Of course, if Jay were here, he would have his phone. There wouldn’t be an empty gap on the call log at all. If anything, we’d probably have selfies of him flexing and posing in the mirror. I shake my head. This has been a complete waste of time.

“The women’s locker room is here,” Student A says. He steps aside in case I want to peek in.

“Day lockers are emptied after hours. Contents left in the lockers are placed in lost and found.”

I begin to move away. His spiel sounds rehearsed, and I don’t need to look to know I’ll find a bunch of toned muscles and scar-free skin stretched beneath red-and-black sports bras.

“Or, if you prefer, you can rent a locker. Service terms for students are for the semester. You can rent a half or full, for fall, spring, and summer.”

I stop. “You can rent a locker for the entire semester?”

“It’s a different rate for students, faculty and staff, alumni—”

He’s not sure what box to put me in.

“I’m curious about the student rentals.”

He blinks. Not the box he thought, apparently. “Are you interested in a spring rental?”

“Actually,” I say, walking briskly back to the front desk, “I’d like to see a list of current rental holders. Men’s rental holders.” Jay probably didn’t rent a locker. Why would he, when he’d have to lug all his clothes back to the fraternity to wash? But I’m not going to leave without checking.

“I, um—” Student A jogs to catch up with me. Student B doesn’t even look up when we return. “I don’t know. Maybe I should get the facilities manager—”

He looks so unsure it’s easy. “That won’t be necessary. I just need a printed list. And if my guy’s on there, I’ll need to see what’s in his locker.”

A flicker of curiosity and an obedience to authority long ingrained from whatever sports training—soccer, from the look of him—he’s received has him nodding as I speak. Yes, Coach, I imagine him thinking as he slips under the counter and dutifully clicks buttons on the computer. Okay, Coach. The printer hums.

I hold my breath and scan the list. It’s short—not many students rent lockers. Most have “faculty/staff” listed in the box next to their names. But at the very end of the sheet is the name I’m looking for.

Jay Kemp, locker rental checked out on October 14, two months after the semester started.