Chapter 24
Chapter 24
I frowned. “Not on purpose. Why p>
“You smell like him.” Connor said, then shrank back a little.
“I smell like him?” I repeated in disbelief.
“Sorry. It’s a local saying.” Connor said, flustered. “It means, uh p>
“It means there’s a rumor you two are together.” Roger cut in. “And that’s putting it politely p>
There was a rumor we were together? How? Did people think our
hostility was sexual tension? That was ridiculous–we clearly
avoided each other.
“I can assure you, that’s not the case p>
I said flatly. “Declan would rather cut off his-“I stopped myself in
time. “Hand than use it to touch me p>
Roger let out a soft laugh–but it wasn’t the kind of laugh my words would’ve caused. It was more like a knowing, smug laugh.
“What?” I glared at him. Not really angry.
“Oh, honey,” he said, standing up with his coffee and giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Don’t think too hard about it p>
Easier said than done. On the drive to school, I replayed the
conversation over and over.
What about Declan’s behavior toward me could possibly suggest he
was interested?
Chapter 24
I admitted I was attracted to him–but only to his face, his build, his
smile, the way he looked when he read, and how competent he was
as a pilot. That was it.
His personality wasn’t great. Even with the muscles, the eye contact,
the love of literature–it didn’t make up for it.
But if that was true, why did I want to believe Roger’s knowing
smile?
After parking at school, I pushed Declan out of my mind and focused
on the day’s plan.
First priority: hold a writing workshop for the freshmen and finalize the essay format.
Half an hour before students arrived, I came to my desk to grab the books I needed for class. As I reached into the drawer, my fingers
touched an unfamiliar shape.
I pulled the drawer open wider and looked inside–on top of the scissors was an old leather dog collar.
I stared at it for a long time. In a daze, I reached out and picked it up.
The tags on the collar clinked together. In the light, I could make out the words: an old rabies tag. The other one read “Freya p>
I let go of the collar. It clattered onto the desk.
The last time I’d seen this collar, it was in the little wooden box that
held my mementos.
The box held a lot of keepsakes: a stuffed animal I’d loved as a child (a fat yellow rabbit named Sunny), an arrowhead I’d found in a field when I was nine, an old green glass bottle I’d caught while fishing with my dad, the collar of my beloved dog Freya (who’d died when I
Chapter 24
was sixteen), a loose stone I’d stolen from a medieval castle wall while studying abroad in France, a friendship bracelet I’d worn in middle school, tassels from my high school and college graduations, and my late grandmother’s wedding ring.
After I broke up with Alex, the box disappeared.
He knew the box existed. He’d even asked to see what was inside.
I had no proof he stole it–but it was the only logical explanation. Between the last time I saw the box and when it went missing, no one else had been in my apartment. Not even the landlord or
maintenance.
I stared at the collar. There had to be a reasonable explanation.
Maybe the last time I opened the box, I’d taken the collar out? Accidentally put it in my school supply cabinet? Then didn’t notice
when I packed? Didn’t see it when I unpacked in Graytooth?
Could that happen? It had to. The other explanation was that Alex
was in Graytooth.
But the only way into Graytooth in winter was by plane. Declan knew about every flight in and out. Even if he and I weren’t close, if an outsider came, word would get to me.
That made sense.
“Tessa p>
I jumped about a foot in the air and spun around, clutching my chest.
♡ (6)
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.