It snowed on and off over the next few days, and crossing the courtyard between our dorm and Esher Hall always felt like a risk. If it wasn’t the icy ground that got you, a snowball from one of the skirmishes that regularly broke out near the boys’ dorm often would. At least it was good practice for our upcoming ski trip.
Wes had been acting out of sorts too though. He’d seemed that way ever since my weekend in New York, and I knew Noah was the cause. Wes grew rigid whenever Noah glanced my way, and he always made a show of kissing me or pulling me close whenever Noah was in the same room. It was like he felt compelled to remind Noah we were together every chance he got.
I was trying my best to be understanding. We’d both been burned by past relationships, and I knew Wes was only acting this way because he didn’t want to lose me. I didn’t want to lose him either. I wanted to do whatever I could to make sure he felt comfortable.
I was almost glad when the last weekend before Christmas break passed and everyone at school turned their attention to finals week. Projects were due, tests were scheduled, and we were all desperate for the holidays to begin. I refused to let my love life get in the way of my grades, so I took to studying in the library most nights, and, to be honest, I welcomed the distraction.
The library was packed with students cramming most evenings. Even Cress and Anna, who avoided homework like the plague, had started joining me to study.
“I hate school,” Anna groaned one evening. “There should be a national ban on giving us this much work right before the holidays. Seriously, it should be illegal.” We’d been studying for hours, and her head was facedown on the table.
“We only have our English test left, and then we’re on break,” Cress reminded her. “This is the home stretch.”
“Yeah, but I still have to survive the test tomorrow.” She glanced up at Cress and me. “Do you think I can just bribe my English teacher to give me an A? I bet some students do.”
“I’m sure they try,” Cress said. “But, unfortunately, that’s something that is illegal. And you’re better than that.”
“Am I?” Anna replied.
“Yes,” Cress answered. “You’re going to get through life on your own merit.”
“Am I?” Anna parroted her previous question. “Because I’m quite certain I could easily just coast through on my parents’ coattails.”
Cress lifted her eyebrows. “Is that really something you want? To be successful because of your parents?”
Anna glared at her. “Cress, you’re supposed to be agreeing with me and helping me find a quick fix for my pain. Not making me consider the ethical implications of my actions.”
“Ethical implications? I’m trying to make you consider the implications on your criminal record…”
“Whatever.” Anna shrugged. “You’re making me want to do the work on my own, and I don’t like it.”
Cress laughed before letting out a sigh. “Yeah, I don’t like it either.”
The two of them had frequently broken out into conversations like that, and I was doing my best to ignore them. We had our English final in the morning, and I was trying to do a practice test. I’d just come to the end of it though, and I smiled as I placed my pen down on the table and glanced up at my friends.
“You guys are supposed to be studying, not chatting,” I said.
“Oh, welcome back, are you done with your practice test?” Anna grinned.
“Yeah, I just finished. You don’t seem to be making much progress on yours.”
“I got bored. I think I’ll do better if I just wing it.”
“I wish I had your confidence,” I replied with a shake of my head. “How are you getting on, Cress?”
“Terribly. Someone keeps distracting me.” She shot a look at Anna who lifted her hands in the air innocently.
“Hey, you were distracted because you wanted to be.”
“Maybe.” Cress laughed.
“I think I need a snack,” I said. “I’m going to go grab some cookies. Do you guys want anything?”
“Oh, get one for me,” Anna replied.
“Yeah, me too,” Cress agreed.
“Okay, I’ll be back in a minute.”
I put my phone in my pocket but left the rest of my things behind as I departed the library. With so many students studying in the evenings this week, they’d kept the dining hall open late. It was busy when I arrived, and I was surprised how many people were working in there, but given there was a buffet full of study snacks, it was probably the place to be.
I waited in line and got myself a coffee and then picked up some cookies for the girls before I started back to the library. I was passing an empty classroom when I heard a raised voice from within.
“Stop calling me. You need to accept this is happening, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
I recognized Noah’s voice and was surprised by the venom in his tone. He was always so good at keeping his composure, so I knew something serious must be going on if he was this flustered. The door was open a crack, and as I moved closer, I caught sight of him through the gap. He was pushing a hand through his hair, his eyes narrowed in a scowl as he paced the room.
“You’ll do what?” The urgency in his voice was growing, and then it became a low growl that sent a shiver down my spine. “You wouldn’t dare.”
He paused again as he listened to the caller’s response, but then he slammed the phone down on the desk in front of him. He kicked out at the chair next to him, sending it flying onto its side. His face was pale, and he seemed to be shaking with anger. I slowly pushed the door open wider and stepped into the room. Once I was in there and Noah’s wild eyes were staring into mine, I wondered what the hell I was doing. I shouldn’t be coming to console Noah, but it seemed I couldn’t help myself.
“Are you okay?” I asked. “I heard you from out in the hallway.”
Noah gripped a hand to his hair as he released a breath. “Do I look okay?
“No, not really. Who was that on the phone?”
“Who do you think?”
Given his irritation, I thought the answer was pretty clear. There was only one person who could make him feel this way.
“It was your grandfather.”
He nodded and swore under his breath. “I didn’t think he could sink much lower, but he’s really gone and done it now.”
My stomach sank. “What has he done?”
“He’s lost his mind,” Noah said. “He knows there’s nothing he can do to stop the takeover, so he’s trying everything he can to convince me to reconsider.”
“And…”
“And he says if I don’t put a stop to the takeover by Christmas, he’s going to turn my father’s memorial into a parking lot.” Noah squeezed his eyes shut as though he was trying to control his anger.
“No,” I whispered. “He can’t do that.”
“He can, and he will. The land is still in his name. And he’s desperate. I knew he wouldn’t take this lying down, but I didn’t realize just how far he’d go.”
