Chapter 4 No Longer Yours

One of the guys burst out laughing. "Didn't she lose weight? It's just hard to tell when she had that much to lose!"

"Poor Conrad. How much are you paying that guy to run alongside her?"

Everyone turned to look at him. I clenched my fingers, waiting for his answer.

…

Meanwhile, Conrad was busy peeling a hard-boiled egg for Brynn. Without even looking up, he said casually, "Twenty bucks a day. That's his rate."

He did not mention that we had ended up in the same major because I had wanted to study finance and he had followed me to the same test prep classes. Eventually, we had even ended up in the same class.

He did not mention that I had never been the one chasing him. He had been the one following me around since we were kids.

With that one offhand remark, he turned every rumor into fact.

The laughter in the classroom grew even louder.

Brynn glanced at me with a look I could not quite read. "Tessa, don't take it personally. They're just joking around."

But she could not quite hide her smile either. The moment she finished speaking, she lowered her head, trying to suppress a grin.

…

After class, our academic advisor called Conrad and me into his office.

He pushed a sheet of paper toward me.

"Tessa, the post on the campus confession page has caused quite a stir. After looking into it, we spoke with Conrad, and he told us you've been bothering him for a long time, disrupting his everyday life and studies."

I turned and saw Conrad leaning against the wall, his expression indifferent.

"Still, this isn't considered a particularly serious matter. The department just wants you to sign a written pledge promising not to bother Conrad again. Once that's done, we can put this behind us."

I stared at the blank sheet of paper without moving.

"I haven't been bothering him. You can check our phones. The last time I texted him was last month."

A girl from the student conduct board scoffed. "Texts don't prove anything, Tessa. You need to know where you stand. Have some self-respect."

I turned to Conrad again.

All he had to do was speak up. He could tell them I had not contacted him or bothered him lately.

He could even remind them that we had grown up together and that I had never behaved inappropriately, but he did not.

He straightened up and let out a troubled sigh. "Tessa, just write it. Don't make it look like I'm bullying you."

"You think I've been chasing after you too?"

"Isn't that what you've been doing?" He frowned. "Following me around, looking for me. It's happened more times than I can count. I've gotten used to it.

"Just hurry up and write it. This whole thing has been keeping me up at night. Can you stop making trouble for me?"

'Can you stop making trouble for me?'

He really saw me as a burden he could not get rid of.

I lowered my head and picked up the pen.

"I, Tessa Hawke, promise that I will no longer have any contact with Conrad Ashford."

After leaving the office, I sent Silas a message. "Let's start that workout plan you mentioned. Tonight."

He replied immediately, "Sounds good."

…

Over the next few weeks, I exercised almost every day.

Silas put together a detailed workout plan for me. Whenever it rained, we would move our workouts indoors. If my knees bothered me, we would slow down to an easy jog.

…

By the time finals rolled around, I had gotten down to 100 pounds.

I was not all skin and bones like Brynn. I was slim and well-proportioned, with better posture.

For our last class, I wore a fitted dress that cinched at the waist.

The moment I walked in, my classmates could not stop staring.

"Oh my God, Tessa! When did you get so thin?"

"How did you do it?"

Conrad could not take his eyes off me.

He looked like he wanted to come over and talk, but I walked right past him and took a seat in the back.

I had not forgotten the promise I had signed.

I could feel Conrad looking at me on and off throughout the entire class.

…

The moment the bell rang, he stopped me, his face full of surprise and delight.

"Tessa, I can't believe you actually did it. Now we can finally be together. Let me take you out to dinner tonight to celebrate."

I did not respond, and he grew anxious.

"Didn't you always want to be with me?"

I shook my head and waved to Silas, who was waiting outside the window.

Conrad followed my gaze, and his expression changed.

"No, thanks. I'm going running with my boyfriend tonight. I don't have time."