they don’t want you to run the story.”

“What story? We have an extensive programming schedule. You’ll need to be more specific.” I silently cursed Siobhan for not giving me a heads-up about what was going on.

“The story about the men’s basketball team.”

“I don’t know anything about it. If you’ll excuse me for a moment, I’ll touch base with Siobhan.” I stepped away and sent a quick message. Siobhan replied right away saying that Chad had mentioned that Skye was investigating a possible cover-up involving someone on the team.

It didn’t take me long to put the pieces together. Skye was clearly on to something, and the legal team was worried enough to send James to pre-empt a possible broadcast. Damn, she was good.

“I’m up to speed,” I said, taking my seat. “What exactly is your concern?”

James sighed. “Are we really going to play this game?”

“Why don’t you call it what it really is? A fishing expedition.” I sipped my bland coffee, wishing I’d suggested Buttercup instead. It had been too long since I’d seen Skye and she could have shed some light on the story. “You want to know what we know.”

His jaw tightened. “It doesn’t matter what you know. What matters is that WJPK leases space on university property and is an integral part of the university community. That means we all need to be on the same page when it comes to anything that may impact the university’s reputation.”

I leaned back in my chair and imagined myself ten years from now in James’s place. Is that what lay in store for me after I’d put my father away? Sweater vests and rumpled shirts and veiled threats to college radio station volunteers?

“Are you trying to curtail the freedom of the press?” I asked. “It’s in the community’s interest to know when someone is doing something that is illegal, unethical, or questionable when it comes to societal values. That’s why we’re here. That is the beauty of independent radio. We are not beholden to advertisers, whichputs us in the unique position of being able to ensure those truths come to light.”

James lifted an admonishing brow. “Are you seriously going to put the station at risk for something that happened over two years ago? Maybe you should talk to Noah.” His voice took on a condescending tone. “I know you’re just a student and you’re filling this role on an interim basis, but this is a very serious matter—”

“Oh, I understand it’s serious.” I leaned forward, giving him my full attention. “Honestly, I wasn’t sure the story had teeth. But now I know it’s worth pursuing.”

“I haven’t said anything,” James said, scrambling. “I just came here to raise a concern.”

“And I heard you.” I held out my hand for a goodbye shake. “I’ll pass the message on to Noah, but you should know that he feels the same way I do about the purpose of independent radio and freedom of press. If he were here, you wouldn’t have even had the courtesy of a handshake.”

I texted Skye as soon as he was gone.I need to see you.

“What are you doing at a rival coffee shop?” Skye’s voice pulled me out of the coursework I’d tried to lose myself in while waiting for her to show up. It seemed like forever since I’d seen her, and I took a moment to drink her in. Her hair was loose, falling in dark waves across her shoulders, and her red sweater clung to her curves. She was beautiful. Seriously beautiful. Inside and out.

“I couldn’t be in the station.”

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