Page 17 of The New Girl

I wasn’t in love with him, but he had a hold on me that was inexplicable. Watching him walk further and further away from me filled me with anxiety—like I’d made a mistake.

Like this was all a terrible mistake.

A trap had been baited and I fell right into it.

Chapter Nine

Ifound Imogene in my room, lying on my bed, smoking, while Alexis hung out the window gulping in fresh air.

“You! Instruct your friend that smoking is not permitted in this room—or on this floor, this campus—basically anywhere indoors. It was enshrined in law in 1988.”

“I don’t pay attention to laws that don’t apply to me, Alexis.”

I hung up my coat. “We need oxygen, Imogene. Put it out. What are you doing here? Did we have plans that I forgot about?”

She tossed the lit cigarette out of the window and flung herself back on the bed. “We did. You were supposed to call me and tell me everything that happened last night.” She yawned. “I’ve been worried sick.”

I grinned. “Sure you have. There was nothing much to tell. We went back to his place. He made a pass which I allowed. Then the Chancellor came in and broke it up. His driver gave me a lift home.”

Imogene sat up. “What about Sander? Have you spoken to him since?”

My stomach knotted. “Just a few minutes ago. He doesn’t want to see me again.”

Alexis snorted and dropped down from the window to her bed. “Of course he doesn’t. I told you that would happen. I hope you’re not going to mope about it. I have zero sympathy.”

“No shit,” Imogene said drily. “You’d have to have a soul to have sympathy. Are you going to be okay, Jane? Not to pile on, but I did tell you Lysander was a rare bird. He’s broken, my love. You can’t fix him. Many have tried.”

“I’m okay. I think. I learned some things about him in the past twelve hours that are disturbing. He’s not what he makes himself out to be—this amazing guy with tons of integrity.”

“Oh my god,” Alexis cried with a snort. “You’re blaming Lysander for being what he is? You do not belong in his world. I warned you he would do this. You can lead the proverbial horse to water but you can’t make it drink.”

“You also told me Belindawasn’tLysander’s stepsister. I have confirmation from Chancellor Westfield that Belindawashis daughter. Lysander was his stepson when they hooked up. It was consensual but Belinda told her father that she was manipulated into having sex. They were both sixteen when it started. No charges were laid.”

Imogene shot a glance at Alexis. “And it was the Chancellor who told you this?”

I nodded with a smug look at Alexis. “From the proverbial horse’s mouth.That’sthe reason Lysander doesn’t want to see me anymore. I know the truth about him and he can’t stand it.”

“Sweetie, did it ever occur to you that the Chancellor could be lying?”

“Imogene, I know you don’t like him.”

“Does anyone?”She looked at Alexis again.

“No, it’smore than that. You’re afraid of him. You told me he wants Lysander to run St. Swithins. You more or less hinted that Westfield is behind Lysander’s position here.”

“He is, and it’s hardly surprising,” said Alexis.“Westfield doesn’t have a son. Lysander fills the gap. He’s the golden boy, the heir apparent. I knew he had a daughter, I just didn’t know she was Belinda. Someone close to the family told me that Lysander was Belinda’s boyfriend and I assumed she was a friend of the family.”

“Nope. She was actual family.”

“Well, pardon me for having a clean mind. I never would have believed it about Lysander. He’s very dark, that one.”

I wasn’t sure how much I should reveal. Lysander told me about the incest in confidence. I wasn’t sure how much of the story was true. Slandering the Chancellor would not end well for me.

“A rumor about those two circulated after she died but I knew it was bullshit.” Imogene yawned. “Lysander is too tightly wound to take that kind of risk.”

“That doesn’t mean anything. Lysander was probably being careful since she was his stepsister. Actually, it’s the exception that proves the rule. I was told her father was the villain, preventing her from going out with friends because he was overprotective, when all along it was Lysander. He was fucking his stepsister. It’s creepy even for that circle of perverts in the Adventurers Club.”

“Alexis is asexual. She thinks the missionary position is creepy. What does Lysander say about it?”

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