Chapter 14: Losing Control
573 Words
Lena didn’t go back inside right away.
She needed a moment. Maybe several.
Her hands gripped the cool railing as she stared out over the city skyline, the pulse of music from the party below a dull throb in the background. The night air was crisp, a stark contrast to the heat still simmering beneath her skin.
He almost kissed me. Again.
Or maybe… I almost kissed him.
The realization made her stomach twist into knots. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She wasn’t supposed to feel anything when he got too close, wasn’t supposed to catch herself leaning in, wasn’t supposed to wonder what it would be like to just let it happen.
Noah Sinclair was a problem. A massive problem. One she didn’t know how to solve, because every time she thought she had the upper hand, he flipped the game on her.
And worse? She let him.
“Pull yourself together,” she muttered under her breath, squeezing the railing as if it could anchor her.
“Talking to yourself already?”
Lena groaned, dropping her head forward. “Oh, for the love of—”
She turned, fully prepared to snap at Noah again, but instead, she found Ava standing there, a knowing smirk on her face.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Ava teased, stepping closer. “Or, I don’t know… like you just had a very heated conversation with a certain co-star.”
Lena rolled her eyes. “I hate you.”
Ava laughed. “No, you hate him.” She paused, tilting her head. “Or at least… you did.”
Lena groaned, rubbing a hand over her face. “I don’t even know anymore.”
Ava joined her at the railing, leaning against it casually. “You know, the whole enemies-to-lovers thing? Very cliché.”
Lena shot her a glare. “We are not lovers.”
Ava grinned. “Yet.”
Lena pointed at the rooftop exit. “Leave.”
Ava just laughed again. “Look, I’m just saying… whatever is happening between you and Noah? It’s entertaining as hell. But also? Maybe stop fighting it so hard.”
Lena exhaled, frustration and something else—something warmer—pressing against her ribs. “You don’t understand.”
Ava shrugged. “Maybe not. But I do know that if a guy looked at me the way Noah looks at you, I wouldn’t be running away.”
Lena froze.
“The way he looks at me?” she repeated slowly.
Ava gave her a knowing look. “Oh, come on, Lena. It’s painfully obvious. He’s into you. Like, seriously into you.”
Lena’s stomach twisted. No. That wasn’t possible. Noah flirted with everyone. That’s just how he was. Right?
Ava nudged her. “Anyway, take your time up here. But when you go back inside? Maybe stop overthinking everything for once.”
With that, she left, slipping back into the party, leaving Lena alone with a million thoughts she did not want to have.
Lena stayed still, the city lights blurring slightly as she stared out at them, her mind racing. Could Ava be right? Could she have been so caught up in resisting him that she missed something real? The idea sent a strange thrill through her, but she shoved it down, swallowing hard.
This was getting out of control.
And the worst part?
She wasn’t sure she wanted to stop it anymore.
- Writer
