Page 60 of Loving Lies (Granton University 3)

“Hey, what’s going on over there?” At Bailey’s question, Tess followed the direction of her curious gaze until she saw an ambulance parked at the end of the block, right in front of their dorm building, where a crowd had gathering on the lawn around the main entrance.

“This can’t be good.” Grabbing Bailey’s hand, Tess held on for dear life. “I hope Paige is okay.”

“Paige?” Bailey sent her a brief incredulous glance. Tess shrugged because Paige was the first person, after Bailey, she’d worry about if something went wrong. And since Bailey was right here, her next worry went to Paige.

Face contorting into concern, Bailey took off running, dragging Tess along with her because they still had a death grip on each other’s hands.

“What’s going on?” Bailey demanded as soon as they reached the fringes of the crowd. Tess hopped up and down to see over all the people, but she barely caught a glimpse of half a dozen police officers barricading the front doors.

“They’re not letting us in,” someone answered. And then a murmured word whispered across the sea of people.

Suicide.

“Someone committed suicide?” Tess choked out. “In our building?”

She gaped at Bailey, who grimaced and patted her hand. “It might be something else.”

But the word swept by again, the rumor gaining volume.

“Who would commit suicide?” Bailey asked, sounding completely perplexed. “Hasn’t there already been enough death on this campus to last a lifetime?”

Tess let out a moan, one-third frustration and two-thirds pure fear. “Why does everything have to happen at our dormitory? Next year, we’re renting an apartment off campus. That’s all there is to it.”

“Shit. Here they come.” Bailey pulled Tess back as if to shield her from the view. But suddenly there were no more tall people standing in her way to block the entrance.

Two officers opened the door, and three EMTs rolled a gurney out into the bright day. A white sheet covered it, displaying the distinct outline of a body underneath.

“God.” Bailey winced as she kept her focus on the stretcher. “Why didn’t they put it in a body bag? It’s not like we can’t tell someone is dead under there.”

“Bailey,” Tess hissed in warning. “That dead body might have friends close by.”

“Does anyone know who it is?” More people asked, but no one had a clue. Until the EMTs hit a crack in the sidewalk, jostling the stretcher. A limp arm dropped off one side and half the crowd screamed out startled yelps. Tess was one of them.

Covering her mouth, she stared at the dangling limb, or rather at the colorful tattoo of the Roadrunner on its forearm. Nausea welled in her esophagus. “Bailey,” she choked out. “Oh, my God. It’s that one guy.”

“What one guy?”

“The one! The bully guy who was being harassed last month in front of the Ferdinand Hall. That’s his tattoo.”

“Oh, shit.” Bailey’s eyes were huge as she stared at the limp arm. “Damn,” she breathed turned back to Tess. “The guilt must’ve been too much for him to handle.”

Guilt? Tess blinked and stared back at Bailey as Logan’s words echoed through her head.

If he’s anything like I was, he’s pretty upset with himself right now. And remorseful, and scared, depressed. Guilty. I’m sure he’s full of a lot of uncomfortable emotions he doesn’t want to feel. And I bet he’s grasping for something to save him.

“No,” she whispered.

You have no idea how much your visits help me, Jonah had once told her.

He’d been looking for someone to save him from the pain and guilt. And she’d walked out of his life and left him alone and abandoned. So, what was to stop him from doing exactly as the Roadrunner had done?

“Oh, God, no.” She whirled around and took off, tearing toward the parking lot.

“Hey!” Bailey called after her. “Where’re you going? Tess!”

But Tess didn’t stop until she found Bailey’s car and realized it was locked. Panic was thwarting all her thinking skills. She should’ve already known it would be locked and the keys would be with her friend. She spun back to find said Bailey when she jogged up, holding her side and panting like crazy.

“Too. Much. Running.” She bent over and rested her hands on her knees as she sucked in oxygen.

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