Page 61 of Sweet Ruin

“What am I doing here?” she whispered, coming to a stop when we were seemingly out of earshot. “What areyoudoing here?”

“I’m here with my mom and Matthew,” I said. “He invited us.”

“Your parents are here too?”

“Uh, yes.” I was taken aback by the concern in her voice. “Why, what’s going on?”

Cress stayed silent, apparently too stunned to speak. She was looking at me like I’d just asked the most ridiculous question she’d ever heard. If I’d been nervous before, I didn’t know what to feel now.

“Cress,” I said again. “Seriously, what’s going on?

“Isobel…” she said. “You know this is a birthday party for Noah, right?”

It felt like the room around me warped at her words. The music turned distant, and the people surrounding us seemed to blur.

“What?” I breathed the word.

“This is Noah’s eighteenth birthday party,” she repeated. “It’s the reason my parents are back in town. Apparently, him and his grandfather are making some big announcement…”

I wasn’t really listening, and her words faded away as I tried to process what she’d said. Matthew had dragged me to New York for Noah’s birthday? What was he thinking? Why hadn’t he told me? And why the hell was I here?

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

“Isobel?” Cress’s worried tone dragged my attention back to her. “Are you okay?”

I shook my head to clear the fog of uncertainty clouding my mind. “I’m just confused. When my father told me we were going to an event this evening, he said it was something to do with work. This is really Noah’s birthday?”

“Yep.” Her eyes were filled with sympathy. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about it. I just didn’t think you’d want to talk about it.”

"It’s not your fault,” I said. “I just don’t get why my father would want to be here himself, let alone bring me and my mom.”

“I have no idea,” Cress agreed. “Maybe your dad is trying to make peace?”

“Maybe.” I didn’t share her optimism though. If Matthew had wanted to make peace with the Hastings family, why hadn’t he said anything to me? What if he was here for some other reason. What if he was here to get even.

“I need to talk to my dad,” I said.

“Okay, come find me if you need anything. I may be Noah’s cousin, but I am obviously team Isobel.”

“Thanks, Cress.”

She gave my arm a comforting pat, and I took a deep breath before turning to face my father. But as I looked at the bar where he’d been standing, I couldn’t see him. My mom wasn’t there either.

I took a few steps forward, searching the crowd, but I couldn’t see either one of my parents. I glanced back at Cress, but she was already talking to some other guests. I swallowed as another wave of nerves that felt a lot like nausea washed over me. It was one thing to face a party like this alone but something else entirely knowing it was a Hastings party. I was behind enemy lines with no backup.

I was starting to panic as I continued the unsuccessful search for my parents. They had to be here somewhere. I knew neither one of them would just leave without me. But I still felt completely vulnerable without them, and I desperately wanted answers from my father.

I decided to check back toward the entrance to the ballroom, but as I headed in that direction, I spotted Veronica walking into the room. She looked the picture of ease as she waltzed inside. Her mom walked on one side of her, and a handsome older man I assumed was her father was on her other side. I was reminded of the secret I’d been keeping for her. She’d begged me to stay quiet until after this weekend. I had no idea why, but maybe it had something to do with Noah’s birthday. I desperately wanted to ask her but, even though Veronica and I seemed to be getting on a little better recently, I didn’t really want to confront her with her parents around. Especially when I was already feeling so on edge.

I started to backtrack and glanced around the room for a place to escape to. As I scanned the ballroom, I was relieved to spot Luther. He was disappearing through a wide set of French doors that looked as though they led onto an outdoor terrace. He wasn’t Cress or my parents. He wasn’t even a friendly face at the moment, but Luther was only ignoring me at Noah’s request, so at least he was one person at this party who didn’t completely hate me.

I headed toward the open doors I’d seen Luther walk through and stepped out onto the large open roof terrace that had a beautiful view of the New York skyline. At least, it would have been beautiful if the sky was clear and the heavy clouds overhead weren’t promising a storm.

It was far less crowded out here with most people standing in pairs or small groups as they talked. The soft sound of the string ensemble floated outside from the ballroom, and it was a striking contrast to the chaotic sounds of traffic drifting up from the street far below.

Luther was alone, leaning on the wall of the balcony that overlooked the view. As I left the protection of the ballroom and started across the terrace toward him, a few droplets of rain hit my skin. Some of the guests outside glanced nervously up at the sky, but I was wasn’t going to let a few specks of rain force me back inside where who knew what was waiting for me.

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised you’re here,” I said, as I joined Luther.

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