Chapter 28 #2
“Hey—” My complaint was barely free of my lips when he snaked his arms around me, guiding me back down and onto his lap. He didn’t hesitate to cuddle me close.
“There, that’s much better,” he said.
I couldn’t disagree. Especially not when his hand found its way under my jacket and his thumb drew small circles on the skin just by my hip. Yes, agreeing to date Wes was one of my better ideas, and given the way he was smiling at me, I got the feeling he was thinking the same thing.
“Ugh, you two are so cute together it makes me sick,” Anna said.
“Same,” Cress complained. “I need a guy to snuggle me by the bonfire.”
Anna’s eyes flicked across the crowd, and she smiled when her gaze returned to Cress. “I’m pretty sure there are plenty of guys here tonight who would be more than willing to snuggle you, Cress.”
“I don’t want to settle for just anyone. I’m not you, Anna.”
Anna thumped Cress on the arm. “Wow, don’t tell me you’ve bypassed dancing drunk and gone straight to bitchy drunk!”
Cress burst out laughing. “You should see your face. I was kidding.”
Anna didn’t look impressed. “Ninety percent, Cress. Ninety percent.”
“What do you think?” Wes murmured to me. “Is Cress kidding or being honest?”
I glanced between the two girls and laughed. “I think she might be being honest. She’s had too many drinks to be joking.”
Wes grinned at me. “I like it when you laugh.”
“I like it when you smile at me like that.”
“I’m beginning to think I liked it better when you weren’t dating,” Anna interrupted. She was grinning brightly at us when I looked over. “Seriously, you’re making me gag.”
We laughed, and Wes hugged me a little tighter.
The three of us spent most of the evening cuddled up on the bench by the fire.
I wasn’t normally a big fan of parties, but this one was chill and definitely the kind of party I could get behind.
I couldn’t understand why Luther didn’t throw parties like this more often.
I could actually hear what my friends were saying, and I wasn’t being forced to dance. It was a win-win.
“I’m going to go grab a drink of water. You want anything?” I said to Wes when Cress and Anna started a debate over which school from the regatta had the cutest guys. I was obviously team Weybridge, so I didn’t have much to add to the discussion.
“Nah, I’m good,” he said. “Want me to come with?”
I smiled and jumped from his lap. “I’m not going far. I’ve got this.”
He gave me big, puppy-dog eyes, like he didn’t want to be left in the middle of Anna and Cress’s discussion.
“Stay warm by the fire.” I laughed. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
I turned and headed over to the drinks table. There were huge tubs of drinks on the table and under it, but as I searched through them, I couldn’t see anything other than alcohol.
“After anything in particular?”
I glanced up and found Luther at my side.
“Water or even just a soda. I’m overheating from being so close to the fire.”
“Ah, yes, I’m guessing having an oversized yeti cuddling up to you doesn’t help the situation either.”
I tilted my head at him. “Wes isn’t a yeti.”
“I didn’t say it was a bad thing.” His lips teased a smile. “In fact, if it was snowing, it would probably be a great thing to be snuggled up to.”
“Be nice, Luther.”
He let out a sigh. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
My eyebrows shot up. Was he actually apologizing?
“And I’m also sorry for being so hard on you in the library. I still think you and Noah belong together, but I guess I have no choice but to accept it’s not going to happen.”
If I thought I was surprised before, it was nothing compared to how I felt now. “Why the sudden change of heart?”
“I guess because you’re finally starting to look happy again, and I know you wouldn’t be if you were waiting for Noah,” he said.
“Plus, Noah might have pointed out to me that if he’s had to accept it then so should I.
I’m not going to stop hoping that somehow you find your way back to each other, but I can stop being a dick about it.
Despite everything, we’re friends. And friends shouldn’t be dicks to each other. ”
“Thanks, I think.”
He gave me a crooked smile and nodded to the drinks table. “I haven’t seen any water or soda out here in a while, but there’s always some in the storage shed.”
“The storage shed?”
“You would have passed it on the way here tonight. It’s just behind those trees.” He pointed to the edge of the clearing and the path that led back to the house. I remembered seeing the shed and knew it wasn’t far.
“You know, I’m pretty sure this is how most horror films begin,” I said.
