Chapter Thirty-Two
Alex
After Cam dropped me off, I went upstairs and ran a hot bath while I brewed a pot of tea. Not being able to find Liz was on the top of my list of worries, but I still had an exam to study for and a decision to make about Cam. I didn't like the fact that he had more money that I'd ever imagined. It made me nervous, but I couldn't identify why I was so viscerally opposed to it.
There was no question that he and I had chemistry and that I looked forward to every opportunity we had to act on it, but I wasn't sure it was enough to justify continuing the relationship. However, it was strong enough to keep us going for now.
I sunk down into the tub full of bubbles and tried to logically think my way out of my opposition. Cam was a good man. He worked hard and he was loyal to his friends, and he'd never tried to show off or lord his money over me in a way that made me feel like I owed him something. In fact, when I thought about it, he'd done the exact opposite. He'd downplayed his wealth and passed things off to luck or the kindness of his friends, like the reservation at Grace.
Cam was a modest man who happened to have a lot of money. He wasn't a rich jerk who was looking to acquire me as a possession, and when I dug down deep, I could only come up with the fact that I had something against all that money, not that he'd ever done anything to make me feel uncomfortable. In fact, everything he'd done had been to make me feel comfortable, and I felt vaguely embarrassed that I was making such a big deal out of something he had obviously learned how to manage.
"Get over yourself, Pierce," I said as I scrubbed my skin with a loofah. "It's not about you."
I thought about what Liz would say and how she would laugh it all off with a wink and a smile, and the tears started flowing. I had no idea where she was or if she was all right, and even worse, I had no way of helping her if she was in trouble.
I pulled the plug and let the water drain from the tub before standing up and grabbing a thick towel from the rack. I had to figure out where Liz was and I had to get her help, but first I needed to talk with my landlord about an extension on my rent and then take the exam that Professor Jackson had scheduled for the next day.
After I pulled on a sweatshirt and pants, I went to the kitchen to pour the tea. It was going to be a long night of reviewing anatomy. I took a steaming mug to the table and opened my books. For a moment, my mind drifted off to the place where Cam and I had made very different use of the table earlier in the day and I was tempted to call him.
"Knock it off, Pierce," I scolded myself as I shook my head to clear it. "You don't have the luxury of acting like a lovesick school girl."
I looked down at my books and thought, "Come hell or high water, I am going to pass my exams and get my nursing license."
Not even the devastatingly handsome Cam Connor was going to distract me from my goal.
#
I studied into the wee hours of the morning and then took a quick nap before getting up and getting ready for class. I wanted to stop by the landlord's office to ask him about an extension before I headed to class, so I took extra care to make sure I looked like a responsible tenant who would, in fact, pay the rent. We'd had a few minor differences during the time I'd lived in the apartment, but nothing that would prevent him from giving me a chance to get the financial aid issues straightened out so I could pay him.
"You can do this, Pierce," I said looking at myself in the mirror, as I got ready to leave. "Smile and be polite, and he won't be able to say no."
I'd pulled my hair into a low ponytail and dressed conservatively in a black turtleneck and pants with boots. I swept a layer of mascara onto my lashes before finishing with a bit of bright lipstick. I looked like a responsible adult, I thought as I smoothed my hair and pulled on my coat.
I practiced my appeal on the way down in the elevator, and when I got to the lobby, I saw my landlord standing behind the front desk. I took a deep breath and approached with a smile.
"Good morning, Mr. Deaver," I said.
"Well, good morning, Miss Pierce!" he said with a big smile. It confused me for a second, but I recovered quickly and continued smiling.
"Mr. Deaver, I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to be a little late with my rent, and I recognize that I'll probably owe you some late fees," I began. The words tumbled out of my mouth in a fast and furious attempt to get it all out before he stopped me.
"I'm sorry?" he said, looking very confused.
"The rent? I'm going to be late," I repeated, feeling a little confused by the question.
"You don't owe me any rent, Miss Pierce," he said, frowning a little. "You're paid up through the end of the term."
"But I haven't given you any money," I said, furrowing my eyebrows as I tried to understand what he was telling me. "I need to give you the rent money, but I haven't gotten my financial aid check yet."
