Page 116 of Revived Noble

“Do you honestly believe what happened, that I did it on purpose?” I took my eyes away from Aiden for five seconds…

Hailey’s face gives me the answer I need and it’s…crushing. I thought I wanted an answer, but I’m actually thankful she doesn’t say anything because it would only make getting stabbed right down my center twice as painful.

I waited to talk, but I was too late… she’d made up her mind long before then. Hailey’s fears once again overshadow any other rational thought.

She’s leaving, and same as before, it’s as if I have no say.

I could try to persuade her, change her mind, but after seeing the less-than-dim spark in her heavy eyes, my mouth snaps back closed.

There’s no hope.

Her mind is made up, and once again, I’ll be left to deal with the fallout alone.

Will I ever learn?

I snort.

Does a fool ever understand when he’s being taken advantage of?

forty-nine

Finn

CHAPTERFORTY-NINE

Finn

It’s the day of the wedding, and I should be excited, but honestly, I want to be anywherebuthere.

If I knew both my sister and Cole wouldn’t literally kill me, I’d ditch and be back up at our house at college. I can’t do that, so after I arrive back from Hailey’s house, I head straight to my prison.

I am too wired for sleep, so I don’t even bother trying.

The alarm I set on my phone goes off not long after, so I quit and head inside to shower and wash away the leftover chlorine from my skin. Peeling off the clothes from the night before, I stand underneath the hot spray. My forehead is resting against my arm when I hear a fist bang against the door.

“Hurry up, co–best man,” Eli hollers on the other side. “It’s wedding day!”

Don’t remind me.

I turn off the shower with a groan but manage to get myself ready.

Mostly, anyway.

I cross the hallway to my sister’s room when I can’t find Eli or Cole in sight. This bow tie around my neck is an annoying pest and I can’t get it wrapped or secured correctly.

My knuckles rap at the wood a half second before I barge in. The half knock is a courtesy, seeing as it is her wedding day and all.

“You can take your hand away from your eyes,” Rory sighs.

I do, and I both spot and feel the weight of her eye roll. It was an unnecessary addition.

I tuck my tongue underneath my teeth and push a whistle out. “Dang, Lil Sis, you clean up nice.”

“Shut up,” she quips back, but I notice how her smile hooks a little higher to the left at my comment. She’s happy, like annoyingly, sickly happy.

I want to throw up and high-five her at the same time.

Her hair is styled and meets the middle of her spine as the loose blonde curls dangle freely behind her shoulders. Her collarbone is completely bare other than the key necklace.