who saw me as I was and had no reservations about me or my choices.
Had I ever known anyone, aside from Godiva, who’d supported me the way they did? I couldn’t think of one, much less name one.
Then, what the fuck was I doing, telling them everything was over? I hadn’t known them long, it was true. But every time we got together, there was something that just felt so right, like finding the exact piece in a huge puzzle you’ve been working on forever. I loved the loyal and easy friendship they shared, how different they were from each other, and yet how they had all the important things in common.
And as much as any of that, I loved how they looked at me. And touched me.
The piece of paper I’d been holding in my hand caught in the breeze, and I jumped to run after it. I’d not wanted to look at it, but knew I had to. It was titled:
Withdrawing from Wellshire University
The words blurred, but I wiped the tears from my eyes. I had to see what Abalone had thrust in my hand after I’d signed her horrible document.
Basically, I had a week to finish up my business with the university. That meant notifying my professors, handing in any schoolwork I wanted to, and surrendering my ID badge. All my courses would get a W on my report card, and that would be part of my permanent record. No further details would be shared.
Nice of them.
There really wasn’t much to do except quietly disappear. That’s what they always wanted people like me to do.
Don’t play by everyone else’s rules? Well, we’re going to teach you a lesson.
Maybe Wellshire wasn’t the place for me.
But the arms of the guys might be.
Chapter 39
PROFESSOR CHASE BALDWYN
I was so proud of my girl.
Saddened by her, but also proud.
The day’s French class was just wrapping up, and I was blown away at how quickly she was picking up the basics we’d covered. She’d even explained some tricky verb conjugations to the rest of the class in answer to a question I’d asked.
She was studying her butt off. I liked that.
But there was something off about her. As if her usual light was missing. I wasn’t surprised. Balancing school and work was a challenge for anyone, even someone as outstanding as she was. But more importantly, she’d made a tough decision about us guys. I wasn’t happy about it—none of us were—but we respected it just like we respected her. We wanted the best for her and hoped she’d continue to be in our lives in whatever sort of way she was comfortable.
But that didn’t mean she didn’t show up in my dreams on a regular basis, usually leaving me waking up with a raging hard on.
I was afraid I knew what was really weighing on her. But I wasn’t going to bring up the school newspaper article I’d read that morning until she was ready to talk about it.
But fuck. I wish I could take away some of the pain I saw in her eyes. I’d carry it for her. All of it, if I could.
She let out a big sigh when she approached my desk, the other students filtering out to get on with their days. Like always, she was stunning in her simple, tight black jeans and V-neck T-shirt, accented by a bunch of silver chains that lent the badass look that drove me so crazy about her.
“You have time for a sandwich?” I asked her.
She looked up at me with a hint of melancholy. I was going to get to the bottom of what was going on for her.
“Yes, let’s do it,” she said, brightening up a bit.
We walked to the student union deli, mostly in silence, each of us making small talk about the weather, the blooming flowers, and how the marching band practicing in the distance needed a bit more work before they were ready for prime time.
With our bag of sandwiches and sodas, we settled under a tree away from the crowds.
“How are you?” she asked, with feigned cheer.
I didn’t want to make her feel worse than she already seemed, so I kept my thoughts about her turning down a relationship with us three guys to myself.
Well, I’d keep it to myself for now.
“I’ve got some news to share, Senna,” I started.
Her eyebrows rose. “You do?”
“Yeah… since it looks like it’s not too likely I’ll get a full-time gig at the university here, I’ve had