“I shouldn’t have lost control like that.” His thumb traces a gentle path across my knuckles, a stark contrast to the power I witnessed moments ago. “But when he said those things about you⁠—”

“I know.” I press my palm against his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath my fingers. “Thank you for defending me. No one has ever done something like that for me before.”

His expression softens, one hand coming up to tuck a lock of wayward hair behind my ear.

“I’m probably going to get a lecture from Sawyer about this,” he says with a rueful smile. “He’s always telling us all to save the fights for the ice.” He tugs gently on the lock of hair, his eyes reflecting the lights in the parking lot. “But you know what? Standing up for you was worth whatever comes my way. You’re worth everything, hummingbird.”

46. Hannah

Chapter 46

Hannah

“Hannah, come in.” Henry Brooks, the dean of the law school, greets me with a stern expression as he opens his office door. I’ve been perched on the uncomfortable bench outside for what feels like forever, my nerves frayed despite my attempts to stay calm.

As expected, word about what happened between Declan and Aaron at the event spread like wildfire, and before the weekend was over, I had an email from Mr. Brooks requesting an “urgent” meeting to discuss what happened.

“Please, sit down,” Mr. Brooks directs, gesturing at the chair on the opposite side of his meticulously organized desk as he sinks down into his. Mr. Brooks looks exactly like the dean of a law school should—thin, balding, perpetually stressed out, and supremely unhappy—though at the moment, I can’t tell if that’s because of his job, me, or both.

I suppose if I had his job, dealing with half of the law school shenanigans that he does with his students, I’d probably look just as miserable.

He scrutinizes me over the gold rims of his bifocals with his hands resting under his chin as I sit, clearly sizing me up. “I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how absolutely unprofessional the behavior that occurred at the alumni mixer was, so I’m not going to focus on that. Do you have any idea how poorly this reflects on you, and by extension, the university?”

I stare back at him with my hands folded neatly in my lap, biting my tongue to keep my composure.

“Well, since you don’t seem to have an answer, let me tell you, this could affect your standing.”

I nod, but I already knew that—and honestly, it’s been a struggle for me to care about it as much as I probably should.