Page 17 of Sweet Ruin

“Yes, well, if they haven’t both realized they’re in love with each other by now, maybe they never will.”

“Well, maybe they need a little push in the right direction,” I suggested.

“Maybe they do.” My mom laughed, but then she swore under her breath. “Norma just warned someone they should check their fire alarms."

"Jeez, that’s gloomy.” I laughed. “Go, stop her already.”

“Okay, have a good weekend.”

“You too.”

Mom hung up the phone, and I let out a sigh. Our conversations were always over way too quickly. We were both so busy and our schedules seemed completely at odds with one another. I missed talking to her every day, but the thought of going home for Thanksgiving made me feel like the weekend was finally turning around.

* * *

Cress and Annawere both hanging out in our room when I returned. It wasn’t hard to tell they were excited about something.

Cress was grinning and bouncing up and down on her bed when I walked in the door. “You’re back!” she squealed. “Guess what?”

“What?”

“Kaden just asked me out.”

“Oh my God!” I gasped and ran over to sit on her bed beside her. “Really?”

“Uh-huh. He caught up to me after I left the dining hall at lunch and asked if I want to go see a movie with him.”

“That’s so exciting. So, when’s the date?”

“There isn’t one.”

“What? But you just said—”

“I told Kaden to ask me again once he’s stopped ignoring my friend.”

“You didn’t.”

“She did.” Anna gave an approving nod. Apparently, she was completely onboard with Cress turning down the guy of her dreams just because he and I were having a little falling-out.

“Of course, I did,” Cress said. “I really like Kaden, but there’s no way I’m going on a date with him if he’s being mean to you.”

“Cress, that’s crazy. You’ve liked him forever. You don’t want to miss this opportunity because of me.”

She scoffed. “I’m not dating a guy who ditched my friend just because my cousin told him to.”

“Yeah,” Anna agreed. “Besties before testes”

“Anna!” I gasped.

“What?” she replied with a shrug. “You know what I mean…”

I shook my head and focused back on Cress. “Seriously though, Cress. That’s really sweet of you, but it’s okay if you want to date him. I don’t want to come between you and Kaden.”

“I’m not changing my mind,” she said. “He can ask me again once he’s come to his senses.”

She sounded so certain about her decision, but I couldn’t work out why she still seemed so excited by the whole thing. I would have expected her to be upset.

“Okay, but why are you this happy after you just had to turn down your crush?”

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