Noah opened his mouth to say something, but then shut it again. His jaw clenched tightly as he turned and stormed out, slamming the door shut behind him. The sound made me wince, my arms wrapping around myself in a protective gesture.It was only once he was gone that I let out a breath I hadn’t rea
HannahTaking a deep breath, I dove beneath the surface of the water, the world above me growing muffled and distant. My hands reached out as I dove down, down, down…Finally, my fingers met the bottom of the little pond, stirring up tiny clouds of dust and silt that swirled around my fingers. Small
Hannah & NoahHannah’s POVDrake’s hand found my waist as we began to move to the music. His touch was light, almost hesitant, as if he—Drake, the supposed playboy and womanizer—couldn’t believe that this was happening.“You look... stunning,” he said, his eyes roaming over my red dress. “Not that y
HannahAfter my dance with Drake, I made my way back to where my friends were gathered. Amber, Emma, and Viona were huddled together with their heads bent, giggling about something that they were holding between them.“What’s so funny?” I asked as I approached.Amber turned to me, and it was then th
HannahI quickly made my way downstairs to let Viona in. I clutched my robe around myself, glad to see that the house had long since gone quiet and that the festival had come to an end—and that Noah had apparently gone to sleep.As soon as I opened the back door, Viona rushed into my arms, tears str
Nodding, I rubbed her back in large circles. “You’re welcome. Now, let’s get you settled in the spare room. You need some rest.”I needed the rest, too.…The next morning, I woke up early and headed to the kitchen. I decided to make a fancy breakfast for Viona and myself—Belgian waffles with fresh
HannahViona continued to stay with me for the next few days, although the atmosphere in the house remained icy whenever Noah was around.Throughout the days, I made a point of avoiding Noah at every turn. Whenever he would enter a room, I would find an excuse to leave. If he ever tried to speak to
A muscle in Noah’s jaw ticked as a weighty silence fell over the room. Satisfied, I rose from my desk and tossed my pen down. “I’m tired,” I said, rounding my desk and making my way toward the door. “And this conversation is over.”Noah reached out to grab my arm as I brushed past him. “We’re not do