Jake cleared his throat behind me. “Uh… yeah. You’re okay?”
I swallowed, straightening. “Yeah. Totally fine,” I said, though my chest still felt tight, my thoughts a chaotic mess.
“I will see you around then,” he muttered.
“Yeah, sure,”
“I will call you,” he said, before turning around and walking away.
I bent my face to hide my glassy eyeballs.
Oh, foolish, foolish girl Samantha. What were you expecting from Bannister? The guy who never saw you as anything but more than an easy joke. I let my guard down.
I took in a breath.
My grip tightened around the strap of my bag.
I had another class in a few minutes. I might just go earlier. I clutched my books tightly to my chest because that is what I was used to.
They were the only things that stayed consistent in my life, because no ma
