The last rays of the setting sun filtered through the trees lining the campus path, scattering golden flecks across Ethan Cole's shoulders as he pedaled along.
He was humming—off-key, but cheerfully so—his whole body loose with satisfaction. After two grueling days of weekend shifts, he'd pocketed $340. Which, in his world, meant one glorious thing: he wouldn't be going hungry this week.
"Whew—survived another one."
He hopped off his bike and stretched like he was trying to touch the clouds. Being a junior in college didn't come with luxuries like "weekends off." Two straight days hauling boxes in a dusty warehouse had left him sore and grimy, but the cash in his pocket made it all smell like roses.
He climbed the stairs to the third floor of the dorm in one go, stopping at Room 302. The door was ajar. The moment he pushed it open, he was greeted by the familiar thump-thump-thump of fingers on a screen—and Liam's voice, already halfway to a scream.
