I shrugged. “He's the only one I know.” Then I made an elaborate show of checking my watch. “Ooh. I gotta go. I'm gonna be late,” I said, backing up. “Enjoy your walk.”
He nodded, narrowing his eyes slightly. “Enjoy your breakfast.”
“I will! Thanks!” I replied, trying my hardest to seem unaffected.
It didn't work. I could feel him watching me all the way across the quad and it was all I could do to keep myself from turning around and checking to see if I was right. But when I
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finally reached the cafeteria, sweating from exertion and nerves, I couldn't take it anymore. I paused and pretended to search through my bag for something. As I did so, I glanced out the corner of my eye. There was Detective Hauer, standing alone in the center of campus. Watching me.
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* * *
For the first time in days I was able to go through the breakfast line and get what I wanted and only what I wanted. I knew that as soon as the Billings Girls arrived I would be back up here, filling their orders, but for now I was going to enjoy the freedom. I deserved it after everything I'd been through this morning.
Two pieces of bacon, one slice of peanut butter toast, and a bowl full of Apple Jacks later, I emerged from the line and walked over to our usual table. I started with the toast, hoping to calm my uneasy stomach before moving on to the sugar and the grease. The cavernous cafeteria was so undisturbed, I could see the individual dust particles dancing in the shafts of sun coming through the skylights. I watched Josh enter through the front door, stick to the wall on his way to the line, and emerge moments later with coffee and three doughnuts.
“So, I'm intrigued,” he said, sitting down in front of me. He chomped into a cinnamon doughnut, spraying the brown powder everywhere. His curls were mashed on one side and stuck straight
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up on the other, reminding me that just a few minutes ago he had been curled up in his bed, warm and cozy, and that he'd hoisted himself out of his slumber for me.
“Okay, hypothetically...”
Josh dropped the doughnut. “I lov
e a good 'hypothetically,'” he said, leaning his elbows on the table.
I laughed. “Hypothetically,” I repeated for his benefit, “if you found out that one of the guys in your dorm had broken the honor code . .. would you tell?”
Josh raised his eyebrows, then looked down at his plate and blew out a breath.
“I mean, I know you're supposed to tell, but, in reality... would you?” I asked.
Josh nodded once and lifted his head. “Definitely.”
“Really?”
The double doors opened and a clump of students filed in. We wouldn't be alone for long.
'Yes. No question,“ Josh said, sipping his coffee. ”You signed a contract. We all did. I know it's probably not cool or whatever to say this, but that actually means something to me. When you commit to something, you don't go back on your word. Besides, it's the right thing to do. If someone does something wrong, they should be called on it. Case closed."
Damn. Boy took his hypothetical very seriously. For some reason, his conviction made me squirm. I dropped the toast and pushed my tray away.
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“Tell me how you really feel,” I joked, trying to lighten my own mood.
“How he really feels is idiotic.”
Startled, we both looked up to find Whittaker hovering at the end of the table. Where had he come from?
“No offense intended,” he said to Josh.
“Uh . . . none taken,” Josh said facetiously. He jumped his chair forward until the table constricted his chest so that Whittaker could get by. Whit pulled out the chair next to Josh and settled in. He took a long sip of his grapefruit juice and smacked his lips.