Page 14 of Sweet Ruin

Movement over Wes’s shoulder caught my eye, and I saw Noah standing by the open door of the sedan. I wondered if he’d seen the kiss. If he had, he didn’t look the least bit bothered by it. If anything, his expression was even more smug than before as though he felt I’d just proved he was right.

I smiled because my heart and my lips thoroughly disagreed with him. I felt like I’d pretty clearly established how good Wes and I were together. Noah simply shrugged before getting into the car, disappearing behind the black-tinted windows.

When I focused on Wes, he wasn’t looking at me. Instead, he was frowning in Noah’s direction. There was a questioning look in his eyes when he finally did turn his eyes back to me.

“Are you done, Mr. Montfort?” A low voice caused us both to turn toward the bus. Wes’s rowing coach was glaring at us from the door.

Wes swallowed and nodded at him. “Sorry, Coach. I’m coming.”

He turned back to me and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. It couldn’t have been more different than the heartwarming kiss we’d just shared. “I’ll see you later, Isobel.”

“Yeah, see you later.”

He didn’t look back as he got on the bus and found a seat. I felt a little queasy as I watched the door close and the bus pull away. Could Wes tell Noah was the reason behind my sudden urge to kiss him? I felt embarrassed for letting Noah get to me and causing such a scene as a result. Now I was worried I’d upset Wes when Noah was probably laughing proudly to himself. I knew Wes and I had chemistry, so why had I felt the need to prove it? I didn’t care what anyone thought about us, least of all Noah. So why did he continue to elicit such a reaction out of me?

CHAPTERFIVE

Iwas still agitated as I hurried from the parking lot and into the dining hall. I wished I could blame my irritation on the fact I hadn’t eaten breakfast yet or my failed driving lesson. But, no. Surprise, surprise, it was Noah who had yet again gotten under my skin. For a boy I wanted nothing to do with, who seemingly wanted nothing to do with me, he sure was an expert at riling me up.

“What’s wrong?” Cress asked as I sat at the table with them.

Considering how late in the morning it was, I was relieved to find her and Anna still at breakfast. “Am I that obvious?

“Uh, sort of,” Anna said. “You should have seen the way you marched in here. What happened?”

I let out a sigh. “Noah happened.”

Cress’s expression fell while Anna rolled her eyes.

“What did he do this time?” she scoffed.

“He was trying to tell me Wes and I don’t have chemistry.”

“That’s crazy,” Anna gasped. “You and Wes are hot AF. Right, Cress?”

“Of course,” Cress agreed. “I thought the school was over that stupid rumor.”

“Apparently not.” I sighed.

“Noah, of all people, should know better than to give oxygen to gossip like that,” she continued. “Why is he being like this?”

“Yeah,” Anna added. “Can’t he just leave you alone?”

I had asked myself the same two questions many times since the Halloween carnival. One minute it felt like Noah wanted nothing to do with me. The next minute, he seemed to be going out of his way to hurt me. I couldn’t figure him out.

“That’s not the only thing he’s done recently,” I said. “I swear he’s purposely parading Veronica around in front of me, and he told Luther and Kaden not to talk to me.”

Cress’s mouth dropped open. “He did what?”

“He told them not to be friends with me,” I explained. “They wouldn’t let me sit with them in math.”

“What the hell.” Anna gasped, shooting a glare across the dining hall at the two boys who were sitting at their usual table. Neither of them seemed to notice. “Why would they agree with that?”

I shrugged. “They’d do anything for Noah.”

“Still, it’s ridiculous,” Anna continued. “Anyone who forces you to do something like that is no true friend if you ask me.” Anna looked like she was finding it hard not to stand up, walk over to Kaden and Luther, and give them a piece of her mind.

“Has Noah said anything to you, Cress?” I asked.

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