"There's no money owed," he repeated as if he were speaking to a small child. "Your boyfriend gave me a check for the whole balance a few days ago, so we're good."
"My...wait, what?" I asked, unsure that I'd heard him correctly.
"Your bae, isn't that what you kids call them these days?" He laughed. "The young man came to my office and gave me a check, so you're good until the end of the term."
It suddenly dawned on me what had happened. Fortunately, I had the good sense to keep myself focused on what was happening in front of me.
"Oh, great! I guess he forgot to tell me he'd done that," I said with a forced smile. "Thanks, Mr. Deaver. Oh, and could you get one of the guys to fix the sink in the kitchen? It's leaking underneath."
"I'll send someone up to take care of it this morning, Miss Pierce," he said with a smile. I was immediately suspicious as to what else Cam Connor had done since Mr. Deaver had never before agreed to take care of any maintenance issue that quickly.
"Have a great day, Mr. Deaver!" I called as I headed out the door. I stomped two blocks before I was able to do anything but swear at Cam under my breath.
He'd paid my rent. He hadn't even discussed it with me. And how in the hell did he know about my financial situation before last night? I hadn't said a word to him about it prior to that.
Liz. She must have mentioned what was going on when Cam was with her in the hospital room. Dammit. I could forgive Liz for trying to help, but I was mad as hell at Cam for butting into my business without saying a word to me. He'd treated me as if I was a child who couldn't take care of herself.
My entire litany of complaints and grudges about money and the people who had it came flooding back into my brain as I walked toward class. There was no way in hell I was going to let Cam Connor pay my bills and treat me like some helpless damsel in distress. He'd gone behind my back and not said a word about it.
That made me even madder when I thought about the fact that we'd spent the entire day together and he had had numerous opportunities to tell me what he'd done. He should have discussed it with me! I could feel my anger building with every step, and by the time I reached the classroom, I was in full rage mode. I picked up my phone and started punching keys on the screen as I typed out a message to Cam.
"Ms. Pierce, could you come up here, please?" Professor Jackson asked quietly. I set my phone down and went to the front of the room.
"Yes, ma’am?" I said when I reached her podium.
"Ms. Pierce, until the issue with the cheating is resolved, you are not allowed to take any of the exams in this class," she said, keeping her voice low and her back turned to the classroom.
"Why not?" I asked, shocked that I'd be barred from taking tests when I was innocent.
"It's school policy," she said, giving me an apologetic look. "I can't let you take this exam today. Your case will come before the review board on Wednesday, and if it's determined that you did nothing wrong, then I'll schedule a make-up test for you."
"I see," I said, looking down at the floor as the shame burned on my cheeks. "I'll get my things and go."
"That's probably best." She nodded as she reached out and patted my shoulder. "I really am sorry about this."
"I know you are." I nodded. "I am, too."
I went back to my desk and gathered my things knowing that everyone else in the class was watching me. I could feel Violet's stare even though my back was to her.
"I heard they don't let cheaters take exams," she said a little too loudly to Jessica and Lydia. "It's an old rule, but one that they stand by."
"Ms. Metzler, please refrain from any and all commentary," Professor Jackson said sternly. "I don't want to hear another word."
"Yes, ma’am," she said sweetly, but I could hear her and her buddies whispering behind my back as I threw my bag over my shoulder and walked out of the room.
I decided to head over to student accounts and see what I could do about delaying my tuition payment for a couple of days until the decision had been made about my case.
"Miss Pierce?" the cashier asked as she looked from my student ID to the screen in front of her.
"Yes, that's me," I said impatiently.
"You don't have a balance to pay, Miss Pierce," she said with a big smile. "All good!"
"Wait, what?" I did a double take. "When was that balance paid?"
"It looks like, um, this morning," she said. "A few hours ago."
"Very well, thank you," I said, taking my ID and stuffing it in my bag. Cam Connor strikes again. Now I was furious. I was angry with him for paying these bills without consulting me, and I was mad that it made me angry.
I pulled out my phone, erased the message I'd been typing and simply tapped out the message, "Call me. Now," before hitting send. Since I had no idea how long it was going to take him to get back to me, I decided to head over to the diner for breakfast and a cup of strong coffee.
I might be angry, but that didn't mean I was going to punish myself by going hungry.