Page 25 of Dirty Crown
I thanked her and meant it. Having anybody by my side was so much more meaningful than I thought it would be. It was unexpected and something I didn’t realized would help until I had it.
I just wished the Kings could have been there with me, too, but I did understand why they weren’t.
We walked across the grass towards the main administration building and I was once again awed by the tall turret towers and classic architecture of the building. It was the quintessential college campus, it oozed money and privilege, and had the air of sophistication that hid all of the drunken frat parties and casual hook ups that happened on its grounds.
Fincross was elite and not for everyone, but it was just like the rest when it came down to students behaving badly.
“Okay, this is it,” I said as we reached the front stairs. “I’m ready to find out, wish me luck.”
“Do you want me to come up with you?” she asked, looking towards the dean’s office on the third floor.
“No, that’s okay. I didn’t even expect anyone to be here now. It helped more than you could imagine,” I replied.
She watched me walk up the steps and when I got to the landing, she walked away towards her class. There was no way I felt comfortable having Neve sacrifice her classroom time to sit and listen to my fate being determined by those who were fully entrenched in their academic life. It felt strange to have a bunch of privileged people with their careers in full swing telling me whether I was going to have a future at Fincross or not.
I put my hand on the front door handle, squeezed and pushed it to walk inside.
I heard my name being called across the lawn and let go to turn around.
And I found my four guys running towards me, tumbling like four puppies with their long limbs and tumbling, chaotic energy.
My heart zinged with delight and love flowed through me.
“Everly!” Kingston called again. “Wait up!”
Valen was first, being the fastest, followed by Archer, then Ryker and Kingston taking the stairs two at a time together.
“I thought we missed you,” Valen said with a breathless voice.
“We left our study hall,” Archer told me, breathing heavy. “We were supposed to be there another hour to prove that we’re serious about reintegrating into the semester but we couldn’t leave you alone.”
“You need our support, princess,” Ryker said and he reached over my shoulder to push the door open for me.
“We’ll be waiting for you,” Kingston said. “Good luck, I hope this goes well for you and we don’t have to bring out Ivan as the weapon.”
“Imagine weaponizing my father against the school,” I chuckled. “I almost hope they turn me down so I can see him come in here and kick ass.”
“They won’t,” Archer said, kissing my forehead. “Now get up there before you’re late!”
Valen and Ryker each slapped my ass as I left and I grinned the entire way to the third floor.
The dean’s office had a reception area, and the secretary told me to take a seat.
“Is this about the board meeting last night?” she asked me as I sat near her desk.
I nodded, unable to speak without tears choking my throat shut. I hadn’t realized how scared I was until I got up here.
“Good luck,” she said. “I hope you get what you want, they’re all in good moods lately so that might help.”
“Thanks,” I croaked out and then looked down at my phone to pass the time.
I didn’t even chat with Penny or the Kings, all of them were texting me like crazy demanding play by plays of the entire thing. I didn’t want to, because I worried I would break down if something happened, and then I’d blurt it all on text. I needed to maintain my composure no matter the outcome, so I would tell them later.
The worst thing I could do would be crying in front of them. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.
“Miss Hayes, she’s ready for you,” the secretary said, standing up and indicating the door to the dean’s office.
I walked through and prepared myself to hear my fate.
