Page 77

I rolled my eyes, but it was hard not to be slightly affected by Cress’s excitement. I’d enjoyed kissing Wes, but I hadn’t really thought about it being something more. If anything, I’d been worried about the kiss driving us apart.

“Do you think things are going to be weird between us now?” I said. “What if this affects my friendship with him?”

“There’s only one way to find out.”

“And that is…”

“You need to talk to him,” she said.

“Anything but that. Talking will only make things more awkward.”

“No, it will get things out in the open. You’ll find out where you both stand and can go from there.”

“But what if I don’t know where I stand?”

“Well, you can tell him that too. It’s better he knows you’re confused rather than thinking you regret the kiss.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” I let out a breath as I looked at the duffel bag on my bed. It was only half unpacked, but now that Cress had me considering talking to Wes, I felt like I had to get it over and done with. I could unpack the rest of my clothes later.

I started toward the door. “I might go chat with him now.”

“Probably a good idea. Do you need a breath mint?”

“We’re not going to kiss again, Cress.”

She rushed over to her drawers, grabbed a tin of breath mints, and offered it to me. “Are you willing to take that risk?” I let out a grunt and took one but only because my mom had told me you should never refuse a breath mint when offered. There was usually a reason people suggested it, and I didn’t want to risk chatting to Wes with bad breath.

“I knew it,” she said, gleeful as I popped the mint in my mouth.

“You know nothing,” I replied, but she was still giving me a smug smile as I left the room.

I didn’t share her confidence or her enthusiasm ahead of my conversation with Wes. What if I said the wrong thing and totally messed up our friendship? We hadn’t known each other long, but we’d become close in my short time at Weybridge, and I didn’t want things to be weird between us. Cress was right though, I needed to talk it out with Wes, so I made my way to his dorm.

* * *

The boys’dormitory was lively when I arrived. All the guys were out in the corridors, and the energy was chaotic as though they were making the most of the final weekend hours. There were shouts and laughter as guys tackled each other, and music was blaring from one of the rooms. There were even two idiots throwing a football down the hall, and I froze as the ball came spinning in my direction. Luckily, someone stepped in front of me and snatched it out of the air before it hit me.

I glanced up to find Luther scowling at the guy who’d thrown the ball. “Watch it, Bertram. You nearly hit my favorite new girl,” Luther growled before tucking the ball under his arm. “I’m confiscating this.”

Bertram looked like he wanted to object, but his friend quickly grabbed him by the arm and ushered him down the hallway.

Luther grinned as he turned to me. “You’re just a magnet for trouble, aren’t you, newbie?”

I stood a little straighter and shook my head in the direction of the boys. “If those guys are on the school’s football team, I can see why they’re always losing.”

“Yep, they're terrible.” He laughed, but his expression quickly sobered. “How are you feeling? I hear your stomach lost a battle with a swanky New York restaurant.”

I scrunched my face up. “Noah told you about that?”

“Yeah, poor little dear was a mess on Thursday night. He was messaging me for advice on what he could get to help you. I told him that kisses were the best medicine.”

“Luther,” I groaned. “Not only are we broken up, but I was throwing up. You did not tell him that.”

“No, but I should have.” He chuckled. “I think Noah would have done just about anything to make you feel better.”

I let out a sigh. “I don’t know why you think we’re going to get back together. We’re over, for good.” The sooner everyone accepted that, the better.

“I have faith everything will work out.” Luther shrugged.