Page 127 of Aria

“Disinterested?” She tossed her phone onto the couch cushion between us.

“No, Lis. He’s distracted… busy. You know, doing famous people stuff.”

Lisa clicked her tongue. “Noah’s never too busy for you. And you’re not even his girlfriend.”

My heart fluttered at the sound of his name. “Noah’s… different.” I handed the pint of frozen dessert to my friend. “You need this more than I do,” I said with a sympathetic smile.

Lisa snatched it up without hesitation. “Do you think now that it’s over between you and Devon, something might happen with Noah? The chemistry you two have is undeniable.”

A warmth crept into my belly as I squirmed in my seat. The thought had certainly been weighing on my mind. There were moments when I fantasized about barreling through Noah’s front door and leaping into his arms, wondering how it would feel to give in. But then the logical part of my brain reminded me that Noah was still recovering from near-fatal gunshot wounds he received because of me.

It wasmypast;mybaggage.

I was the reason he was temporarily wheelchair-bound with little feeling in his left arm.

I was a tornado of darkness and bad luck. My own unsavory choices had led to Noah’s life being forever changed, and the guilt and self-loathing had been keeping me away. “Oh, I don’t know about that. I think it’s better if I just stay single for a while.”

Lisa popped the lid on the ice cream tub and rose from her seat. “I hear you. Can I get you anything?”

Slinking back against the couch, I moped, “A job. A shiny new savings account full of unspent money. Assurance that I’m not actually back at square one after all my hard work.”

“Oh, Chels. You’ll get back on your feet soon.”

I sighed. This was my home for the time being. I’d finally broken things off with Devon shortly after visiting Noah at the hospital and stopping by the police station to discuss the case with Detective Brennan. Luckily, I was able to compose myself with grace and a clear head, and the detective had considered the case closed.

That dark chapter of my life was over.

But… I’d known in my heart that there was another chapter that had needed closing.

“I had a feeling you’d be stopping by,” Devon had said after discovering me standing in his doorway that afternoon.

I’d entered the condo, fidgeting with the sleeves of my fleece jacket. “Sorry to show up unannounced.”

“You do live here.”

I’d looked around, basking in the unfamiliarity of it all. Devon’s condo had never felt like home. There was no warmth or laughter or nostalgic memories. There were no feminine touches, or any trace of my occupancy, save for a closet filled with my clothes and my toothbrush on the sink. There were no photos adorning the walls, or canvas art pieces we had lovingly picked out together. Perhaps that was my own fault.

Perhaps Noah Hayes had stolen my heart long before I realized I’d given it to him.

On the flip side, it had made everything so much easier.

“I don’t live here anymore,” I’d told him, dropping my arms at my sides with a heavy sigh. “It’s over, Devon. I think it was over a long time ago.”

Months of stress, anxiety, and indecisiveness had escaped me in that moment. It was the right thing to do.

It was a long time coming.

There had been no noticeable reaction from Devon during the few seconds of silence that had passed between us. I had watched for a flicker of sadness or regret in his eyes, but there was nothing. He hadn’t begged me to stay, or pleaded his case. He hadn’t asked for another chance.

I think he knew—I’d made my choice.

And he’d made his.

“Yeah,” he had said, leaning against the back of the couch. “I guess it is.”

“I’ll find a way to pay you back for the car.”

“No, it doesn’t matter,” he’d told me, scratching at his hair. “None of it matters.”

---