19
EAST
The one thing about the dean, she didn’t spread s**t. In the math department, no one looked at me funny, commented on the hearing. Nothing. Clearly, they didn’t know.
I had to talk to Ella, but I didn’t dare text. Didn’t try calling. Wouldn’t show up at her apartment because I didn’t want to make it worse for her. So I went to her work all the way out by the airport and waited for her in the parking lot, just like I had before. I blocked her car in with my truck and leaned against it to wait. We were talking.
This time when she came out, she looked worn down. Broken. Fragile. Exhausted.
When she approached, she didn’t stay away. Instead, she walked right into me. I hadn’t expected that, but instinctively, I wrapped my arms around her, hugged her fiercely. She burst into tears.
