Page 2 of Cruel Devotion

Hating how much later I’d be and worrying that Aunt Cindy would be peeved to wait, I followed Professor Blume all the way until he gestured at the small waiting room in front of his office door. A teaching assistant—or TA—sat at a small desk outside his office, likely a secretarial student worker.

“Ms. Feldstone,” Professor Blume said, gesturing for me to enter his office. “Mr. Young, you can wait here.”

I stepped in and took a seat, praying this wouldn’t take long. “Is there a concern, Professor?” I reached up to tighten my ponytail, regretting that my blonde hair was taking forever to grow out since a few girls thought it’d be hilarious to cut my hair during a history lecture.

“Yes, I have a concern,” he said, tapping his fingers on his desk as he glared at me. “Hearing about a student cheating on an exam is always concerning.”

I caught myself from rolling my eyes.Notthisagain.“Professor Blume, like the last time Eli accused me of cheating, it’s a lie. I haven’t cheated on anything in your class, or in any of my classes.”

This was bullshit. I didn’tneedto cheat, unlike him. Eli had always struggled with keeping his grades up, clearly more concerned about his football goals and being popular.

“Mr. Young didn’t bring this cheating to my attention.”

“Then who did?”No, let me guess. It couldn’t be that prick who thinks he’s some kind of god among men…

“It doesn’t matter who brought this to my attention, but I’m grateful he spoke up. Then again, Mr. West is an exemplary student who does no wrong as far as I can see.”

Sure. Of course, he’d praise a slacker idiot like Preston. The West family was very important in this small college town, and they carried even more clout on campus as a founding family and wealthy donors.

“It hardly matters who bravely comes forward and identifies a cheater when I have?—”

His phone rang, and he frowned down at it, losing his place.

“When you have?” I prompted.

“When I have evidence.” He furrowed his brow at his phone, holding up his hand. “Which I will find in a second. Please go wait out there while I handle this call.”

Sure, sure. Since I don’t have anything else to do like go home. Since my time is invaluable and I don’t matter, right?

I slipped out of his office, furious that Preston would slander me like this—again—and plopped into the empty chair next to Eli.

He leaned over, making his spicy cologne reach my nose faster. “In trouble again?” he whispered.

“No.” I refused to look into his blue eyes and acknowledge a thing he said. I couldn’t be in trouble when I’d done nothing wrong. “Failing again?” I teased back.

“I’ve never failed,” he replied hotly.

I shrugged, feeling small and petty to bully him right back. That was the difference between us. I had a conscience and my bullies never did.

“I’ll take a guess that he’s after you for cheating again.”

“I’ve never cheated.”

Eli chuckled. “That’s not what I heard.”

“Have you heard,” the student worker at the desk said, obviously listening in, “that Mariana Roost doesn’t have a date to the winter dance?” She batted her lids, giggling.

“I haven’t heard that,” Eli replied conversationally, unbothered to gossip and talk about that stupid tradition. Who cared about a damn winter formal? Not me. I was here to learn and get out of town once and for all.

“Just a month away,” the secretary student said.

“It is. Coming up so soon,” Eli replied, almost flirting with her. “I can’t wait.”

I rolled my eyes, wondering if I could just walk out of here and defend myself against these accusations later.

“Not that you’d know anything about it,” Eli said, turning to face me.

I refused to make eye contact, enduring the burn of his stare on my profile.

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