He chuckled. “Do you need an escort? I have a scarily girlish scream, so I can be the sacrificial maiden who gets caught while you escape if you like?”
I laughed. “As much as I’d love to hear this scream, I think I can make it alone.”
“Suit yourself,” he said. “But if you’re not back in five minutes, I’ll warn everyone at the party to run.”
I laughed again. “Glad you’ve got your priorities straight.”
I made my way to the edge of the clearing and started down the path that led through the forest beyond. The storage shed wasn’t far from the party. The flickering glow from the bonfire could still be seen through the trees and the hum of music was only slightly dampened by the distance.
A soft light spilled out the open door as I approached.
I walked into the room only to find a couple making out on top of the crates of drinks.
The girl’s top was open, and the guy’s hands were roaming everywhere.
I let out a surprised squeak as I darted backward, squeezing my eyes shut as I stumbled back into the night.
“Oh my gosh,” I muttered as I tried to erase what I’d just seen from my mind.
A soft chuckle came from the darkness. “I probably should have warned you about them.”
I turned to find Noah sitting against a tree opposite the storage shed.
“Noah, what are you doing out here?”
He slowly stood and took a sip of the beer he cradled in his hands. “Getting a bit of fresh air.”
“Getting fresh air and listening to a couple of students making out?”
He shrugged again. “I was here first, and it’s not like I can hear them over the noise of the party.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” I thankfully couldn’t hear whatever was happening in the shed either.
I wondered how long Noah had been out here. I hadn’t seen him all night. He appeared tired but not drunk. In fact, there was a clarity to his gaze I hadn’t seen in weeks.
“Are you enjoying the party?” he asked.
“Ah, sure.” It felt awkward talking to him this way, especially now that I was with Wes.
“You look like you’re having fun.”
I slowly nodded, not sure what to say. “I should probably head back.”
He glanced toward the shed. “You’re leaving empty-handed?”
“Oh, right, my water.” I’d completely forgotten it, but I suddenly wasn’t that thirsty. Not if it meant going back into the shed. “I’m sure I’ll survive without it...”
One of the corners of his lips lifted, and he raised a finger, indicating for me to wait.
“Give me a sec…” He turned and walked into the shed.
“Knock, knock, coming through,” he said loudly as he entered.
I heard a girly squeal and some muffled voices, and then a moment later, Noah returned with a bottle of water in his hand.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I said as he passed it to me.
“You’re welcome.”
This whole conversation was too amicable, but I guessed this was our future now—polite conversations and both of us pretending that we hadn’t once meant so much more to each other.
I gave him a tight smile and turned to leave, but Noah reached out and gently touched my elbow.
The contact sent sparks across my skin and tugged at my gut.
I stopped and turned to him, and he was standing far closer than before.
I didn’t want to have a reaction to him, but every cell in my body seemed to come alive at his proximity.
Apparently, we could pretend all we wanted that we’d moved on, but my body was always going to betray me when he was near.
“Isobel…” he murmured. His eyes stared deeply into mine, making my heart drum wildly against the confines of my chest.
“Don’t look at me that way.”
“I’m not looking at you any way.”
“You are, and you know it.” I took a quick step away from him. “I’m with someone else now.”
His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “You’re right.
” He ran a hand through his hair, and he squeezed his eyes shut.
It was almost like he wanted to pretend this wasn’t real.
When he opened his eyes again, they were empty of the charged emotions I’d seen moments before.
It was almost like looking at a completely different person.
I had no idea how he was so good at acting, but it made me wonder if he’d ever used these skills on me before.
“Was there a reason you stopped me?” I asked.
“I just...” He looked away. “I just wanted to say it’s good to see you happy again.”
I got the feeling he’d wanted to say something else, but I wasn’t brave enough to push him for the truth.
“Anyway, I’m sure Wes is wondering where you are,” he said.
His words were clearly meant to bring the conversation to an end, so I nodded. “Have a good night, Noah.”
“You too, Isobel.”
I walked away, but as I moved through the trees, I glanced over my shoulder at him.
He was sitting on the ground again, staring up at the stars.
Whatever act he’d been putting on when we were talking was gone, and there was a look of pain and longing on his face that reverberated in my chest. We were both supposed to be moving on, but why did I feel like Noah was still living in the past?