Chapter 127 Chapter 126
Harper POV
By noon the campus feels… different.
At first I think it’s in my head.
But by the time I cross the quad on the way to my afternoon class, it’s impossible to ignore.
People are staring.
Not subtle glances either.
Full looks.
Whispers.
Two freshmen sitting on the steps literally turn around to watch me pass.
“Is that her?”
“Yeah, that’s the girl from the auction.”
“The one Logan Shaw dropped five grand on.”
My stomach tightens.
Right.
The gossip page.
I should’ve known it would spread fast.
College campuses run on caffeine, deadlines, and rumors.
And right now?
Apparently I’m the rumor of the week.
I keep walking like I didn’t hear them.
Like my shoulders don’t feel tighter with every step.
By the time I reach the student union doors, I’m starting to wish I’d worn sunglasses and a hat.
Inside is worse.
Two girls sitting near the coffee counter glance up immediately.
One of them nudges the other.
“That’s her.”
I focus on the coffee machine like it’s the most fascinating invention in human history.
Breathe, Harper.
You organized the auction.
You’re the sorority president.
People already know who you are.
This shouldn’t feel so strange.
Except it does.
Because this attention isn’t about leadership.
It’s about Logan.
And suddenly everyone seems to have an opinion.
The girl behind the counter hands me my coffee and smiles.
“So… that was pretty epic last night.”
I blink.
“Oh.”
She grins.
“Five thousand dollars? If a guy did that for me, I’d marry him.”
My face heats.
“It was a charity auction.”
“Still,” she says. “That was hot.”
I mumble a thank you and escape back outside.
Fresh air helps.
A little.
Until I nearly walk straight into a group of girls standing on the sidewalk outside the building.
They’re from another sorority.
I recognize a couple of them from campus events.
Jessica steps forward first, arms crossed.
“Well,” she says coolly, “look who’s campus famous.”
“Hi, Jessica,” I say carefully.
Her friends exchange looks.
“You must be enjoying the attention,” she adds.
“I’m just trying to get to class.”
“Sure.”
One of the girls behind her laughs.
“I mean, if I had Logan Shaw spending five grand on me, I’d probably enjoy it too.”
Another girl mutters,
“Must be nice.”
The tone isn’t friendly.
It’s sharp.
Jealous.
I force a polite smile.
“It was for charity.”
Jessica tilts her head.
“Yeah. Funny how the charity part isn’t what anyone remembers.”
That stings a little.
Because she’s right.
The story everyone is talking about isn’t the fundraiser.
It’s the moment Logan chose me.
“Well,” I say evenly, “the money still went to a good cause.”
Jessica shrugs.
“Sure.”
Then one of the girls beside her steps forward slightly.
And suddenly I recognize her.
My stomach drops.
Tall brunette. Perfect makeup.
The girl.
The one who was straddling Logan the night I burst into his room.
Her eyes narrow slightly when she realizes I recognize her too.
“Well, look who it is,” she says, folding her arms.
Her voice carries just enough edge to make the tension obvious.
“Harper, right?”
“Yeah.”
She lets out a short laugh.
“Guess you really made the most of that auction.”
Jessica glances between us.
“You two know each other?”
The brunette smiles thinly.
“Oh yeah.”
Then she looks straight at me.
“We met at the Ice House.”
The memory flashes instantly.
Her sitting on Logan’s lap.
My shock.
Logan realizing I was standing in the doorway.
Lila shifts beside me, sensing the tension.
“Well,” I say calmly, “small campus.”
The brunette tilts her head.
“Guess Logan has a thing for surprises.”
Her eyes travel over me slowly.
“I mean… five thousand dollars.”
She laughs lightly.
“Didn’t see that coming.”
Jessica smirks.
“Yeah, I thought Logan liked a different type.”
The brunette shrugs casually.
“Apparently he’s expanding his horizons.”
The implication hangs in the air.
Sharp.
I feel heat creep up my neck but keep my voice steady.
“It was a charity auction.”
She raises an eyebrow.
“Sure.”
Then she leans slightly closer.
“But you know how Logan is.”
Her smile widens.
“He gets bored fast.”
For a second I consider responding.
Pointing out that she was literally on top of him the night I walked in.
But that’s exactly what she wants.
Instead I meet her gaze calmly.
“Good thing this wasn’t about entertainment then.”
Her smile tightens.
Jessica glances between us, clearly enjoying the moment.
“Well,” she says lightly, “guess we’ll see how long the hockey captain stays interested.”
The brunette gives me one last look.
Then she turns away.
“Come on,” she says to the others. “We’re going to be late.”
They walk off, laughing quietly among themselves.
I stand there for a moment.
Lila slowly turns toward me.
“…Okay,” she says.
“That girl,” I mutter.
“Yep.”
“She was literally on top of him.”
“Also yep.”
I exhale slowly.
Lila studies me carefully.
“You handled that better than I would have.”
“I didn’t want to start a scene.”
She smirks.
“Next time let me do it.”
I glance down the sidewalk where the girls disappeared.
My chest still feels tight.
Not because of what they said.
But because they weren’t entirely wrong.
Logan has always had options.
Girls who look exactly like the type he usually dates.
And suddenly I’m the one everyone is watching.
I shift my bag on my shoulder.
“Come on,” Lila says gently. “Class.”
I nod.
But as we walk toward the academic building, one thought keeps circling in my mind.
Whatever this is between Logan and me—
Apparently half the campus is waiting to see how it ends.