Chapter 14

Shayne's appearance felt like a massive boulder being hurled into a tranquil lake. He seemed to appear everywhere. In the early morning outside the teaching building, he would show up carrying a paper bag from Laura's favorite dessert shop, trying to press it into her hands. "Laura, I bet you haven't had breakfast yet. This…" Outside the practice studio in the afternoon, he would stand there holding a huge bouquet of dewy white roses, drawing sidelong glances from passing students. "I remember you saying that white roses look the best." On the tree-lined path back to the dorms at dusk, he would suddenly step out of the shadows, blocking her way. His eyes would be bloodshot, and his voice hoarse as he repeated again and again, "Laura, let's talk. Just five minutes, okay? I know I was wrong…" Every time, Laura's reaction was exactly the same. Her gaze never lingered on his face for more than a second. As for the gifts he thrust before her, she simply walked around them with cold ind