Page 43 of Branded Hearts

I freeze, startled by the intensity in his eyes. A faint smile quirks his lips, sending a flutter through my chest.

“Yeah, it’s working,” he finally answers, his voice steady and calm.

Heat rises to my cheeks. Quickly, I look away, focusing on my breathing and the serene sounds of nature around us.

But no matter how hard I try, all I can think about is how his gaze warmed me up and that quick smile on his lips.

“You look lost in thought,” she says.

Liv’s over at my place for a girls’ night, and we’re lounging on my couch, devouring Chinese takeout whileLove Actuallyplays in the background. Thoughts of Bradley from today keep creeping in—his intense stare, his serious demeanour—it’s all swirling around in my head.

I widen my eyes and quickly shake my head. “Oh... what? No, it’s nothing.”

Liv chuckles, clearly not buying my denial. “You sound just like Bradley. That’s his go-to line whenever I ask what’s on his mind. ‘Nothing. None of your business,’” she mimics, nailing his gruff tone perfectly.

We divert our attention back to the movie. Onscreen, Hugh Grant’s character is dancing through 10 Downing Street, trying to charm the girl he likes. It’s a sweet and romantic scene, making Liv sigh dreamily.

“You know, girl, when are you going to let some romance into your life?” Liv teases lightly.

I shift uncomfortably. “I don’t know, Liv. I’m just taking it easy. Happy as I am.”

She rolls her eyes dramatically. “Oh, please, spare me the ‘I’m forever alone’ speech. No one is happy alone forever. I mean, maybesome people. But we’re not those people. You’re like a fine wine, darling. Your time will come. In the meantime, let’s get you a cat.”

“No way!” I say with a chuckle.

Liv grins mischievously. “Oh, come on, think of the Instagram likes!”

“No Instagram, remember?”

“Ugh. You are such a hermit. No wonder you haven’t dated anyone.”

I scoff playfully. “Oh yeah? What about you, then? Any love life updates?”

“Hey, no, no. Interrogation is my territory. Besides, my heart belongs to pizza and Netflix.”

“But seriously, anything going on? Don’t say nothing, that’s my line,” I tease, and Liv laughs.

“Ugh, nothing exciting since I came back from Sydney. But who knows? Maybe the right person is closer than we think.”

I steal a glance at her, my mind inevitably drifting back to Bradley. Could Liv be on to something?

Couldhebe the one?

Despite my thoughts, I force a smile, grateful for Liv’s unwavering optimism. “Yeah, we’ll see.”

13

A Troubled Mind - Noah Kahan

Seated at the dining table for our usual family dinners, this time at our place, I quietly observe my brother and Isla across from me. Isla’s sporting a small bump now, barely noticeable to anyone else, but glaringly obvious to those in the know. They’re keeping it under wraps from our friends and others until they hit their twelve-week scan, something about waiting in case of risk or concern, as Isla put it.

Their presence offers a welcome distraction from the chaos swirling in my head. Lately, my headspace hasn’t been great. There’s this weight, this constant pressure to keep it together 24/7. Sometimes, I spiral into these moods, and nothing really helps except distancing myself for a while to clear my head.

But the other day, something shifted.

Amelia.

Just being around her, experiencing something as simple and pure as a breathing exercise or staring into the sky, grounded me in a way I haven’t felt in ages. It’s like she brought calm to the storm inmy mind.

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