Page 98 of Carved in Ruin

“He said this insanely hot guy stormed into your apartment, dragged you off like some alpha male, and then—”

“Okay, stop,” I interrupt, holding up a hand.

“And then,” Mary continues, ignoring me, “he paid for Sam’s dorm just so another guy wouldn’t be in your space.Thatis next-level.”

My cheeks burn. “Sam has a big mouth,” I accuse, glaring at him.

Sam shrugs, unrepentant. “What? It’s impressive. If I had someone like him, I’d brag too.”

Mary sighs dramatically, resting her chin in her hand. “I’m so jealous. Does he have a brother?”

“No,” I say flatly.

She glances at Sam, who raises an eyebrow. “Is he single?” Sam teases, smirking. “I mean, I’m not trying to steal him, but if he’s bi, we could work something out. Maybe a threesome?”

I groan, slapping a hand over Sam’s mouth before he can dig the hole any deeper. “Don’t even joke about that. He’d kill you if he heard.”

Sam laughs when I let go. I bury my face in my hands.

“So,” Mary says, dragging out the word. “Is he your boyfriend?”

I hesitate, the wordhusbandstuck in my throat. “He’s my ex,” I mutter instead, hoping they’ll drop it.

Mary and Sam both gasp.

“Yourex?” Mary says, incredulous. “Mila, he’s obsessed with you. You can’t let that kind of love go.”

Her words hit harder than I expect, lodging somewhere deep in my chest. I pick at the edge of my notebook.

I don’t know how to explain it to them, how complicated this all is. How I am not sure he can ever move on from the past and really love me, how we are toxic for each other.

So instead, I focus on my notes, pretending I’m ready for the day, when all I can think about is the man I just left in the car.

The sound of the door opening pulls me from my thoughts, and Professor Elliot—no, justElliot—steps into the lab.

“How’s the project coming along?” he asks, setting his bag on the desk at the front.

Sam glances at me, then Mary, before speaking up. “Uh, we’re struggling a little.”

“A little?” Mary adds with a laugh, brushing her curly hair out of her face. “We’re trying to make sense of the thermal data from the logger, but the readings don’t line up with what we’re modeling.”

Elliot nods thoughtfully. “That’s completely normal. This stage is always tricky, and troubleshooting is part of the process. Don’t be discouraged.” He looks around at all of us. “I’m here to help. If there’s anything you don’t know how to use, just let me know, and I’ll train you.”

Mary perks up. “The data logger is half the problem. It’s been glitching all week.”

Elliot sighs, shaking his head. “I’ve reported it to the department three times now. It’s on their radar, I promise, but in the meantime, we’ll work around it. Focus on what youcando, and let me know if you hit any walls.”

I can’t help but smile. Elliot isn’t like most professors. He doesn’t hover over us or make us feel like we’re underqualified. He wants us to learn, to actually grow in this field. His intentions are so transparent, so pure, it’s not about his ego or the department’s reputation. He just wants people like us, people passionate about physics, to have the opportunities we deserve.

He catches me looking at him and grins. “Don’t let this project intimidate you, Mila. The simulation results might look messy now, but once you piece together the thermal data, it’ll start to click. Trust me.”

I nod, feeling oddly reassured.

“Alright,” Elliot says. “I have a meeting to run to, but keep at it. You’re closer than you think.”

“Thanks, Elliot,” Sam says.

Mary smirks. “See? I told you he’s the best professor we’ve ever had.”

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