“That’s horrible. I’m so sorry, Noah.”
His eyes were pained as he looked into mine. “I thought taking over his company would be justice for what he’s done and that I’d finally feel some semblance of peace. But he’s always going to be there. He’s never going to let me get over it.”
I edged closer to him and reached out to touch his arm. He looked like he was at breaking point. He was always so in control, but his grandfather’s vile threat seemed to have snapped his restraint. I desperately wanted to wrap my arms around him, but I knew that would overstep the invisible line I’d drawn between us. We might not be together anymore, but I still cared, and I couldn’t just stand by and watch him break down without giving him some form of comfort.
“It’s going to be okay, Noah.”
“I’m not sure it is,” he said. “That’s the thing about my grandfather. He always seems to win, no matter the cost.”
“That’s not true. You beat him once before. You took his company from him. Now you’ve got Matthew’s support, and he won’t let William get away with this latest threat. And you have me in your corner too. We’re not going to let him win.”
His eyes snapped up to mine. “I don’t have you though, do I?”
I released a breath and pulled my hand away. “We might not be together, but I’m here for you. Your grandfather’s hurt me and my family as well.”
He nodded, and though I’d done my best to calm him, I couldn’t be sure he felt any better. How could he when his grandfather was planning to destroy his father’s memorial. If anything, my presence had probably only reminded him that he couldn’t have me in the way he wanted.
“I should go. Cress and Anna need their cookies.”
He nodded again and managed a small smile. “You’re right. Maybe Matthew can help. I’ll reach out to him.”
I smiled back at him and then made my way to the door, but Noah called out my name.
“Isobel,” he said. “Thank you. I needed that.”
“Anytime.” I nodded at him and left the room. I could hear him righting the chair he’d kicked over as I let the door close behind me.
I turned to walk down the hallway back to the library when I saw Wes was coming toward me. He waved at me, and I returned his broad smile, but the sound of the classroom door opening behind me caught my attention. Noah stepped out into the hallway after me, and when I looked back at Wes, he’d paused; the smile on his face was gone, a concerned look now in its place. He’d clearly seen Noah and I come out of the same room.
Noah glanced at me and then down the corridor at Wes, but he kept his face neutral as he turned and wandered off in the opposite direction. I made my way to Wes, who took a few labored steps toward me. His eyes were looking past me, fixated on Noah’s retreating figure.
“Hey,” I said, trying to give him a genuine smile despite the heavy conversation I’d just had with Noah and the deep frown that was still etched on Wes’s face. “Are you done studying?”
“I was just taking a break,” he said, slowly pulling his gaze from Noah to look at me. “What were you doing with him?”
“We were just talking.”
His jaw seemed to tighten. ‘Just talking? That’s all?”
“Of course.” I took a step back from him. “I understand you don’t trust Noah, but he and I are going to talk sometimes, and you should trust me enough to know that’s all we’re doing.”
“What were you talking about?”
“Just stuff with his grandfather and my dad.”
Wes remained tense as he considered me, but then he dropped his arms from across his chest and let out a breath.
“Wes,” I said, stepping closer to him. “You have to trust me.”
“Sorry.” He exhaled loudly again. “You’re right. I wasn’t trying to accuse you of anything. It’s just hard to see you with him. I’m sure he’s trying to win you back.”
“It doesn’t matter what he wants. I’m with you.”
He ran a hand through his hair and looked away. “I know that, Isobel. It’s just every time I see you together I’m reminded what it was like when you were together. I know how strong your feelings were for him then.”
I tried to keep my voice level as I responded. “That was then. This is now.”
“That’s just it though,” he said, turning back to look at me. “The reasons you broke up aren’t there anymore. There’s nothing stopping you from being together.”
“I’m stopping it, Wes,” I said, taking him by the hand. “I’ve told Noah that nothing is going to happen, so it won’t.”
He nodded but didn’t say anything in reply. I wasn’t sure what more I could say to relieve his anxiety. I felt like we’d already had this exact conversation the night I got back from New York, and clearly it hadn’t helped.
“Listen,” I continued. “In just a couple of days, we’ll be on our way to Aspen, far away from this school and Noah and anything else that reminds us of what’s happened before. Just me and you and snow and open fires and hot chocolate.”
“True,” he said.
I leaned in close and placed my hands on his chest. “Let’s just look forward to our first holiday together.”
His body finally seemed to relax under my touch, and a slight smirk crept onto his face. “Okay,” he said. “I think I can do that.”
“Good.” I reached up onto the tips of my toes and pressed a kiss against his lips. It lacked our usual passion, and I suspected thoughts of the ski trip hadn’t entirely pushed Noah from his mind.
“I’m sorry,” he said as I landed back on my heels. “I hate that I keep bringing this up. I hear myself talking and I feel like I don’t recognize my own voice. I know I’m being jealous. I just care about you so much. I guess I’m scared of losing you.”
I lifted a hand to touch his cheek. “You’re not going to lose me, Wes.”
“Okay,” he said. “But still, I’ll try and be better.”
“I don’t want you to try and do anything,” I said. “If you’re feeling upset, I want to know.”
“Deal.” He smiled. “Now, I’ve distracted you from studying long enough. The sooner we get through the English test tomorrow, the sooner it will just be us and the mountains.”
“Yeah, I can’t wait.”
He placed another kiss on my lips and grinned at me. “Kick butt on your test tomorrow.”
I laughed as he started to walk away. “You too.”
He continued down the corridor, and I smiled as I watched him go. I couldn’t wait for our trip, and Wes seemed so eager for it too. It was going to be good for us to get away from Noah, and I really hoped this trip would help Wes finally realize I wasn’t going to change my mind about us. A small part of me still worried though that, trip or not, we were going to be stuck in this perpetual struggle forever.
