Page 8 of I Wish I Would've Chosen You

Maybe college.

Definitely not high school.

Yet, the more I replay our conversation, the more her answers reveal her strategic levels of deception.

“I’m just studying right now.” “My specialty is Creative Writing.” “I’m a train ride away.”

I take another swig from the bottle, remembering how “Rebecca” was the first one between us to broach sex.

But I was the one who mentioned wanting to eat her pussy…

Shit.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

“Just leave the bookshelves in the middle of the floor!” I call out to the movers. “Only half my furniture is arriving today, anyway.”

The knocks continue despite my request.

Keeping the alcohol close, I return to the living room, but the movers are nowhere to be found. I open the front door and find myself face-to-face with the academy’s longest-reigning headmaster.

“Are you planning to invite me in?” he asks.

“I need to think about it for a minute, Headmaster Peterson.”

“It’s ‘PrincipalPeterson.’” He smiles. “There’s no need for you to be formal with me when we’re alone, though. You’re my grandson.”

I open the door wider, ushering him inside.

“The air mattress and the IKEA table are a really nice touch.” He jokes. “Very elegant.”

“I think so, too.”

“We’ll get your Harkness table in here this afternoon. About last night, though…” He runs a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry I had to bother you with such a request. I couldn’t risk sending one of the regular teachers.”

“Why not? Is their sleep more valuable than mine?”

“You weren’t sleeping.” He rolls his eyes. “But no. If I’d asked one of them, the gossip on this campus would’ve been deafening by now.”

“The teachers gossip with the students?”

“You’d be surprised how much.” He opens my blinds. “Whenever classes aren’t in session, this place practically runs on rumors. Anyway, was the student in question remorseful when you picked her up?”

“Yeah.” I save her, even though she doesn’t deserve any grace.

“When you arrived, did you see her meeting with anyone significantly older?”

“All I saw were police officers.”

“Okay, good.” He taps his chin. “I’m collecting all the facts before crafting a punishment. Do you have any ideas?”

“Nope.” I shake my head, not wanting to think about this girl ever again. If I’m lucky, I’ll only see her in passing while I’m here.

“I’m glad you’re joining me here at Exeter to start over,” he says. “I think this will be a nice change of pace since your divorce.”

“I hope so.”

He eyes the tattoos on my arm, knowing exactly what they stand for, the pain and suffering I’ve survived and had inked as a reminder.

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