“They’re definitely into each other.”
I heard it for the third time in under ten minutes, whispered behind champagne glasses.
“Noah’s never looked at anyone like that before.”
“She’s totally his type. You can tell by the way he’s hovering.”
I tried to ignore them. I really did. But it was hard to pretend I didn’t hear what the entire party was whispering.
Me. Noah Sterling. Together?
I took a sip of my drink and forced a smile as a few coworkers passed me, eyes wide with curiosity. The soft music and golden lights should’ve made this moment feel magical, but my heart felt like it was about to explode—for all the wrong reasons.
Tim appeared beside me, looking gleeful. “This party is hotter than a scandal at a wedding. And baby, you are the bride.”
I nearly choked on my drink. “What?”
He winked. “You haven’t noticed? Everyone’s watching you like you’re about to bring drama and dessert.”
I shook my head. “They’re imagining things. I mean… it’s probably Alex.”
Tim tilted his head. “Alex?”
“He was the first one to be kind to me,” I explained quickly. “He’s sweet. He checks in. He’s not like—” I stopped myself.
“Not like who?” Tim grinned knowingly.
I sighed. “Not like Noah. Noah is… Noah is only nice to me when the moon is full and Mercury is in retrograde.”
Tim snorted. “And yet you were staring at him like you wanted to eat him with a spoon.”
I rolled my eyes, cheeks flushing. “That’s not true.”
“Mmmhm,” he hummed, unconvinced. “I’ll let you believe your lie for now.”
Later that evening, I was standing near the large window overlooking the backyard pool when I caught Alex watching me again. His gaze lingered just a second too long before he smiled and waved gently.
My heart did a confused little flutter. Or was that nerves?
Alex had always been easy to talk to. Warm. Funny. The kind of guy who noticed when I looked tired and always asked if I’d eaten. If feelings were logical, I would’ve fallen for Alex months ago.
But something didn’t click. Not the way I wanted it to. Because moments later, my eyes were pulled across the room—to him.
Noah.
Leaning against the wall with a glass in his hand, talking to someone I didn’t recognize. But his eyes?
They were on me. And not just casually watching. Intensely focused. Like I was the only thing worth seeing in the room.
And suddenly, the flutter in my stomach wasn’t confused anymore.
It was violent. Hot. All-consuming. It wasn’t Alex. It had never been. It was Noah. And I hated myself for it.
Because Noah had insulted me, dismissed me, belittled me. He had made me cry and made me question myself again and again.
But he also made me feel seen. Like I wasn’t invisible. Like I mattered.
And now here I was—dressed like a dream, in a house full of important people—and the only one who could turn my bones to jelly with a single look was him.
I needed air.
I stepped outside into the cold night, the contrast from the warm house like a slap to my face. I wrapped my arms around myself and stood on the edge of the deck, trying to steady my heartbeat.
I hated this. I hated him. I hated me more for liking him.
I leaned against the railing, blinking up at the stars, trying to calm my thoughts.
Why did he have to look at me like that? Why did it mean something? Why couldn’t it just be Alex? Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me.
Soft but certain.
I turned.
Noah.
He walked toward me, jacket in one hand, his expression unreadable. He didn’t say anything right away. Just stood in front of me and held out the jacket.
I took it slowly, unsure, wrapping it around my shoulders. It smelled like cedar and expensive cologne.
He looked at me, his eyes searching mine.
“Why do you keep running from me?” he asked quietly.