Page 68 of Lessons with the Mothman

And sure enough, he was backing up once more, rounding the desk, nodding to Lyle and heading for the door. He paused at the far corner of the desk and looked back at me.

"Tomorrow?" he asked, and it was hard to tell with Elias sometimes, but I had the feeling he was nervous now too.

I softened, glancing down at the bag. I'd packed a granola bar and some grapes. Whatever he'd brought was bound to be delicious.

"Tomorrow," I said, forcing myself to add, "Thank you."

I just wasn't sure if I was thanking him for coming or leaving.

CHAPTER 23

Victoria

Chicago had caughton to the fact that it was fall, and the sudden snap of cold arrived, bitter and spiteful, turning the leaves an array of rust and orange and brown, ripping them off branches to swirl over sidewalks.

I lifted my chin out of the nest of my scarf and let the cold air bite at my face. Soon the lake would have its revenge on the city, bringing sleet and hail and rain, but today the sun was out and it was chilly and perfectly autumnal. I'd finally been able to comfortably switch from iced to hot coffee this morning, and I was happy.

"There's a rumor going around," Lyle said, walking through campus at my side.

My steps stuttered, and I resisted the impulse to blurt out,About me?

Lyle's steps slowed, and he glanced at me out of the corner of his eyes, burrowing deeper into his coat and scarf. "Stanton."

This time I couldn't resist, and I stopped. "About me?" Most students had their heads down, hurrying to class, and it was easy to catch a moment of privacy.

Lyle shook his head, frowning. "A few grad students have gone to the dean. Sexual harassment."

"What?"

Lyle stared back at me for a moment and then gutted me with three words. "Are you surprised?"

The blood rushed from my face, leaving me properly frozen all at once. Iwassurprised. Was that wrong of me?

"You're not the only student he's had an affair with," Lyle said gently, stepping closer. "It stands to reason that if he's had a pattern of successes, he's had a pattern of failures too."

I shut my mouth, shrinking into my shoulders. If I hadn't been pleased by Stanton's interest in me, would I have been able to find a moment he'd crossed a line?

Yes.

"Holy shit," I breathed out. "What…what are they doing?"

"It's fairly new. But there's talk of an investigation."

For a sick, guilty moment, I wondered what it would mean for my study. And then I blinked and shook myself.A pattern.

"God," I whispered, one hand lifting to cover my eyes.

Lyle caught me as I staggered and drew me into his chest, arms wrapping around me. And it was so easy to relax for once, a relief of white noise buzzing in my brain as I accepted the sanctuary of a hug.

"We'll hear more about it, but I wanted you to have an early warning."

I nodded. "Thank you."

I was still thinkingabout the bomb Lyle had dropped the next day with my mom and Emma.

Stanton had been an escape from my facade of a relationship with Brett, and I'd been grateful for him at the time. And later, when the shine had worn off and the uneasy reality had settled in, I'd settled for accepting.

Now, I didn't know what I felt.

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