Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“Actually, it’s the best choice.” I tried to put as much determination into my voice as I could.
“How can you say that?”
“Because it’s the only choice.” I sighed. “If there’s only one choice, then it’s automatically the best one.”
Tori took a sip of her coffee, sympathy in her eyes. “That also makes it the worst choice, you know.”
I nodded, staring off into the distance. “Yeah, I know.”
3
HAILEY
The next morning, it was nearly impossible to concentrate in class. That was a shame, because normally I enjoyed Professor Whitmore’s class. She was a gifted speaker, and a nice woman. I knew that because I regularly walked her golden retriever.
As much as I usually liked the class, it was unfortunate that it was only offered during the summer this year. If it had been in the spring or fall semester, it would’ve been covered by my scholarship. But Professor Whitmore had been traveling most of the past year for her research.
After class, I gathered up my things while the other students filed out. Some smiled, but mostly they had their own lives, and their own concerns. And their own friends, who likely dressed a lot better than me.
I lingered until the other students left, not wanting them to find out that I walked the professor’s dog. They just wouldn’t understand.
“Hailey.” The teacher gave me a smile as she peered over her glasses. She had a librarian look to her. “I’m taking Sunny to the vet today, so you don’t need to walk him.”
“Oh, okay.” That would certainly give me more time to move my stuff into the frat house, but I’d miss spending time with Sunny, who was a sweetheart. Plus, I needed the money. “Is he okay?”
“Yes, it’s just a checkup.” She studied me. “And I’ll still pay you your normal weekly rate.”
I blushed. “I wasn’t worried about that,” I lied. Because I was—I had to be.
“Well, then, I hope to see you tomorrow,” she said. Not for class, it was Thursday, but for regular dog walking. She wasn’t often at home when I showed up, but sometimes she was. I had a key to her townhouse in either case.
My brain wouldn’t shut off and let me enjoy the scenery as I walked back to the hotel. It cost an arm and a leg—a town like this didn’t have any cheap hotels. But at least it was summer. In the winter it probably would have cost three times as much. This area had the best skiing in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The young man at the front desk remembered me and let me into the locked room where I’d stored my luggage. I didn’t have a lot—I’d had to get rid of most of my things when I moved out of the house my grandfather had rented.
“Do you want me to call you a taxi or Uber?” he asked as I slung a beat-up old duffel bag over my shoulder. It dated back to my grandpa’s army days. I picked up several smaller bags, hoping I could do this in two trips.
“No thank you.” There weren’t many such things in our small town. Most students had their own cars. Even if there had been, I didn’t want to waste the money.
I wove my way across campus, earning some odd looks for my luggage. But I was used to it. No matter what I did, I didn’t fit in here. That was okay, though. I was here to earn my degree and get out of Haverford. There was nothing else here for someone like me.
The engineering hall was at the edge of campus, and I paused to admire the wall of glass at the front of the magnificent building. Then I trudged onto Skyler Street, which everyone thought of as frat row. The fraternity houses got bigger and grander until I got to the Rho Kappa Alpha house, which made the others look puny by comparison.
My steps faltered as I made my way to the large front door. It felt like every step was taking me closer to my doom—but that was stupid. I needed the money and a place to stay. Therefore, I wanted this job.
Or at least that’s what I told myself.
I hesitated on the front step. The guys from yesterday had said to come around noon, but they hadn’t given me a firm time. There were only a few of them living here this summer… what if the door was locked?
I knocked.
No response.
I knocked again and then tried the door.
It opened, and I stepped into the common area where the interview had been yesterday. Except there was nothing common about the interior, not the marble floors, leather furniture, or artwork on the wall. I imagined that there’d been an interior designer—I couldn’t imagine college guys picking out paintings.
My footsteps echoed in the empty room, and I jumped when the door shut behind me.