Page 13 of Loving Lies (Granton University 3)

A shuddered, troubled expression immediately clouded the boy’s face. “Because it was his room,” he mumbled and brushed past her rudely as if he found her question insulting.

She turned to watch him hunch his shoulders in a defensive manner, letting her know he clearly didn’t want to talk about it.

But she had to know. Crinkling her brow with confusion, she called, “Whose room? Jonah’s?”

He stumbled a step as if not expecting that inquiry. Then he glanced back briefly. “No. Well, yeah. His too. But it was also his room.” When Tess only blinked, he rolled his eyes and whispered, “Einstein. It was Einstein’s room.”

Chapter Four

HER STOMACH FULL OF KNOTS, Tess chewed on a hangnail as she watched Bailey haphazardly sling books and papers into her bag. Tess had been ready to go for ten minutes. Physically ready, at least. Mentally, she was absolutely not ready at all.

For the first time since the shooting, the campus was beginning their regularly scheduled classwork again.

She hadn’t known anyone who’d died in the shooting. Well, except the quarterback, Dorian Wade, but she’d only spent, like, half an hour in his company, and she’d been too drunk most of that encounter to remember much about him.

Oh, and Einstein. She’d kind of known Einstein. But she refused to go there.

To say the least, she hadn’t known anyone enough to really mourn their loss. That didn’t stop her from feeling really freaked out about attending classes, though. Her level of security had plummeted in the past two weeks. She glanced around most places she went, on the lookout for some crazy person with a gun, knife, baseball bat, or even a threatening leer.

Some days, she was able to push those unsettling feelings down and let her usual perky self take over. But today was not one of those days.

“Ready?” Bailey asked, zipping up her backpack and slinging one strap over her shoulder, apparently unconcerned by what they were about to do.

Tess scowled at her, really hating it that her best friend had to be so utterly fearless. “Aren’t you freaked out at all?” she demanded.

Bailey gave a clueless blink. “’Bout what?”

“Oh my God. Dozens of people were shot down mere days ago, Bailey. It’s like a…a war zone out there. We’re going to be trampling over ground where people were slaughtered. How can you act so blasé, like it’s just any other day?”

“I’m not acting. It really is just another day. Geesh, you big coward. Nothing is going to happen.”

“I bet you thought that two weeks ago too.” Tess fiddled with the strap of her bag, loath to sling it over her shoulders. After her first class with Bailey, she had to go her own way. By herself. She didn’t want to do anything by herself today.

“Seriously, sweetie. The campus is probably safer today that it’s ever been. I bet we’ll see a campus cop or some kind of uniform as soon as we step out the front door.”

And they did, too, damn it. Bailey sent her a smug, told-you-so smirk as they exited their dormitory and saw a handful of men in army fatigues just outside the entrance of Gibson Hall, the main cafeteria.

“Shut up,” Tess muttered, even though Bailey hadn’t said a word.

With a laugh, Bailey bumped their hips together and started up a conversation about homework assignments, which helped drag Tess from her anxiety. But as soon as they reached their Psychology r

oom, a note taped to the entrance told them their professor had cancelled class for the day.

“Geez Louise.” Bailey scowled as if offended she couldn’t learn all about physiological and neurobiological processes. “I wonder if every professor is going to cancel today. I wouldn’t have gotten out of bed if I’d known we weren’t having class.”

Too relieved to answer, Tess turned with her friend and followed her back toward their dorm.

“Want to hit up Gibson and get some breakfast while we wait around?” Bailey asked as soon as they dumped their bags on their beds.

Tess shook her head. She couldn’t eat now if she tried. “I’m not very hungry.” She’d never been much of a breakfast eater.

“Well, I’m starving. This break in my schedule has me all out of whack. I’m going to go stuff my face.” Bailey paused at the door and glanced back at Tess. “You going to be okay?”

No. Tess didn’t feel as if she’d ever be okay again. Her world was no longer the safe, protected haven she’d always thought it was. Bad things happened. People went crazy and killed strangers for no plausible reason. Innocent bystanders died horrible, awful deaths just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And she could’ve easily been one of those unlucky bystanders.

But she bit her lip and nodded. “I’m good.”

Bailey rolled her eyes, letting Tess know she totally didn’t believe her, but she pulled open the door anyway. “Okay then, liar. See you later. Love ya.”

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