Page 175 of Save You
“Then I should probably take you back downstairs.I hope Ruby didn’t notice that you snuck out.”
For a moment, I’m disappointed, but I guess he’s right.
Wren stands up and holds out his hand.Automatically, I put my hand in his and walk along the corridor with him and down the stairs, until we’re outside the doors to the hall.
“Thank you for rescuing my evening,” Wren says, and he sounds like he means it.
As he gives me one last smile, I feel a sudden urge to stop him leaving.But he’s already turned away.
Something in my belly clenches with longing.I sincerely hope that that wasn’t my last encounter with Wren Fitzgerald.
21
Ruby
I didn’t sleep a wink.
I spent the whole night thinking about what happened at the party.About a setback like that happening right when James and I had been cautiously getting closer to each other again.I’m most frustrated by the fact that I can’t tell James in my own words what happened between Wren and me that time.Before the party finished, I messaged him to say I wanted to explain, but he hasn’t replied.I get that he’s disappointed in me.But on the other hand, him going silent is really winding me up.
Lying in bed, I stare, lost in thought, at my acceptance from Oxford, which I printed out and pinned up on the board over my desk.As always, my stomach does a little leap for joy at the sight of it, but I’m thinking about what James told me two days ago.
The person you got to know in Oxford…that’sthe real me.And I’d like to have more days with you where I can prove that.
The thought that it might already be too late makes my throatclench.I groan with annoyance and get up and dress.I absolutely have to leave this room and take my mind off things or I’ll go mad.
I creep over to Ember’s room and breathe a sigh of relief as I see light under her door.
“Ember?”I whisper.
“Come in,” she calls out, and I open the door.
My sister is lying on her front on her bed, smiling at her phone.As she sees me glance over curiously, she blushes and shoves it hastily under the duvet.
“What are you doing?”I ask.
“Reading the comments on my new post.”Her reply is instant.If her cheeks weren’t so pink, I’d believe every word of it.
“You look like I’ve caught you in the middle of something naughty,” I say, sitting on the edge of her bed.
“I’m in my PJs, so it can’t be that disreputable,” she retorts, waggling her eyebrows.
I grin back at her.Then I nod toward the landing.
“Are you coming down to breakfast?I don’t want to face Mum and Dad’s curiosity on my own.They’re going to be full of questions.”
Ember sighs but slides out of bed and into her slippers.She doesn’t bother to get dressed, just heads downstairs in her pajamas, with their cute print of squirrels and nuts.She’s holding tight to her phone, and I see the screen light up again and again.I wonder if it’s Kieran texting her.The two of them seemed to be getting on last night.
“Good morning,” says Dad as he sees us come through the kitchen door and slides his reading glasses up his nose.He’s reading something on the Kindle that we all share, which thereforehas a really wide range of books on it.Everything from contemporary romances to thrillers, fantasy, and the classics.
“Morning,” Ember and I reply, sitting down at the kitchen table with him.
“Hey,” Mum calls, coming into the kitchen too.“You’re up early.”Her eyes narrow as she looks at me.“Did you get any sleep at all, Ruby?”
Dad and Ember turn their eyes on me curiously.
I look away and help myself to toast.“Yeah, sure.”
“Well, I’m not surprised if you’re knackered,” Ember says suddenly.“I had no idea how much work goes into those parties, or all the stuff you have to think about.It’s crazy!”
