Page 9 of The Other Side
Chance was the first person I’d talked to about it who seemed to be taking me seriously, or even cared about it at all. Maybe I should have gone to the media, but I had so much to lose.
“So you knew him?” Chance asked.
“He worked on the school newspaper. It’s a small school. Everyone knew him.” I shook my head. “He wouldn’t have run away. He knew how lucky he was to be there and what kind of opportunities would come out of the alumni network.”
“Hmm,” Chance hummed.
“And the headmaster, don’t get me started. If he didn’t have to allow scholarship students in through alumni gifted grants, he’d be happy to keep the doors closed to anyone in a tax bracket under a billion dollars.” I snorted.
“Sounds like an asshole.”
“And a misogynist,” I added.
“Typical,” Chance offered. “Are the students really that bad?” he asked after a moment. “They can’t exactly control the circumstances into which they were born.” Chance winced, realizing how it sounded as it left his mouth.
“But theycancontrol how they treat people—that’s the difference,” I asserted.
“Cheers to that.” He lifted his almost empty bottle, draining the last of the beer after clinking it against my almost empty water glass.
“I should probably head back there.” Reluctance was laced through the sentiment as I pulled out my phone, opening a rideshare app.
“Of course.” He flashed me another brilliant but understanding smile.
I looked down at the app, sighing at what I was seeing. No cars available.
I bit my lip nervously.
Chance glanced down at the screen.
“I can give you a ride to Montgomery,” he offered. “I’m heading that way anyway.”
“You are? You’re sure?” I met his eyes again. “You’ve already done more than enough for me—I don’t want to inconvenience you.”
While I would have felt bad if he had to go out of his way for me, I couldn’t ignore the warmth flooding my core at the thought of spending more time with him, in confined quarters.
“It’s no problem, I promise.” He grabbed my hand and led me out of the bar.
