Chapter 28
I woke up early on Saturday morning. I was usually an early riser, but today I was awake before the sun had even considered breaching the horizon.
I wasn’t the least bit drowsy as I checked the time.
It was too early to go for a run but apparently not too early to begin freaking out about my date with Noah.
It had been a long time since I’d gone on a first date, and it wasn’t nearly so daunting because it was with Levi who I’d known since we were kids.
I still questioned whether there was any hope for Noah and I, given our vastly different backgrounds.
He said it didn’t matter to him, but perhaps he didn’t quite grasp just how foreign our worlds were.
What if he reconsidered once he got to know me better?
When it was finally light enough, I left my dorm and set out for a jog through the woods.
My gut had been churning with anxiety ever since I woke up, so it was probably a good thing our date was in the morning.
I wasn’t sure I could put up with these nerves all day.
Thankfully, my run seemed to help, and by the time I returned to my room, I was feeling much calmer.
“Excited for your date?” Cress asked as I opened the door. She was still in her pajamas and carrying a stack of clothes. She laid them on her bed and started arranging them into outfits.
“Uh, sure.” I was more interested in what she was doing. She kept shaking her head before tossing a piece of clothing to the side and replacing it with something else. As I came closer, I realized it was my clothing she had laid out before her. “What are you doing, Cress?”
“Helping you pick an outfit,” she said, lifting her eyes to meet mine with an enthusiastic smile. “My last roomie would never have let me pick a date outfit for her, so I’m really excited you said I could help.”
I couldn’t remember her asking if she could help, but I had no idea what to wear for a date with someone like Noah, so I wasn’t exactly in a position to refuse assistance.
“Thanks, Cress, I really appreciate it.”
Her smile widened, and then she nodded toward the bathroom. “You go and have a shower. I’ll work my magic here and should have the perfect outfit waiting for you when you’re done.”
“You’re the best.”
I quickly ducked in and out of the shower and then proceeded to do my hair and makeup.
I usually dreaded trying to tame my hair, but it was being surprisingly cooperative today.
I somehow managed to get it sitting in soft waves that cascaded down my shoulders rather than the usual bird’s nest that sat on my head.
Even if nothing else went right today, at least I’d had one win for the day.
“So, any ideas what Noah has planned?” I asked Cress as I left the bathroom. The restless energy I’d woken up with this morning had returned while I’d been doing my makeup, and I couldn’t seem to shake it.
“I might have an idea, but my lips are sealed.” She lifted her hand and pretended to zip her mouth shut.
“Not even a hint?”
“Nope. I’m sworn to secrecy.”
“I really hope he hasn’t gone to too much effort,” I said. “What if he decides he doesn’t like me and regrets it?”
Cress gave a soft laugh. “You don’t need to worry. He already likes you. Like, really likes you. I think he’s liked you since the moment you tried to take him out in the forest.”
“I didn’t try to take him out,” I muttered. “It was an accident.”
“I’m just saying you don’t have anything to worry about.”
I still wasn’t convinced. “If you say so.”
“I do. Besides, he wouldn’t be taking you on a date if he didn’t already like you.” She passed me a bundle of clothes. “Now, try these on for me.”
“Thanks, Cress.” I shot her a smile and went to the closet to change.
I was surprised by how casual Cress had gone with my look. The outfit was a pair of high-waisted jeans and a black knitted tank with subtle cut outs on the straps. It was something so simple I might have even picked it out myself.
“Are you sure this is a date-appropriate outfit?” I called to her as I slid into my jeans.
“For what you guys have planned, it’s perfect,” she called back.
Cress was only making me more intrigued. If we were doing something that didn’t require me to dress up, then maybe Noah had planned something relaxed and easy for our date. It was probably a good thing. If we were doing something extravagant, I’d probably feel awkward.
I walked back into the bedroom and checked my outfit in the mirror.
I still looked like myself, and I was happy with what I was wearing.
It definitely wasn’t what I’d expected when Cress had insisted she dress me.
I had imagined she was going to get me into sky-high heels and one of her tiniest skirts.
“Do you like the outfit?” she asked.
“It’s perfect.”
“Not quite.” She handed me a small box, and I frowned as I took it.
“What is this?”
“It’s from Anna and me. Open it.”
