Noah busied himself in the kitchen, his movements sure and practiced. Despite the unexpected start to the morning, he felt a strange sense of peace enveloping him. Alison watched him from her perch on the counter, her injured finger throbbing slightly but her heart still racing from the closeness they had shared moments ago.
Noah glanced over his shoulder, catching Alison's gaze. "You okay over there?" he asked, his voice gentle yet tinged with amusement.
Alison nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, just... recovering from the surprise first aid," she replied, her tone light despite the flutter in her chest.
Noah chuckled, shaking his head as he returned to the stove. "Next time, try not to give me a heart attack so early in the morning."
As he expertly chopped mushrooms an
