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My phone buzzed again. I read the message.
Nate: Sydni wants to meet you. Come to the party in the arboretum tomorrow at midnight. It’s invite only, so you’ll have to meet me at the front.
“Sheesh. On a school night?” I muttered while replying my affirmative. Sydni sounded like a shy one. Either that, or she had authority issues and didn’t want to meet with me in my territory.
I could respect that.
Unprompted, Nate added:
She’s not talking to any counselors. This can’t be recorded anywhere.
I replied with a thumbs-up and a sigh. “Everyone is so dramatic, aren’t they?”
Razai knocked on my balcony door. I couldn’t see beyond the curtains, but it was stupid to not think it was him.
The curtains slid to the side, and sure enough, the professor loomed over me, grinning and waving in his soaked, muddy clothing.
I crossed my arms and stared at him. “No.”
“Yes,” he argued, nodding emphatically.
Gods, he’s like a puppy.
If he was brutish and pushy, I’d have no problem flipping him off and pretending like he didn’t exist. But the man was legitimately nice. And like… friendly.
And he seemed to enjoy me, even when I was grumpy or pissed off. Azra has been the long-standing, single occupant of that category for all my life.
It made me like Razai more, and that made me trust him less. It’s probably because I think Razai’s just pretending. No one better ask me to explain it beyond that, because I’m not sure I’d be able to.
He stuck out his lower lip and widened his emerald eyes while rainwater dribbled down his cheeks and nose.
“Stop being so cute,” I muttered. Admittedly, he had to come in, especially considering what I’d learned from Nate.
Razai’s pout melted into glee when I unlocked and opened the door. “Detective! I’ve missed you.”
“Missed you t—what?”
“I assume you have something to tell me?” he pressed on.
My mouth fell open. “What makes you say that?”
He pointed at me and drew squiggles in the air. “You’ve got a look.”
“I don’t have looks.”
“Yes, you do.” He shucked off his shoes and socks, pushed past me, and strode toward my bedroom through the sea of research and sticky notes.
“Hey. Where are you going?”
He called, “My entire floor and the locker rooms are out of hot water. Can I please use yours?” The shower turned on.
I stopped in my tracks. You’ve got to be kidding me. “You didn’t even wait for me to answer. And I don’t have any clothes for you here.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I left some here the last time I came over.”
“You did what?”
“Just in case! It’s always safe to have a set of clothing in places you’re at often. I have some in my office too. When you’re in my field of work, it pays to be prepared. Now stop wasting time, Detective, and tell me what you’ve found.”
