OE

rough the gate, he paused. He turned back, and

rsonal advice would

"What do

his voice a little lower now. "You know Mr. Donovan's status... Sometimes, maint

s smart to stay under the shadow of the great Carlisle tree, that

the word "advice," my voice turning cold. "But I prefer to rel

ity in his eyes shifted to something else

softening. "I understand.

rom purely professional to some

d gave me another nod. "In that case, I wish y

ension in my shoulders finally eased. I nodded

long, slow breath. It felt like a heav

y little car, and even th

van, the boy who only ever exist

a cheerful pop song b

ong, feeling lighter

my used Honda sped happ

Chloe Miller, a regular mus

d straight for the busiest c

also the first day of my new life

d, Casey: The usual spot. My t

emoji, followed by: You finally kicked tha

hnically, the contract expir

ading across my face as I imagined the free life ahead

on the most popular bar

the team that ruled this school. It was where the players often hung

I stopped, glancing at mys

ht eyes, full of hope for the futur

lisle, a man I'd never even met, feel an

away. He was Donovan Carlisle, a god on campus.