“I’ve missed him too. I’ll see you tomorrow. Okay?”
“All right, sweetheart.”
I shove my phone back in my bag. I keep feeling like someone is staring at me. I follow the source of the sensation and see Hayley sitting with Woodrow on the other side of the cafeteria with Ben. She gives me a sad smile and a little wave.
I pull my bag up on my shoulder and swallow hard. I should talk to her. I start toward them when Jackie slides into the seat across from Ben. I’m
going to turn around and leave but then I think she’d love to see me run away and hide. Screw her. She should be the one ashamed. That bitch lied to Killian and she even roped Hunter into her plans. Did they think they could break us up and what that we’d want to be with them? It’s sick. I’m disgusted by them both.
When I approach them, I hear Hayley say, “You need to find a different table, Jackie. No whores allowed.”
“Oh whatever. It’s not that big of a deal.” She ruined everything with her lies.
“No. I’m serious. What you did was sick. You lied to Killian about Liri, and you had Hunter go along with it. Maybe you should go find him and try to suck his dick. I hope your clit rots off.”
Ben cracks up, and my stomach drops. At the same time though I smile because fuck that bitch. Jackie shoves off from the table and bumps into me as she stomps off.
“Hey,” Hayley says.
“Hey.”
“Can we talk?”
“I’m going to see Professor Larson right now, but if you don’t have any plans maybe we can do dinner tonight? I’m leaving tomorrow to go back home, and I’m not sure when we’ll see each other again.”
“You’re not coming back next semester?”
“No. Um…I might be getting into that program in Paris.”
“Oh wow. Paris. That’s so far.”
“I need the distance.”
“Well yeah, dinner. Come by my dorm after you meet with your professor. I miss you.” Her eyes glisten with tears.
“I miss you too.” I sniff, feeling emotional. “I’ll see you in a little bit. Woodrow and Ben both gawk at me like they don’t know whether I am about to yell at them or cry. “See you around, guys. Stay out of trouble.” Ben jumps up and hugs me. “Oh. Okay.” I pat his back.
“You’ll always be my favorite drunk,” he tells me.
“Gee thanks.” I smile. “I gotta get going.”
“Sorry.” He steps back, and I walk out of the cafeteria feeling lighter.
As I’m walking toward Professor Larson’s building, I hear the familiar rumble of Killian’s Mustang. I suck in a breath and bite my inner cheek. Looking across the snow covered grass I see him leaning against the side of his car smoking a cigarette. I pull my hood up over my head and dart inside before he sees me. Seems like he’s returning to himself. I shake my head. I can’t care.
I knock on the door and Professor Larson smiles at me from behind her desk. “Liri Hart. Please come in. Just the girl I was hoping to see.”
“Me?”
“Yes, I have an exciting opportunity I want to share with you. Just hear me out then take some time to think about it.”
“Okay.” I take a seat and hand her my final chapters for my writing assignment.
“This semester is one of my last. I’m following my dream and taking my publishing company to the next level. I’ve secured real estate and investors. You’ve been one of my most promising students. I’d like you to come to Chicago with me. I want us to make beautiful love stories together. You’d be given a salary and your own office. I want to hire you to be an illustrator. You have so much potential and talent. This could be the start of something big for you.”
“Chicago?”
“I know you have a life here at Crestwood and friends. That boyfriend but you can make new friends. Get a new boyfriend if you need to.”