Page 72 of Lessons with the Mothman

I nodded. "We can discuss this more later, but I need to get back to my sister."

"Of course," he said, studying the alley, stepping toward a dumpster and tossing in the coffees.

Irrationally, that gesture made my heart ache.

"I apologize for my presumption," Elias said, studying me for a moment, then he turned and left the alley.

The dark eyes of his wings stared accusingly at me as he walked away, and I fought back the urge to call out to him, words tangling in my throat, a hot warning rising in my eyes, threatening to spill over. I covered my face with my hands for a moment, but my mother's eager voice in my head quelled any regrets. I just needed a moment to put the mask back on.

"There'sa lot of talk about you, you know," Otis, a shaggy yeti with a gruesome smile, said as he stood from the chair, his head nearly brushing the ceiling of the little campus study room.

"Oh?" I asked, gathering my papers.

"First it was because you were working with the moth," Otis said, shrugging. "But now it's just because everyone you interview is getting curious."

"Curious?" I repeated, steeling my expression as I looked up.

He nodded. "About your study. And about you. You're interested in us, but not in the usual way. You want to know what makes us the same and what makes us different. Generally, it's just the latter."

I was too aware of Stanton in the room, waiting in the corner. Too aware of Elias's absence. I couldn't think of an answer. I was having a hard time thinking at all this week.

"It's not one or the other. I think I just want to knoweverything," I said.

Otis grinned, carnivorous smile on full display.

"Academic minds," Stanton said. He'd been quiet today. I wondered if it was Elias that had made him interject so much last time, or if the rumors Lyle had told me about were now weighing on him.

Otis flapped his arms in a shrug, dangling hands slapping at his knees. "Whatever it is, I'm glad Elias called. It was nice to meet you at last."

My smile was easier to fake this time. Otis was terrifying but sweet. "It was nice to meet you too."

"See you at Nightlight sometime," Otis said as he lumbered toward the door.

I resisted the urge to crumple as if I'd been punched in the chest.

Stanton remained quiet as Otis all but crouched his way out of the doorframe and made his way off campus. I remained with my back to the room. I needed a moment by myself.

The door clicked shut and I sighed. I turned and then stiffened.

Stanton was still here, his hand on the door he'd just closed.

I swallowed hard and straightened, lifting my bag over my shoulder. "I know you probably want to discuss the interview, but I've got to get to my shift?—"

"Vic, I need a minute," Phillip said, his voice rough.

Actually, all of him was a bit rough. He had dark circles under his eyes, and his clothes didn't look so precisely casual and welcoming, more just wrinkled.

I crossed my arms in front of me, holding my bag to my waist like a shield, and waited for him to speak.

"I know you've heard the rumors," he said, staring at me out of those bloodshot eyes.

He looked older, like it had come over him all in the past two weeks. He waited for my answer, but I didn't want to have this conversation. I hadn't even begun to reconcile my thoughts since Lyle had spoken to me. Elias had bulldozed through that issue with an entirely new one to haunt me.

Phillip laughed, but it wasn't a happy sound. "Of course you have. Everyone has. Vic, I—" He stepped forward, and I stepped back without thinking. His eyes grew a little wild and then he recovered, taking a deep breath. "I want to remind you, Victoria, that anything that occurred between us in the past was consensual."

I frowned. "Iknowthat."

He nodded. "Good. It just wouldn't be wise for you to be…contributing to thiswitch hunt. Not with the reputation of your study in the department."

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