I gave her a curious glance before I lifted the lid on the box to reveal a gorgeous chain necklace. Hanging from the end of it was a charm covered in engravings of tiny stars. It was delicate and beautiful. I didn’t wear much jewelry, but I couldn’t wait to try it on.
“I’ve got the same necklace but with the moon on it, and Anna has one with the sun. We thought it would be perfect if you had the stars to round off our little trio.”
Her words hit me hard, and I blinked back tears as I looked up at her. “You guys got this for me?” After everything that had happened this week, I was just grateful the girls hadn’t ditched me. I couldn’t believe they’d gone out of their way to get me such a thoughtful gift.
“Well, yeah.” Cress smiled in return. “I know you’ve only been here a few weeks, but you’re already one of us.”
I reached out and pulled her into a firm hug. I wasn’t used to receiving such elaborate gifts. Let alone gifts for no reason other than the fact that someone liked me.
“Thanks, Cress. I really love it,” I said as I pulled back from the hug. “Will you help me put it on?”
“Of course.”
I lifted my hair out the way and she gently clasped the necklace into place. “See, now you’re perfect,” she said. “We like to think our friendship necklaces bring us luck, so hopefully it will give you some on your date today.”
“A lucky friendship charm, I like that.” I glanced at myself in the mirror and smiled when I saw the chain around my neck. “Is this weird for you?” I asked as I faced her once more. “The fact I’m going on a date with your cousin, that is.”
“No, it’s not weird at all,” she immediately replied. “Actually, I’m pretty excited about it. I’ve wanted to see someone make him happy for such a long time, and he’s so different around you. It’s like I’m seeing the old Noah again.”
“The old Noah?”
She gave me a sad smile. “The Noah I used to know before his dad died. It was bad enough that he lost his father, but since then, his grandpa has had all these expectations of him, constantly pressuring him to fill his dad’s shoes and live up to the family name.”
She let out a sigh before she continued. “People always want something from him, and I guess it takes a toll. He’s so guarded now, but he used to joke around all the time. It feels like forever since I’ve seen him crack a real smile. He seems to feel more like himself when you’re around though.”
I felt a little overwhelmed, and I wasn’t sure what to say when Cress had finished.
Noah and I had only known each other a few weeks, so it was hard to believe I’d had such an impact on him.
When I thought about the connection I felt between us, it didn’t seem so strange.
I’d been in a pretty dark place when I’d started at Weybridge, but every time I was close to him, things felt a little brighter.
A knock sounded at the door, and my heart shot to my throat. “That must be him.”
Cress grinned. “Then I better make myself scarce and give you guys some privacy. Have fun today!” With that, she skipped into the bathroom and I soon heard the rush of water from the shower.
I took a deep breath before I stepped toward the door and pulled it open.
Noah was standing on the other side, looking flawless as always.
He was dressed casually in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, much like myself, but he managed to make even the simplest of outfits look like something out of a catalog.
For some reason, he had his hands rested over his eyes.
“Noah, what are you doing?” I asked.
“Just want to make sure you’re dressed. The last time I came through this door I got quite the surprise …”
I laughed and pulled his hands down. “That’s not funny.”
“But it made you laugh. I think it must have been just a little funny.”
I tried to look unimpressed, but I couldn’t wipe the smile from my lips. “Fine, perhaps it was a little funny.”
He grinned triumphantly, and it took me a moment to remember to breathe as I stared into his joyful eyes.
I’d seen two sides to Noah since I’d first met him.
There was the guarded side that Cress had described, which I’d seen at parties and around the people at school.
But more and more, I was catching glimpses of Noah’s lighter side—the side he seemed to hide away.
He was so much more buoyant and brighter this morning, which somehow made him unbearably gorgeous.
“Are you ready to go?” he asked.
I blinked and realized I’d been staring at him.
I quickly nodded and grabbed my phone and purse off my desk before following him out the door.
We hadn’t even started our date yet, and already I was coming off like a mindless idiot.
I’d noticed I found it hard to think straight whenever he was close.
“You look beautiful, by the way.” He gave me a gentle smile as he spoke, and he was looking at me like I was wearing a gorgeous gown rather than a pair of jeans. “Then again, you always look beautiful.”