"Yeah, you are. And that's fine. But scared and stupid are two different things. Don't be stupid."
"This could ruin everything."
"If it all comes out, that you and Alex are together, or whatever. Not one's going to give a shit if you win the Charles," Remy said with complete and utter confidence. "A lot of guys got your back and a lot of guys respect you."
He put his earbuds in and went back to his footage for a moment.
Then Remy looked up, pulled out a bud and said, "Fuck the haters."
I nodded and smirked.
I sat on the dock for a while. The anger draining. Leaving behind something emptier. Remy was right—I didn't know it was Braden. I'd wanted it to be Braden because Braden had a face and a name and a jaw I could hit. The alternative—that it was someone I hadn't even considered—was worse.
And now I'd given Braden a reason to come after me for real.
***
Noah was at his desk when I got back to the dorm.
He looked up when I came in. He looked relieved. It had been three days since we'd been in the same room at the same time.
"Hey stranger," I said,
"Hey."
He closed his laptop. Leaned back in his chair. "I've been trying to catch you. You're either at the boathouse or gone by the time I get back."
"You haven't been here much either—" I dropped my bag on my bed. Sat down. Rubbed my face. "It's been a bad week."
"I gathered. You want to tell me about it or do you want to brood in silence? I'm fine with either but the brooding is less productive."
"They texted again… Alex this time."
"Who—?" Then realization dawned on Noah's face. "Not good. When did it start?" he asked.
"Two nights ago. A photo of us kissing."
"Did you try calling it the number?"
"No. We didn't"
Noah was already thinking. I could see it—the gears turning. "My friend Chris—the CS guy—he might be able to pull something from the number. At minimum, figure out if it's a burner or registered."
"Can you ask him?"
"I'll text him tonight. But Liam."
"Yeah."
"This is the second time someone's come at you two anonymously. The video a month ago. Now this."
"I know. Same pattern."
"Same pattern." He nodded slowly. "Which means it might be the same person. And that person has been watching you for a while."
The words sat heavy in the room. The radiator clicked. Someone's music thumped through the wall.
"We're going to figure out who it is," Noah said. "Chris is good. If there's a trail, he'll find it."
