sudden reappearance in her life-combined with Olivia's obvious attraction to him-had thrown everything off balance. She couldn't stop thinking about the way Noah had looked at her in the books

tried to push the thoug

mind occupied. But every time she closed her eyes, she saw Noah's face. Every time she heard Olivia's voice, t

the city buzzing around her, when she saw them. Olivia and Noah, standing outside a trendy café, their heads bent together in quiet conversation. The si

laugh at something Noah had said, the way Olivia's eyes lit up when he spoke. It was clear. She w

urned away, heading in the opposite direction, her footsteps quick and purposeful. But no m

to meet up for coffee. Emily knew it was coming. They hadn't seen each other much in the past fe

from Olivia, trying to keep her expression neutral, but she could see the glint of excitement in

d to tell you something." She paused, glancing at Emi

swallow the knot in her throat. "That's... great,

on, her smile faltering slightly. "

the truth. She couldn't. Not yet. "Really. It's just a

"I get it. I really do. But this fe

he ache in her chest down even

l the tension rising between them, the unspoken words hanging in the ai

e words escaping before she could stop them. Her voice

ediately, her brow furrowing in

gripping her mug tightly. "You two looked pretty comfortable toget

something vulnerable in her eyes. "I didn't mean to make you feel like that, Em. I swear. It's just... with

Noah. And it seemed like there was nothing Emily could do to stop it. Her feelings for Noah, how

her voice barely above a

ics. But Emily couldn't shake the feeling that she was losin

into her writing, her thoughts swirling and refusing to settle. She couldn't focus on anything for long

ed. She glanced at the scree

really something, Em. I t

between saying something supportive and just being honest about how she was feeling. Bu

mple: I'm glad you had a good ti

ponse came. Thanks, Em. I'm gonna

earing her apart. She had been harboring feelings for Noah for days now, feelings that had only grown stronger with each passing moment. It wasn't fair. She could

ight air was cool and crisp, the sound of her footsteps echoing through the empty streets. The city was alive,

Olivia deserved, and everything she herself wanted. The conflict inside her was suffocating. She had never been the kind

ere she had seen Olivia and Noah the other night. It was quiet now, the lights d

mi

ne. She looked up to find Noah standing at the door, his gaze

you here," he said, his

hammering in her chest.

few steps toward her. "You look

but something inside her could

s studying her face, his expressi

n she expected, and she found h

ut," she said finally, her voice quiet

g. "You're not alone in this, Emily. Whatever

too much. Too h

about her. They were

everything she was terr

king. And Emily wasn't sur