Chapter 93
Ellie's POV
We fell into comfortable silence, eating our dinner while the dining hall buzzed with evening energy around us. Every so often, I'd catch Jackson's gaze drifting toward Ryan and Lily's table, a small smile playing at his lips.
"You're happy for them," I observed.
"Of course." He set down his fork. "Ryan's been into Lily since orientation week. Watching him finally work up the courage to do something about it..." He shrugged. "It's good. Reminds you that taking risks can pay off."
Something in the way he said it made my heart skip. Was he talking about Ryan? Or about something—someone—else?
Before I could figure out how to ask, Jackson cleared his throat. "You want to walk for a bit? After dinner? The campus is beautiful this time of evening."
I should say no. Should go back to my dorm and work on project documentation. Should maintain some semblance of boundaries.
"Yeah," I heard myself say. "That sounds nice."
We left through the side entrance, the evening air crisp enough to make me pull my jacket tighter. Jackson walked beside me, hands in his coat pockets, our footsteps synchronized without effort.
The path wound away from the main quad, toward the quieter parts of campus where the science buildings gave way to older architecture and scattered trees. String lights had been hung between lampposts, creating soft pools of golden light.
"So," Jackson said after a few minutes of comfortable silence, "how's the project proposal coming? For the health center system."
"Good, actually." I couldn't keep the excitement from my voice. "I talked to Professor Paulsen yesterday. He thinks we could frame it as an independent study next semester—get academic credit while building something real."
"That's perfect." Jackson's smile was genuine. "You're really good at this, you know. Finding ways to use your skills for actual impact."
Heat crept into my cheeks. "It just makes sense. Why spend four years learning to code if you're not going to build things that help people?"
"Not everyone thinks like that." His tone held something warm, almost proud. "Most people just want the degree and the paycheck. You actually care about the work."
"Is that weird?"
"No." He glanced at me, amber eyes reflecting the string lights. "It's one of the things I really like about you."
My heart did something complicated in my chest. Before I could figure out how to respond, a voice cut through the evening air.
"I said what I said, and I meant it!"
I stopped walking. That was Megan's voice—sharp with emotion, coming from somewhere near Pine Trail's entrance.
Jackson had stopped too, his expression shifting to alert. Our eyes met, and I saw my own concern reflected in his face.
Without discussion, we both moved toward the sound.
Pine Trail marked the boundary between campus proper and the wilder forest preserve. In daylight, it was a popular spot for joggers and students looking for quiet study spaces. But in the evening, with shadows lengthening between the cedar trees, it felt isolated. Private.
Perfect for a confrontation you didn't want witnesses to see.
We found Megan standing near a dense cluster of evergreens, her coat dusted with early evening frost. Facing her was a silver-haired man in his early sixties, wearing an expensive wool overcoat that screamed old money. His posture was both apologetic and stubborn—the stance of someone who knew they were right but hated causing pain.
"Megan, please." His voice carried genuine anguish. "I love your mother. That's all that matters."
"Love?" Megan's laugh was bitter, broken. "You're old enough to be her father! Do you know what people say? What they think when they see you together?"
A small group of students had slowed their pace nearby, not quite eavesdropping but definitely close enough to hear. Their whispers carried clearly to my enhanced hearing:
"Isn't that the girl from Campus Whispers?"
"The one who is supposedly being kept by some rich old guy?"
"Oh my god, is that him? He looks ancient."
"Definitely could be her grandfather."
Megan's face had gone white. She'd heard them too.
Jackson's jaw tightened beside me. I could feel the anger radiating off him—controlled, but definitely there.
The silver-haired man was still trying to reach Megan. "Age is just a number. What matters is—"
"I need to go." Megan tried to push past him, but he caught her arm.
"We haven't finished talking—"
"Yes, we have." Her voice cracked. "Please. Just let me—"
I moved forward before consciously deciding to. "Megan!"
She turned, her expression shifting from misery to confusion to desperate relief in the span of a heartbeat.
I walked up quickly, Jackson a solid presence at my shoulder. "There you are! Professor Paulsen has been looking everywhere for you. Something about an urgent meeting for your composition project?"
It was a complete lie. Paulsen was probably at home grading papers. But Megan latched onto the excuse like a lifeline.
The silver-haired man—her mother's boyfriend, clearly—looked between us, uncertainty crossing his features. "I don't think—"
"It's really time-sensitive," Jackson added smoothly, his tone polite but firm. "The professor specifically asked us to find her. Something about tomorrow's deadline?"
The man studied us, trying to decide if we were telling the truth or staging a rescue.
"We really do need to go," I said more gently. "But I'm sure Megan can talk to you another time. When things are calmer."
The man's shoulders sagged. He released Megan's arm, defeat written across his features. "Call your mother. Please. She's worried about you."
Megan didn't respond. She just moved toward me and Jackson, her whole body trembling.
We walked away quickly, not quite running but definitely moving with purpose. The gossiping students scattered, probably disappointed they hadn't gotten more drama for their trouble.
We didn't stop until we'd reached a covered bench near the student center, far enough from prying eyes and ears. Megan collapsed onto it, her hands shaking as she pressed them against her face.
"Thank you." Her voice was barely a whisper. "God, thank you for getting me out of there."
Jackson sat on her other side, careful to leave space. "That was your mom's boyfriend?"