Sophia
Two days passed before I finally texted Noah back, the silence between us heavier than any silence we'd shared before, both of us apparently waiting for the other to make the first move.
**Me:** I'm ready to talk. Not tonight, but soon.
His response came almost instantly, like he'd been staring at his phone the entire time waiting for exactly this message.
**Noah:** Whenever you're ready. I meant what I said. I'm not going anywhere.
We agreed to meet that weekend, and I expected another quiet dinner, another careful conversation over takeout at the bakery. Instead, Noah showed up Saturday morning with a small overnight bag and an expression that mixed nerves with something almost hopeful.
"I want to take you somewhere," he said. "Just the two of us, away from deadlines and lan
