We halt a few feet away when Charles’ eyes land on me. “And who is this lovely lady accompanying you?” His eyes roam the length of my body, and the contents of my stomach roil.
“Father, this is Ren. Ren, this is my father, Charles Sullivan.”
“Oh, please, call me Chip! Everyone else does. Ren, is it? I don’t think I’ve heard your name before. Are you new to Hollowcrest?”
When he speaks, he is so animated, and his eyes are intense; it feels impossible to hold his stare. It’s unsettling, like he has to be the biggest personality in the room, and he wants you to know it.
“Ren is a nickname. I actually just inherited this academy. You may have known my grandfather.” I don’t know why I said it, but the moment I did, I wished I could take the words back.
“Oh?” Chip quirks a brow, and I swear for a moment, I saw darkness flicker in his eyes. Suddenly, I don’t want to be in this room anymore.
“What did you say your full name was?”
“I didn’t, Sir. My name is Verena Gravenhurst. Granddaughter of Ambrose Gravenhurst. Your son is great, Mr. Sullivan; he’s a very kind man.” I try my best to keep my composure, but I can feel a shift in the energy around us. Something’s off, and the way Charles’ jaw tensed when I said my name leaves me to believe he’s not pleased with my presence here or the fact I’m hanging around his son.
“I hadn’t realized you two were…close.” His eyes flicker over to Reed, who hasn’t uttered a word in the past few minutes. Chip’s brow furrows when Reed stays quiet.
“We’re project partners,” Reed finally mutters.
Chip clicks his tongue.
“Yes, well, it’s quite a shame to hear about your grandfather’s passing.” My stomach drops at the mention of his death. Everything he says seems insincere, like he’s not truly saying what he wants to say.
“Anyhow, you’d better hurry along. I wouldn’t want to keep you from your studies.”
“It was nice to meet you, Mr. Sullivan.”
“Wasn’t it?” He flashes a wicked smile and turns back to the dean, dismissing us, and I get a sickly, uncomfortable feeling about that man.
Leaving the lecture hall, I notice Reed is keeping his distance from me, no longer holding my hand, no longer slipping his fingers around my waist.We’re project partners,he had said. A far cry from the man he was last night, who all but claimed me in front of his friends. Is he ashamed of me? Is he ashamed of who I am? I storm down the hall, my pace picking up speed, as I try to put some distance between us. I feel like a fool.
“Gravenhurst, wait!” Reed chases me down before I reach the exit.
“Oh, so youcantalk!” My frustration seeps out of me in waves.
“What did you want me to say? You don’t know what he’s like, how intrusive he is in my life. I didn’t need him to know about us. I’m sorry, please don’t be angry with me.”
“Well, project partner, no need to worry there.”
Reed drags his hands down his face and releases a breath, my snarky attitude not helping the situation.
“You don’t understand.”
“Then enlighten me!” I fold my arms across my chest, myimpatience for his attitude wavering with each moment that passes.
“My father is a complicated man; it’s best that he doesn’t know anything about us, trust me.” His eyes are pleading, and something tells me he’s not going to give me any more of an explanation on his choice of actions. I purse my lips and take a moment to think over what to say next.
Releasing a sigh, I reach out my hand, waiting for him to reciprocate. He clasps his hand in mine and leans down to peck a kiss on my forehead. “I swear I didn’t mean anything by it, Gravenhurst. You mean so much to me.” I give him a forced smile and nod. I’m emotionally exhausted and just want to be finished with this conversation.
“Take me home?” I ask, my voice soft and small. He flashes me his usual Sullivan smile, and we head out to his car.
The ride home dragged on in an awkward silence, and when we finally arrived at the manor doors, I was relieved. Reed turned up the radio when he realized I wasn’t much in the mood for conversation, drowning out the tension that tagged along with us. He didn’t offer to come inside with me, something I would have found odd, had my mood not been foul. We say our goodbyes, and I feel the weight of the day ease from my shoulders the moment I set foot inside my home and close the door. I’m looking forward to a warm bath, a fresh hot meal and a good book to sit down with and drown my sorrows, losing myself in the comfort of solitude.
NINETEEN
VERENA GRAVENHURST
The moon hangs full above me, calm and steady, a bewildering contrast to the awful mood I’ve been in since Reed dropped me off at the manor last night. Sleep refused to claim me, and before I knew it, I found myself here, in the gardens. My back is pressed against the cool grass, staring up at a midnight sky that has seen countless nights like tonight.
