Page 4 of Sweet Ruin

Noah released a dry laugh and stepped away from me. “Finally, you’ve got it all figured out.”

The way he was looking at me, it was hard to believe he’d ever cared about me at all. “Just stay away from my family, Noah. Stay away from me.”

“That’s exactly what I’m trying to do.”

“Good.” I turned and started back out into the rain, my anger driving me away from Noah. He wasn’t the same boy I’d dated just a few weeks ago. He wasn’t even the same boy who’d broken up with me. He’d done it so reluctantly at the time, bowing to his grandfather’s wishes without a fight. Now he was physically attacking my family members and going out of his way to hurt me.

Something in him seemed to have changed. The line of division between us and our families was clearer than ever. Noah hated my family, and he hated me. I was more than happy to make the feeling mutual.

CHAPTERTWO

The girls kept throwing me worried glances at breakfast the following morning. It was understandable seeing as Veronica was cuddled up next to Noah. No one other than Luther and Kaden ever sat at Noah’s table, so her presence at his side was essentially the dining hall equivalent of updating their Facebook status to “in a relationship.”

We weren’t the only ones watching them with curious eyes. Everyone in the room was captivated. I was trying my best not to look. No one wanted to witness their ex engaged in dining hall PDA. But it was almost impossible not to notice them when Veronica’s high-pitched giggle kept drifting across the room toward us.

“I honestly can’t believe they’re together,” Cress said. “Noah can’t stand Veronica. He’s been trying to avoid this for years.”

It was hard for me to believe too, but Noah had proven himself to be his grandfather’s little lap dog, so it wasn’t all that surprising. “The two of them deserve each other.”

“I guess Veronica and Noah are the least of your concerns after the weekend,” Anna said. I’d told the girls about Noah punching my dad when I’d returned to my room yesterday.

“Definitely,” I agreed. I’d struggled to get over Noah, but when a guy punched your father and dated your nemesis, it made you wonder what you saw in him in the first place.

Cress grimaced as she looked his way. “I honestly don’t know what’s going on with him,” she said, shooting me another worried look. I couldn’t tell if she was more concerned about me or Noah.

“Seriously, stop worrying,” I said. “I’m with Wes now, and I’m happy.” Being with Wes was light and easy, like a breath of fresh air after everything I’d been through with Noah. I often felt like I didn’t deserve him.

“Yeah, we can tell,” Cress said, relaxing slightly. “You guys are really good together.”

“Speaking of good together,” I replied. “I haven’t asked you about your Ferris wheel ride with Kaden yet. How was it?” I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten. It had completely skipped my mind thanks to all the drama with Noah.

“It was okay,” Cress said. “There’s not much to tell. We just chatted.”

“Really?” I found that hard to believe. Especially after he’d been so sweet at the kiss or scare booth, kissing the back of her hand and inviting her to join him on the Ferris wheel. It was so romantic.

“Yeah, don’t get me wrong, it was really nice,” Cress continued. “I just thought he might try and kiss me.” She sounded so disappointed. “And then after we got off the Ferris wheel, it turned totally awkward. He got a phone call, and he said he had to go. He left pretty quickly, and it felt like he couldn’t get away from me fast enough.”

“I’m sure he didn’t want to go,” I said.

“And what about the lack of kissing?”

“I told you already,” Anna said. “It’s Kaden. He’s pretty reserved and doesn’t really date. He probably just wants to take things slow.”

“Or maybe it took one spin on the Ferris wheel for him to realize he doesn’t like me that much,” Cress replied.

"No way,” Anna gasped. “How could he not like you? You’re the most likable person I know.”

“He’d have to be crazy not to like you,” I agreed.

"So, I guess that means he’s crazy.” Cress shrugged.

Kaden was a hard guy to read, but he definitely wasn’t crazy. He didn’t say much, and he usually sat back and allowed his friends to do most of the talking. I had a feeling Anna was right, and if he hadn’t been more forward with Cress, it was simply because that wasn’t his nature. It didn’t seem to matter how much we tried to reassure Cress though. She seemed convinced Kaden wasn’t into her.

“We’ll just have to wait until he asks you out again,” I said.

“Oryou could cut to the chase and ask him…” Anna suggested.

“I’m not askinghimout,” Cress gasped. “Not when he pretty much ran away from me like I was the most terrifying thing at the carnival. No, I don’t want to waste any more of my time waiting around for a guy who’s just not that into me."

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