The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 524

On Friday afternoon, Piper Prescott stood outside the University Heights Faculty Residence, clutching a bag of fresh fruit.

Professor Jace had taken three days off. He had even canceled his specialized lecture on Tuesday—something he had never done before. After agonizing over it for half the day, Piper decided to come check on him herself.

It was her first time visiting the faculty housing.

The building was an older, six-story structure, its gray exterior looking a bit dated but otherwise clean and tidy.

Unsure of which apartment belonged to him, she glanced around before making her way to the front desk.

Mrs. Higgins, the building manager, was sitting behind the glass partition, blowing on a steaming mug of tea.

"Hello, ma'am. Could you tell me which unit belongs to Professor Josh Jace from the Geology Department?" Piper shifted the heavy bag of fruit to her left hand and leaned down slightly to speak politely through the window.

Mrs. Higgins lowered her mug and peered at Piper over the rim of her reading glasses. "Professor Jace, you said? Room 302. I haven't seen him come downstairs in two days. Are you his student?"

"Yes, I brought him some things."

"Go right on up then," the older woman waved her hand dismissively, shooting Piper another look over her glasses. "Like I said, haven't seen him leave that room for days."

Piper nodded, thanked her, and headed up the stairs with the fruit.

The stairwell was dead quiet. The motion-sensor lights flickered on one by one above her, casting a dim, yellow halo that followed her ascent, floor by floor.

She counted the numbers on the doors—301, 302—right at the end of the hall.

Piper stood in front of 302 and knocked again. Her knuckles rapped against the wood—*tap, tap, tap*—the sound echoing faintly in the empty corridor. Still no answer.

She pressed her ear against the door.

There was a noise inside—very faint, like an aluminum can being kicked against the wall, rolling a few inches before coming to a stop.

Her heart dropped. Without another second of hesitation, she sprinted back downstairs and convinced Mrs. Higgins to lend her the spare key.

"Professor Jace?!"

Piper stepped inside, dropping the fruit bag near the entryway, and hurried over to crouch in front of him.

Josh's glassy eyes slowly blinked, trying to pull her into focus. Once he recognized her, a weak, shallow smirk touched his lips. "Oh, it's you. What, class let out early?"

"Professor, stop drinking!"

She reached out to snatch the beer can from his hand. The moment her fingers brushed the freezing aluminum, he shoved her away.

He didn't use much force, but the rejection was firm. It was a visceral, instinctual movement to keep anyone from getting too close.

"I'm drinking my own beer. It's none of your business!"

He tipped his head back and took another large swig. Beer spilled past his lips, dripping down his chin and staining the collar of his shirt, but he didn't even bother to wipe it away.