Chapter 19—The Next Time I Saw Him

Ava's POV

I avoided him.

All morning. All afternoon. All the way until sunset.

I told myself it was the smart thing to do. Giving Jacob time to cool off was the only way to keep things from exploding.

But the truth?

I was avoiding the memory of Noah's hands on my waist. His body pressed against mine. His breath against my lips. The way he whispered "I want you."

Every time I thought about it, my heartbeat got messy.

Jacob barely spoke to me all day. Mom kept asking if something was wrong. Dad offered ice cream like that could fix whatever was happening inside me.

It didn't.

By the time evening arrived, I felt like my chest was static.

I stepped outside to breathe.

The air was warm. Crickets hummed in the grass. Porch lights flickered on down the street.

I didn't mean to look at his house.

But my eyes found it anyway.

Noah was in the driveway, tossing a football lightly in one hand, staring at the ground like he was replaying every mistake he'd ever made.

He didn't see me.

And that somehow made it worse.

He looked... tired. Hurt. Like Jacob's words hit him where he was weakest.

I should've stayed where I was. I should've gone back inside. I should've done anything except walk toward him.

But my feet moved before I made the decision.

Noah looked up the second I stepped off my porch.

His eyes locked onto mine.

Everything inside me tightened.

He didn't move. Didn't breathe. Just watched me walk toward him like he wasn't sure I was real.

When I reached the edge of his driveway, he dropped the football.

"Ava," he said softly.

Something inside me almost shattered.

He took a slow step toward me, as if afraid I might vanish if he moved too fast.

"I didn't think you'd come," he said.

"I shouldn't have," I whispered. "But I wanted to."

His jaw clenched.

Then he looked away, exhaling shakily. "Jacob and I... we're not okay right now."

Guilt pricked at my chest. "Because of me."

"No," he said instantly, stepping closer. "Because of me. Because he thinks I'm going to hurt you."

"And will you?" I asked

He froze.

Our eyes met.

Slowly, he shook his head. "I could never."

The words hit like a warm shock.

Running on instinct, I closed the distance between us.

Noah inhaled sharply, like he felt my presence before I even reached him.

"Ava..." he warned, voice low, strained.

I lifted my hand and touched his forearm lightly.

He shut his eyes—just for a second—like the feeling burned.

"I missed you today," I whispered.

His eyes flew open.

"Ava," he breathed, "don't say that unless you mean it."

"I mean it."

He took a step closer, so close his chest brushed mine. Heat rolled off him in waves.

"I thought about you every second," he murmured.

I swallowed. "Me too."

His hand lifted—slowly—toward my face, like he was fighting himself even now.

But he didn't touch me.

His palm hovered beside my cheek, warm and trembling.

"I can't kiss you right now," he whispered, agony in his voice. "Not after last night. Not with Jacob like this."

My breath shook. "Then why did you come out here?"

"To see if you'd come too."

The world tilted.

He leaned in—just enough that his breath ghosted over my lips. Not kissing. Not touching. Just so close I could feel the heat of him everywhere.

"If I kiss you again," he whispered, "I won't be able to stop."

My heart stuttered. "Maybe I don't want you to stop."

He exhaled sharply, stepping back like the words physically hit him.

"No," he whispered, shaking his head. "Not like this. Not when everything is falling apart."

It wasn't rejection.

It was restraint.

Desperate, painful, beautiful restraint.

He ran a hand through his hair. "Ava... I need time to fix things with Jacob."

"And what about us?" I asked quietly.

He met my eyes.

Something deep and dangerous flickered there.

"We're not done," he said. "Not even close."

Before I could respond, he glanced toward my house.

"Go before he sees you."

I hesitated.

He softened. "I'll come find you when it's safe. I promise."

I nodded, heart pounding.

I stepped back.

He watched me all the way to my porch. Every step. Every breath.

And right before I opened my door, he said softly, almost to himself:

"God... I'm falling for her."

I froze.

He didn't know I heard.

And I didn't turn around.

But I smiled all the way inside.