The campus quad was a bustling hive of activity between Monday afternoon classes. The autumn wind was sharp, tearing orange and brown leaves from the oak trees and scattering them across the brick pathways.
Mara stood by the stone fountain in the center of the quad, the collar of her wool coat turned up against the chill. She felt entirely disconnected from the laughing students walking past her. She was operating on zero sleep, entirely fueled by black coffee and the cold, burning desire to take back her agency.
Ethan stood casually beside her, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his oversized gray sweater. He was the picture of unassuming calm, the perfect camouflage against the chaotic backdrop of university life.
"He usually gets out of his sports management seminar right abou
