Page 89 of Sweet Ruin

“I should go. Cress and Anna need their cookies.”

He nodded again and managed a small smile. “You’re right. Maybe Matthew can help. I’ll reach out to him.”

I smiled back at him and then made my way to the door, but Noah called out my name.

“Isobel,” he said. “Thank you. I needed that.”

“Anytime.” I nodded at him and left the room. I could hear him righting the chair he’d kicked over as I let the door close behind me.

I turned to walk down the hallway back to the library when I saw Wes was coming toward me. He waved at me, and I returned his broad smile, but the sound of the classroom door opening behind me caught my attention. Noah stepped out into the hallway after me, and when I looked back at Wes, he’d paused; the smile on his face was gone, a concerned look now in its place. He’d clearly seen Noah and I come out of the same room.

Noah glanced at me and then down the corridor at Wes, but he kept his face neutral as he turned and wandered off in the opposite direction. I made my way to Wes, who took a few labored steps toward me. His eyes were looking past me, fixated on Noah’s retreating figure.

“Hey,” I said, trying to give him a genuine smile despite the heavy conversation I’d just had with Noah and the deep frown that was still etched on Wes’s face. “Are you done studying?”

“I was just taking a break,” he said, slowly pulling his gaze from Noah to look at me. “What were you doing with him?”

“We were just talking.”

His jaw seemed to tighten. "Just talking? That’s all?”

“Of course.” I took a step back from him. “I understand you don’t trust Noah, but he and I are going to talk sometimes, and you should trust me enough to know that’s all we’re doing.”

“What were you talking about?”

“Just stuff with his grandfather and my dad.”

Wes remained tense as he considered me, but then he dropped his arms from across his chest and let out a breath.

“Wes,” I said, stepping closer to him. “You have to trust me.”

“Sorry.” He exhaled loudly again. “You’re right. I wasn’t trying to accuse you of anything. It’s just hard to see you with him. I’m sure he’s trying to win you back.”

“It doesn’t matter what he wants. I’m with you.”

He ran a hand through his hair and looked away. “I know that, Isobel. It’s just every time I see you together I’m reminded what it was like when youweretogether. I know how strong your feelings were for him then.”

I tried to keep my voice level as I responded. “That was then. This is now.”

“That’s just it though,” he said, turning back to look at me. “The reasons you broke up aren’t there anymore. There’s nothing stopping you from being together.”

“I’mstopping it, Wes,” I said, taking him by the hand. “I’ve told Noah that nothing is going to happen, so it won’t.”

He nodded but didn’t say anything in reply. I wasn’t sure what more I could say to relieve his anxiety. I felt like we’d already had this exact conversation the night I got back from New York, and clearly it hadn’t helped.

“Listen,” I continued. “In just a couple of days, we’ll be on our way to Aspen, far away from this school and Noah and anything else that reminds us of what’s happened before. Just me and you and snow and open fires and hot chocolate.”

“True,” he said.

I leaned in close and placed my hands on his chest. “Let’s just look forward to our first holiday together.”

His body finally seemed to relax under my touch, and a slight smirk crept onto his face. “Okay,” he said. “I think I can do that.”

“Good.” I reached up onto the tips of my toes and pressed a kiss against his lips. It lacked our usual passion, and I suspected thoughts of the ski trip hadn’t entirely pushed Noah from his mind.

“I’m sorry,” he said as I landed back on my heels. “I hate that I keep bringing this up. I hear myself talking and I feel like I don’t recognize my own voice. I know I’m being jealous. I just care about you so much. I guess I’m scared of losing you.”

I lifted a hand to touch his cheek. “You’re not going to lose me, Wes.”

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