Page 69 of Loving Lies (Granton University 3)

“They kept calling me a linebacker,” Jonah muttered, his chest heavy and full with emotion over Sam’s story and how it identified with his own. He wasn’t sure why he said that. There were so many other more important issues. But focusing on that one small thing helped him keep himself under control. “I was never a linebacker. I was a freaking tight end.”

Samantha chuckled. “Yeah. They kept calling Frank Fred, too.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. He was actually more sorry about her loss. But again, it was easier to apologize for the most insignificant detail.

She seemed to understand, though. With a nod and small smile, she reached out and covered his hand. “What else did they get wrong?”

He blew out a breath. Jesus, where to start. “I didn’t give him the gun. I never would’ve done that. I didn’t even realize he knew I had one. And I have no clue where he found bullets for it.”

Warm fingers squeezed around his. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. I’ve heard he was a very resourceful young boy. One way or another, he would’ve found something to kill Dorian Wade for what he did to Paige Zukowski. But I’d like to hear more about your relationship with him.”

“You mean the part where I terrorized him?” Jonah bit out, every muscle in his body tensing. That was the part he wanted to talk about the least. His shame and guilt already attacked him enough every day. He didn’t need this woman to do so too.

“Now, Jonah,” she murmured in a soft, scolding voice. “Don’t close up on me like that. I can just see you shutting down. Remember I know how the media plays things. Just tell me your side. That’s all I ask.”

“Why does it matter?” he demanded, scowling.

“Because I can’t help you if I don’t know what really happened.”

“He bu

llied me first,” Jonah finally said. “He hacked into my records and found out everything there was to know about me, and he used it all against me. He knew every grade I made and how to make me feel stupid and worthless. He knew how shitty my home life had been and made me feel awful. And he knew how to do it in the privacy of our dorm room, where no one else would see it. Then he knew how to run out into the hall when I retaliated, making me look like the asshole. Every time I went after him, it was because he’d done something to me first. But who the hell would believe that?…Who—”

He shook his head, feeling lost. Not only had everyone at Grammar Hall thought he’d tormented Einstein, but they’d congratulated him on it, and then followed him, helping him chase down the strange boy and harass him further. No one had once asked him why or what Einstein had done to deserve it.

Until now. Across the table from him, Samantha said, “I believe it. I do believe you, Jonah. I’ve talked to other students from Granton who had contact with him, and I completely believe what you say. Besides, I’ve seen my fair share of bullies over the years, and you are not one of them.”

He shook his head, confused. She really did believe him. He could tell by the sincerity in her expression. But why did she want to help him?

The defensive starch drained from his bones, and almost exhausted from the force of relief he felt, he blurted, “He tried to kill me before. One time, I woke up to him suffocating me with a pillow. And I swear I came into my room when he was putting something into my bottle of Gatorade. But I threw it away because I didn’t trust it.”

“Holy hell,” Sam squawked. “Did you tell anyone?”

Jonah shrugged. “I told my R.A. about the pillow incident, but she told me she didn’t blame him. If I’d quit picking on him maybe he’d leave me alone.”

“And there were other incidents?”

With a nod, Jonah began to tell her everything. And it felt good to let it out. He’d had no idea just talking would make him feel better.

He thought about Tess, and he wondered what would’ve happened if he’d been honest in the hospital, if only he’d told her the truth when he’d regained his memory. Would she have stuck around to remain his friend? If he’d just told her these things he was telling Sam, would she be with that other guy right now?

Chapter Twenty

AFTER HER ARGUMENT WITH BAILEY, Tess wasn’t sure where to go. Finally, she decided to confess what she’d done to Paige. Besides, she needed some advice about what to do next. She was beyond relieved to find Paige’s boyfriend waiting outside Grammar Hall for someone with a key to let him in. She nearly attacked poor Logan because her need for a hug was so great.

Though surprised at first, he finally hugged her back, and then promptly told her he’d take her to Paige. Without any questions.

But Paige was surprisingly unhelpful with her opinions.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I just don’t know. You shouldn’t have told her that way, no, but…” With a meaningful glance at Logan, she smiled softly. “I fully believe not addressing those kinds of issues never solves anything. She should’ve been told a long time ago, and maybe she could’ve gotten over it a long time ago. Now it may take a while for her to deal.”

“But it was her dad who wanted—”

“I know, sweetie.” Paige reached out and grasped Tess’s hands. “I know. But on a totally different note, I’m kind of impressed you stood up to her like that. Bailey has always had this way of bulldozing over you, and you just let her. But, lately, you’ve really been coming into your own.”

Tess didn’t feel too proud over that, though. If standing up for herself caused her to hurt Bailey, she’d just as soon stay the meek, mild Tess she’d always been. She’d grown up with Bailey; she’d known what kind of person she was. And, most of the time, she loved Bailey for being exactly the way she was. It just seemed rude to push that behavior away now.

She needed to right things with her best friend. She made her way to her own room, but Bailey was gone, and the only thing she’d left was a hastily-written note on her unmade bed that said, Went home. Be back later.

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