Chapter 7

Candace

The alarm rang at seven.

I reached across the bedside table, silenced it, and stared at the ceiling without making any effort to move.

I’d barely slept.

Every time I closed my eyes, I found myself back at the restaurant, watching Jake beam with pride as he introduced the two people who had unknowingly shared an evening.

I rolled onto my side and reached for my phone.

Three unread messages.

All from Jake.

Jake: Morning, beautiful. Hope you slept well?

Jake: I know dinner was a little awkward because of my dad, but don’t overthink it. He’s honestly nicer than he looks.

A few minutes later:

Jake: Good luck in class today. I’ll call you tonight.

A smile tugged at my lips before disappearing almost instantly.

If only he knew.

The kindness in his messages made the guilt settle even deeper inside me. Jake wasn’t suspicious.

I dropped my phone onto the mattress and covered my face with both hands.

“I can’t do this,” I whispered into the silence.

History started in less than an hour.

Normally I’d already be deciding what to wear or rushing to throw together breakfast before racing across campus.

Instead, I stayed exactly where I was, convincing myself that if I remained in bed long enough, the day would somehow pass without demanding anything from me.

It was ridiculous.

I knew that.

Skipping one class wouldn’t erase what had happened.

It wouldn’t change the fact that Elias was still Jake’s father.

Most importantly, it wouldn’t stop me from seeing him again.

Even so, the thought of walking into that lecture hall made my stomach twist.

I could already picture it.

And somehow, that normalcy felt even more unbearable.

Pretending the weight hanging between us didn’t exist.

My phone buzzed again.

Jake: Don’t forget to eat breakfast.

I closed the message without replying. I wasn’t ignoring him out of anger. I didn’t trust myself to type anything.

An hour later, I was still wearing the oversized T-shirt I’d slept in.

History had already begun.

The realisation should have filled me with panic. Attendance mattered and professors rarely tolerated unnecessary absences. Instead, all I felt was temporary relief.

I wasn’t there.

I didn’t have to see Elias.

The thought crept into my mind before I could stop it.

Was he relieved I hadn’t come?

I hated myself for wondering.

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

Before I could answer, the apartment door swung open.

“You forgot to lock this again.”

Bridgette stepped inside carrying two iced coffees and a paper bag that smelled unmistakably of fresh pastries.

She kicked the door shut with her foot before stopping in the middle of the living room, her expression shifting from amusement to concern.

“Okay… what’s going on?”

I blinked.

“What do you mean?”

She raised an eyebrow.

“You skipped class.”

“I wasn’t feeling well.”

“Mhm.”

I looked away.

“I’ve got a headache.”

Bridgette placed the coffees on the kitchen counter without taking her eyes off me.

“Interesting.”

“What is?”

“You’ve been rubbing your temples for exactly two seconds, which means you only remembered the headache after I asked.”

A small laugh escaped me, painfully forced.

“I really do have one.”

“Liar.”

“I’m serious.”

“You’ve told three lies in less than a minute.”

I sighed.

“I just needed today.”

She crossed her arms.

“From what?”

There it was.

The question I’d been trying to avoid asking myself.

From Elias?

From Jake?

From the guilt that had followed me home after dinner?

I couldn’t answer any of those without revealing something I’d promised myself I’d never tell.

“I’m overwhelmed,” I said quietly.

Bridgette studied me for several seconds.

“School?”

I nodded too quickly.

“Yeah.”

“Assignments?”

“Pretty much.”

She didn’t look convinced.

“You’ve handled worse weeks than this.”

“I know.”

“So what actually happened?”

I lowered my eyes to the floor.

“Nothing happened.”

She laughed softly.

“That might’ve been your worst lie yet.”

The apartment fell silent.

Bridgette had known me long enough to recognise when I was hiding something. Normally, I’d give in after a little gentle questioning, unable to keep secrets from the people I loved.

Today was different.

This wasn’t my secret alone.

Jake was part of it.

So was Elias.

Neither of them deserved to have their lives complicated because I couldn’t keep one disastrous coincidence to myself.

“I’m sorry,” I said at last. “I’m just… not ready to talk about it.”

Her expression softened immediately.

She walked over and sat beside me on the couch, offering one of the iced coffees without another question.

“You don’t have to tell me today.”

I accepted the drink with a grateful smile.

“But,” Bridgette continued gently, “whatever you’re carrying around, don’t carry it by yourself for too long.”

I looked down at the condensation gathering on the plastic cup.

If only it were that simple.

My phone vibrated again.

Bridgette looked at the screen before looking back at me.

“Jake again?”

I nodded.

“He’s persistent.”

“He always is.”

“That’s kind of sweet.”

“It is.”

“So why do you look guilty”

My heart lurched. “What?”

“I’ve never seen someone look like they’re about to confess to a crime because their boyfriend texted them good morning.”

I forced out a laugh.

“You’re being dramatic.”

“Maybe.”

She leaned back against the couch.

“But I’m not blind.”

I picked up my phone before Bridgette could say anything else.

Another message.

Jake: Hope class isn’t too boring. I’m counting down the hours until you’re done so I can steal you for dinner.

My chest tightened.

He thought I was sitting in History.

He had no idea I was curled up on my couch, hiding from the very person teaching the course.

I typed a reply, erased it, typed another, and erased that one too.

Finally, I settled on something painfully simple.

Me: Hope your day’s going well too.

The response came almost instantly.

Jake: It is now.

I locked my phone and placed it face down on the coffee table.

Bridgette, she quietly opened the paper bag and handed me a warm croissant.

“Eat.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“I wasn’t asking.”

I took a small bite, more to satisfy Bridgette than myself, and stared out the apartment window as students hurried across campus below.

Life hadn’t stopped because mine had become complicated.

Sooner or later, I’d have to walk back into that classroom.

Sooner or later, I’d have to look Elias in the eye.

My phone buzzed once more.

This time, it wasn’t Jake.

My stomach dropped as I opened the notification.

Subject: Attendance Warning – HIST 624

I clicked on the email, my pulse quickening.

Our records indicate that you were absent from today’s seminar. Please be advised that students are expected to maintain satisfactory attendance. Continued absences may affect your participation grade and academic standing. If there are circumstances affecting your attendance, please contact your course instructor as soon as possible.

I read the final line twice.

Please contact your course instructor.

My course instructor.

Elias Morgan.