Page 108 of Loving Lies (Granton University 3)

He was still sitting there looking stupefied when his cell phone rang. After digging it from his pants pocket, he wrinkled his face at the number.

“Hello?”

Tess touched his shoulder when he pulled back his head, obviously experiencing another shock. “Yeah…” he continued. “Okay…but there’s no way I could play by next semester. Oh. I see…well…wow. Thank you. Okay. Thanks.”

When he hung up, he sat in silence staring at the phone as if he didn’t know what to do with it.

“Well?” Bailey finally said.

He lifted his face. “That was Coach Whitely. He called on behalf of the university.” Hand trembling, he covered his face. “Jesus.”

“What?” Tess demanded, worry gnawing at her gut.

He looked up at her. “They saw me on the news last night. Crap. When I heard that, I thought I was going to get reamed out for being caught on campus. But…they’re rescinding my expulsion. I can enroll in classes again for the Fall semester.”

“Oh, Jonah. That’s amazing.”

“I know.” He hugged Tess back, still sounding dazed by the news. “Coach even knew there’s no way I could play ball my senior year, but he still wanted to be the one to call me personally so he could…apologize for the way the university treated me.”

When he glanced at Tess, she could only grin. With a happy squeal, she hugged him hard. “That’s great.”

“And about freaking time.” Bailey gave a vengeful sniff. “You never really did anything wrong.”

“I brought a gun on campus,” he reminded her. “If I

hadn’t done that, none of this would’ve happened.”

“Oh, I’m sure it would’ve happened,” Aubrey said. “Just not in the same way. And it probably wouldn’t have brought you and I together. You’ve become one of my best friends, Jonah.” Tears leaked down his cheeks. “Which is why what I have to say next so incredibly hard.”

When Jonah’s face paled, Tess grasped his hand.

“What?”

Aubrey glanced away. “After everything that’s happened this year, I’m not coming back next semester. I’m going home.”

Jonah blew out a shaky breath, his grip on Tess’s hand never losing its strength. “You’re leaving?”

His roommate nodded. “I’m not strong like you. I can’t deal with all the tragedy this town has delivered me. I just need to go home.”

After blinking a few times, Jonah gave a short, jerky nod. “It’s okay,” he assured. “I completely understand.”

Aubrey wiped more tears away. “The apartment’s all yours. We both know Sean would’ve wanted you to have it. Do you think you’ll be able to afford the utilities by yourself?”

Jonah glanced at Tess. “Actually, I might have another roommate already lined up.”

Bailey glanced between them with a suspicious frown. “Wait. Are you moving in with him?”

Tess bit her lip. “Um…” When she cringed, her best friend narrowed her eyes.

“Holy shit, you are.”

“Bailey, I—” Tess floundered and glanced to Jonah for help.

“I just asked her this morning,” he said, rushing to defend her. “And she never answered.” It was a lie—a loving lie. “I think she wanted to discuss it with you first.”

Bailey nodded before cursing under her breath. “Okay, fine,” she finally said. “Here’s the deal. I found an apartment for us, a really amazing, beautiful, nice, spacious place in a good neighborhood, close to campus. But it’s three bedrooms and a little out of our price range. So…I asked Paige if she wanted to chip in and take the third room. But, of course, she’s in the same boat as you. Physically attached to her man, so it seems.”

With a muttered sigh and roll of her eyes, she continued. “She wants to stay wherever Logan stays and was only willing to join us if he could live there too. So, what I’m saying is…God, I can’t believe I’m saying this. But if you two want the third room, you can take it. I can stomach being Fifth-Wheel Bailey to make my two best friends happy. Except I’m taking the master bedroom because I found the place.”

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