hrough Belview's campus glea

usters, their laughter and eas

effortlessly commanding attention without even trying. There was something

mall pebble from hand to hand. "People act like money's the w

not about having it. It's about what people think you could do wit

raig finish

lly. "Lesnar Global's next-gen lea

is mind was already elsewhere. His gaze drif

na Sa

p like something straight out of a dream. For one stolen second, Craig forgot ho

g blinked, snapping his

ver his chest. But inside, something stir

ith Megan, winding through

Professor Harper ever actually smiled, his face would c

a surprise oral exam just to punish you." Megan slowed

ered. "Why does he always act

ad caught his eyes on her earlier-felt it like a whisper acros

lina started, then caught hers

. "Never mind," Merlina said quickly,

ith framed photographs of Belview's long-serving faculty. Most of the pictures were

, her fingers brushing lightly over the glass. Row af

missing, her mind whispered. Still erased. Li

lashb

d Merlina sat cross-legged on the floor, her mother, Mar

ping a faded photo. "That's where I tau

" young Merlina a

Belview made me feel seen. Like I mattered." She smiled softly,

hat

alls too." Merlina had nodded

resent

the blank space where her mo

quietly. She is here now

led absently through he

e sting behind her eyes

room. Merlina, cast one last look at

ded a corner, hugging a brand-new

ulse quickened. Without thinking, she picked up

g glanced at her. And then he wal

lump in her throat, jaw clenched, cheeks burning with embarr

g the paved walkway, every step radiating the quiet

ectly messy hair. "For real this time. I need someone new - fresh, fun,

n eyebrow. "So

If she's hot, I'

a thread he hadn't realized was tangled around his chest. Across the courtyard, Merlina Sanchez stepped

her ear, her face tilted into the sunlight. She

uarded, and for a second... everything else blurred. Th

smirk fa

dy sti

't put into words t

us. "Maybe that girl from psych

way she moved, the way the world seemed to lean a little closer to her

, unaware, gave a final glance around - her gaze skimming r

t one last time before she

unfamiliar pressing against his ribs. He didn't u

t terrified him more