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“She’ll be fine,” he says. “I’ve set money aside for her. Enough for her to retire if that’s what she wants. If not, you can give her a place to stay. Buy her a house if you want.”

I shake my head, pushing back from the table. “This is bullshit, Dad. You’re asking me to just leave? Run away?”

“I’m asking you to protect yourself,” he says, his voice cracking just slightly. It stops me cold.

He swallows hard, his gaze dropping to the table. “I fucked up, Eli. I fucked up so bad. But I can’t let my mistakes destroy your life. You’ve got a bright future, kid. Don’t let my bullshit stop you.”

I don’t say anything. My chest feels tight, like I can’t breathe right, but I just nod.

“All I ask,” he says softly, “is that you visit your mom’s grave. Take her lilies, like we always do on her birthday.”

“I will,” I manage to say.

He nods, like he’s satisfied with that. Then he reaches into his pocket, pulling out a folded piece of paper.

“Here,” he says, sliding it across the table.

“What’s this?”

“Instructions,” he says. “How to access your accounts, investments. Everything in your name. You’re smart, Eli. Smarter than me, that’s for damn sure. You’ll be okay.”

I take the paper, my hands shaking. “And you?”

“I’ll survive,” he says, standing as the guards step forward. “That’s what Graysons do, right?”

“Dad—”

But they’re already pulling him toward the door. He glances back at me, his face set like stone. And then he’s gone.

I sit there for a moment, staring at the empty doorway. The room feels colder now, quieter. And for the first time in a long time, I feel completely alone.

Chapter 2

Two suitcases fill my dorm, surrounded by laundry and books. The bare walls feel wrong without my posters and shelves lined with books. My bed looks like a wreck because I finally took down a collage I made. It has all my favorite quotes, prints of classic book covers, and Polaroids from freshman year.

My roommate, Jess, is in class right now. Lucky her, she won’t have to help me pack anymore. Now it’s just me, packing up the last of my stuff before heading home to my dad’s. I am transferring to Blackridge midyear.

I drop my bag on my bed and roll the half empty suitcase over to me. The knock at the door comes just as I’m folding up the collage.

“Come in!” I yell, steadying the fold without making a heavy crease line.

Aaron opens the door with a smirk. He is six-foot-two, has blonde hair cropped short, and brown eyes that crinkle when he smiles. He’s in a fitted black T-shirt that hugs his gym-obsessed frame.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he says, stepping in and closing the door behind him.

“Hey.” I tip my head up and kiss him when he walks over.

“Do you really have to go?” he murmurs, his hands sliding to my waist as he nudges the suitcase to the side.

“I know. I know,” I tease, pulling back.

“I’m gonna miss this,” he says, grinning. He points at the chaos behind me. “You were always so messy.”

“Am not,” I argue, though he’s probably right. I don’t think I’ve ever kept a tidy dorm room.

He tosses his backpack onto Jess’s empty bed.

I stand to grab more things to pack from the closet, but before I can do anything, he’s behind me, his hands on my hips.