The Kiss List

Chapter 7: Unexpected Interruptionsna

Olivia couldn’t stop smiling as she made her way home from the picnic. Her heart still fluttered from Noah’s kiss, and for the first time in a long time, she felt like she was exactly where she was supposed to be. No more lists, no more second-guessing—just her and Noah, figuring things out one step at a time.

The next morning, she woke up to a text from Noah.

**Noah:** *Morning, beautiful. Still up for dinner tonight?*

She grinned, quickly replying.

**Olivia:** *Absolutely. Can’t wait.*

By the time the evening rolled around, Olivia was more than ready for their date. She slipped into a flowy summer dress, applied just the right amount of makeup, and headed out the door, excitement bubbling in her chest. But just as she was about to get into her car, her phone buzzed.

**Noah:** *Hey… so something came up. Can we reschedule? I’m really sorry.*

Her heart sank. Was she being silly for feeling disappointed? She took a deep breath and typed back.

**Olivia:** *Of course. Everything okay?*

There was a long pause before he responded.

**Noah:** *Yeah, just some unexpected stuff. Rain check?*

She frowned, but forced herself to shake it off. Maybe he really was just busy.

**Olivia:** *Sure! Just let me know when.*

But as the hours ticked by, doubt started to creep in. What if she had been wrong? What if the list had been a mistake? She hated that she was even thinking like this.

Determined not to dwell on it, Olivia decided to call Natalie.

"Hey," Natalie answered, her voice bright. "Shouldn’t you be on your hot date right now?"

"Yeah… about that," Olivia said, flopping onto her couch. "He canceled."

"What?" Natalie’s voice sharpened. "Why?"

"He just said something came up." Olivia chewed on her lip. "Should I be worried?"

Natalie hesitated. "Not necessarily. But, Liv, just be careful. I don’t want you getting hurt."

Olivia sighed. "Yeah. Me neither."

And as she set her phone down, she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

---

The next day, Olivia distracted herself with work, pouring her energy into projects, emails, and meetings. But every time her phone buzzed, she hoped it was Noah. It wasn’t.

By mid-afternoon, she had had enough. She grabbed coffee with Natalie, hoping a friend’s perspective would clear her mind.

"Okay, let’s break this down," Natalie said, stirring her iced latte. "Have you two been texting since he canceled?"

Olivia shook her head. "No. He hasn’t messaged."

Natalie winced. "That’s... not great."

"I know. But what if I’m overreacting? Maybe it really was just something important."

Natalie gave her a knowing look. "Liv. When a guy is into you, he finds a way. Even if he’s busy, even if he’s dealing with something—he doesn’t just go silent."

Olivia exhaled sharply. "So you think I should just... move on?"

"Not yet. But I do think you should ask him directly. No beating around the bush."

That night, Olivia debated what to say before finally typing out a message.

**Olivia:** *Hey, haven’t heard from you since yesterday. Just wanted to check in. Everything okay?*

Minutes passed. Then an hour. Then two. No response.

By the next morning, she had her answer.

Noah wasn’t just busy. He was avoiding her.

---

Determined to get some kind of closure, Olivia decided to take action. She knew where Noah usually went for his morning coffee, and while she wasn’t proud of it, she found herself standing outside the café, heart pounding as she watched the door.

And then, she saw him.

But he wasn’t alone.

Noah stood at the counter, laughing with a woman Olivia didn’t recognize. She was stunning, dressed effortlessly in a way that screamed confidence. And the way Noah leaned toward her, the ease of their conversation—it made Olivia’s stomach twist.

Before she could second-guess herself, she walked inside.

"Noah."

He turned, surprise flashing across his face. "Olivia?"

The woman beside him glanced between them, offering a polite but curious smile.

Olivia swallowed hard. "I texted you last night. You never responded."

Noah hesitated, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I—sorry. I meant to. It’s been... a lot."

"Right." Olivia crossed her arms. "And this?"

The woman held up her hands. "Oh, I’m just a friend. Promise."

Noah sighed. "Liv, can we talk outside?"

She nodded stiffly, following him onto the sidewalk.

"I should have been honest," Noah admitted. "The truth is... I got scared."

"Scared?" Olivia frowned. "Of what?"

"Of how fast this is happening. Of how real it feels. I told myself I was ready, but the closer we got, the more I panicked."

Olivia inhaled slowly, absorbing his words. "So you shut me out?"

"I know it was wrong." He met her gaze, sincerity in his eyes. "But I don’t want to lose you."

For a long moment, Olivia just stared at him, weighing her emotions.

"You already did, Noah."

And with that, she turned and walked away, leaving him standing on the sidewalk, watching her go.