Page 38 of Ivory's Ruin Romance

Nia opened her mouth to respond but sneezed instead.

“Bless you!” Ivory offered with a giggle.

“Thanks.” Nia stuffed her phone away, and they began to walk towards the street where Caspian would pick them up.

Nia groaned and sniffled again. “I think I’m getting a cold.”

“Looks like you might already have one,” Ivory said, noting her puffed-up eyes and extra red nose. “It must suck to be sick on Valentine’s Day.”

Nia shook her head. “It’s fine. We decided to celebrate it over the weekend, so we don’t have to worry about classes.” She pulled out a tissue. “I told Caspian not to overexert himself since the day is just a ploy to get money out of people, but he’s insistent.”

Ivory gave her a knowing side-glance. “From what I’ve seen, he’s not one to give up easily.”

A smile took over Nia’s expression, though she still looked rather miserable. “He sure doesn’t.”

“I saw Avril today,” Ivory mentioned as they passed the clock tower, the bell ringing over the wind. “I told her you guys got engaged, and she said to tell you congrats. Seems like she’s not hanging out with Serena or Jewelle anymore.”

Nia huffed. “That’s good, I guess.”

“Still a sore subject?”

“Not really,” Nia replied. “It’s not something I think about, but I haven’t forgiven it, either.”

She hummed. “I don’t think it’s something that can be forgiven without some kind of closure.”

“What do you mean?” Nia asked, stuffing the tissue and her hands into fluffy pockets.

“It’s not like Jewelle’s tried to make amends—she hasn’t even admitted to doing wrong in the first place. Of course, you and Caspian being happy is what matters in the long run, and moving on is the important part, but is that the same as forgiving?”

“I don’t know,” Nia replied. “If she does ever admit to it, I’d like to see that.” Caspian’s car pulled up as she spoke, and their conversation got cut short. She climbed into the backseat and moved into the range of the heater, which Caspian had turned on full blast.

“Hi, Caspian,” she said, wiggling her fingers as numbness from the cold faded.

“Hey,” he replied, eyes locked on Nia as she buckled her seatbelt. “You look even worse than this morning.”

“I’m fine,” Nia insisted. “Either way, I can’t afford to miss class.”

“Either way, you’re staying home tomorrow,” he countered.

“Caspian,” Nia hissed. “Not now.”

He gave her a hard look, to which she responded by leaning over and giving him a peck on the cheek.

He chuckled. “Not gonna work, by the way. But thanks for the kiss, baby girl.”

She rolled her eyes, and he drove off without further argument.

“You two are adorable,” Ivory sighed, enjoying the scene as it played out. Their banter sounded like her own parents, just younger and more impulsive. It made her smile.

“Don’t think I’m not gonna ask about Adrian,” Nia warned, turning around from the front seat and pursing her lips. “Are you two a thing yet?”

“No, not at all,” Ivory tried to laugh off the butterflies fluttering in her chest. “You’re the only couple around here.”

Caspian said nothing, but his Cheshire grin gave away more than enough.

“If anything, I bet your cookies will change his mind,” Nia suggested, turning back to face the front.

“They’re for payment, not a bribe,” Ivory said, pouting, then turned to Caspian. “You’re sure he doesn’t have allergies, right?”

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