Noah stepped closer, his body heat radiating towards Alison, leaving no distance between them. His ocean-blue eyes, so clear and steady, held a depth that seemed to swallow her whole. Alison stood still, frozen by the sheer vulnerability she saw reflected in his gaze. It was as if, in that moment, all the layers they had built to shield themselves from the world had fallen away, leaving them both exposed.
He raised his hand slowly, hesitantly at first, as if unsure whether he should reach for her. But when his fingers brushed her cheek, there was no hesitation. The warmth of his palm cradled her face with such tenderness that it made her heart ache. His thumb moved in a slow, deliberate motion, wiping away the tear that had slipped down her cheek.
A tear? Alison blinked, surprised. She h
