For one terrifying second—
Neither of them moved.
The late afternoon air felt painfully still around them.
No distant voices.
No laughter from the field.
Nothing except Noah standing too close and looking at Lily like he’d finally stopped hiding.
And Lily?
Lily’s entire brain had completely shut down.
Because Noah Carter had just admitted she was all he thought about lately.
Which honestly felt medically concerning.
“Noah…” she whispered softly.
He looked nervous now.
Actually nervous.
And somehow that affected her more than anything else had.
Because Noah was usually calm.
Careful.
Unreadable.
But not now.
Now he looked like the answer mattered too much.
“I know this is probably a bad time,” he admitted quietly. “And I know I’m not exactly good at this.”
Lily’s chest t
