The Kiss List

Chapter 10: Rebuilding Trust

Olivia sat across from Noah, fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup. The scent of roasted beans filled the air, blending with the quiet hum of conversation around them. She had spent all night thinking about what she would say, how she would approach this. Trust was fragile, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to rebuild it.

Noah was the first to break the silence. "I know I have a lot to prove, Olivia. I just... I need you to know that I mean it when I say I want to fix things."

She studied him carefully. "Wanting to fix things isn’t enough, Noah. I need to see that you’re different this time."

"I get that." He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his posture. "I just don’t know where to start."

Olivia exhaled slowly. "Start by being honest. Why did you really pull away? Was it just fear, or was there something more?"

Noah hesitated, then looked down at his hands. "My parents had a terrible marriage. I watched them fall apart, over and over. They’d break up, then get back together, thinking they could fix it, but they never did. It left me convinced that no relationship really lasts."

Olivia’s expression softened. "You’ve never told me that before."

"Because I didn’t want it to sound like an excuse. It’s not," he added quickly. "But it’s the reason I’ve always struggled to commit. When things got real with you, I panicked. I convinced myself that if I pulled away first, I could avoid getting hurt."

She absorbed his words, letting them settle. "You have to understand how that felt for me. You made me believe you cared, then suddenly you were gone. I spent weeks wondering what I did wrong."

"You did nothing wrong, Liv. I was the one who messed up. And I regret it more than anything." He leaned forward, sincerity shining in his eyes. "I’m not asking you to forgive me right away. I just want a chance to prove that I can be better. That I won’t run again."

She took a deep breath. "If I give you that chance, Noah, I need to see effort. It can’t just be words."

He nodded. "Then tell me what I can do."

Olivia hesitated, then finally said, "Let’s take it slow. No rushing back into things. Show me that you can be consistent."

A small smile played at Noah’s lips. "Slow sounds perfect."

---

Over the next few weeks, Noah did exactly what Olivia had asked. He showed up—every time. They met for coffee, went on walks in the park, and had long conversations about everything and nothing. He didn’t pressure her, didn’t push for anything more than she was ready to give.

One evening, as they sat on a bench by the lake, Noah turned to her. "Have you added anyone new to the list?"

Olivia chuckled. "No. Honestly, I haven’t even thought about it."

He smiled. "Good. Because I’m hoping I can work my way back to the top."

She looked at him, heart fluttering. Maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something real.

---

But just when Olivia thought things were finally falling into place, an unexpected text popped up on her phone.

**Unknown Number:** *You need to know the truth about Noah. Meet me tomorrow at 3 PM. The coffee shop on 5th.*

Her stomach twisted as she read the message. What truth? And who was sending it?

She glanced at Noah, who was laughing at something on his phone, completely unaware. A part of her wanted to ignore the message—to trust that Noah had truly changed.

But another part of her wasn’t so sure.

"Everything okay?" Noah asked, noticing her change in expression.

Olivia forced a smile. "Yeah. Just... thinking."

But in reality, her mind was spinning. Was she about to find out something that would change everything?