Author's Preface
Our plan worked.
It actually worked.
After weeks of "accidentally" leaving Noah and Eleanor alone together, finding excuses for them to talk, and pretending none of it was intentional...
Noah finally asked Eleanor out.
I almost applauded.
Instead, I settled for looking at Adrian across the classroom.
"We did it."
"We?" he asked without looking up from his notebook.
"Don't act humble. This was clearly a team effort."
"If you insist."
"I do."
A small smile appeared on his face.
Tiny.
Barely noticeable.
But it was there.
...
The date was supposed to be simple.
Until Noah approached Adrian after class.
"I need a favor."
Adrian looked up.
"What?"
"I don't want Eleanor to feel awkward if it's just the two of us."
"So?"
"Bring someone."
Adrian frowned.
"Anyone?"
"Anyone."
Noah shrugged. "Just... make it look like a group outing."
I couldn't believe our luck.
It was perfect.
A group outing meant less pressure for Noah and Eleanor.
More opportunities to leave them alone.
This story was practically writing itself.
...
"So..." I asked as Adrian and I walked toward the café that Saturday afternoon. "Who else were you planning to invite?"
"You."
"...Really?"
"You were the one who made the plan."
I smiled.
"I feel honored."
"Don't."
"I'll pretend you meant that nicely."
"You'd be pretending."
...
The café overlooked a small lake.
The afternoon sun reflected across the water like scattered pieces of gold.
Eleanor was already there.
She wore a simple white dress that moved gently with the breeze.
The sunlight caught her hair.
She looked...
Like every romance heroine ever written.
She smiled at Noah.
And somehow...
The entire place seemed brighter.
I watched them from across the table.
There it is.
The chemistry.
The destiny.
The happy ending.
I nudged Adrian with my elbow.
"They're adorable."
He glanced at them before looking back at his coffee.
"I suppose."
"'I suppose?' That's all you have to say?"
"What would you like me to say?"
"I don't know... maybe, 'They're perfect together.'"
"They seem happy."
"I'll take it."
For the first time in weeks...
I relaxed.
No misunderstandings.
No arguments.
No rumors.
Just four people sharing desserts, laughing over terrible jokes, and watching the afternoon disappear into evening.
At one point, Eleanor laughed so hard she nearly spilled her drink.
Noah laughed with her.
I smiled.
Mission accomplished.
Beside me, Adrian quietly pushed the last slice of cheesecake toward me.
"You've been staring at it for five minutes."
"I was being polite."
"It's your favorite."
"...How do you know that?"
"You always order it."
"Oh."
I picked up my fork.
"Thank you."
"It's just cheesecake."
"Still."
For some reason...
That tiny gesture made me smile.
The rest of the afternoon passed more quickly than I expected.
Adrian and I ended up arguing over ridiculous topics, laughing more than either of us intended.
Even he laughed.
A real laugh.
Not just a polite smile.
It caught me completely off guard.
"You should laugh more," I told him.
"It's exhausting."
"Liar."
"Perhaps."
I laughed again.
Across the table, Noah watched us for a moment before looking away.
I didn't notice.
I was too busy teasing Adrian about the fact that he'd accidentally smiled twice in one day.
Noah's POV
She laughed again.
Not the polite smile she gave everyone.
A real laugh.
The kind that reached her eyes.
She'd never laughed like that with me.
My fingers tightened around my cup.
Why?
Why does she seem... happier with Adrian?
What does he have...
...that I don't?