Two Yards from Heartbreak

Chapter six

The next day at school felt heavier than usual.

Noah met me at my locker again, but this time he didn’t just hand me coffee. He stayed close, his shoulder almost touching mine while I put my books away.

“You sleep okay?” he asked.

“Sort of.”

He studied my face for a second. “Was it because of Jace’s messages?”

I hesitated. “A little.”

Noah nodded like he’d already expected that answer. “I figured.”

Before either of us could say more, Jace appeared at the end of the hallway. Brooke was hanging onto his arm, laughing at something he said. Two other girls walked a step behind them. Jace looked completely in his element — loud, confident, the center of everything.

When he saw us, he slowed down.

“Morning, lovebirds,” he called out, loud enough for half the hallway to hear.

Noah rolled his eyes, but there was still a small smile on his face. “You’re early for once.”

“Got motivated.” Jace’s eyes slid to me. He looked me up and down in that lazy way of his. “Or maybe I just wanted to see if Carter still knew how to show up to school.”

A couple of people nearby laughed. I felt my face get warm.

Noah’s voice stayed light. “Leave her alone, man.”

Jace held up his hands, still grinning. “I’m being friendly. Right, Ellie?”

I forced a small smile. “Sure.”

He winked at me, then let Brooke pull him down the hallway. Noah watched them go before turning back to me.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. He’s just… being himself.”

Noah didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t push it.

At lunch the three of us ended up at the same table again. Jace sat across from us with Brooke practically in his lap. He spent most of the time talking to Noah about practice and some party this weekend, completely normal best-friend energy. Every now and then his eyes flicked to me, like he was checking if I was watching.

I tried not to.

After lunch Noah walked me to my next class. In the quieter hallway he stopped me.

“Can we talk later?” he asked. “Just us.”

“Of course.”

He gave my hand a quick squeeze before heading to his own class.

That afternoon we went back to the park by the river. Same spot as before. This time there were no milkshakes. Just the two of us sitting on the hood of his truck.

Noah was quiet for a while.

“I hate how he talks to you,” he finally said.

“I know.”

“It’s like he does it on purpose.” He looked at me. “And the worst part is I can’t even get mad at him the way I want to, because he’s my best friend.”

I reached over and took his hand. “You don’t have to protect me from Jace. I’ve known him for years. That’s just how he is.”

Noah shook his head. “It’s different now. He’s noticing you. And I don’t like it.”

The honesty in his voice made my chest tighten.

“I’m here with you,” I said. “Not him.”

He looked at me for a long moment. Then he leaned in and kissed me — longer this time, deeper than the first one. When we pulled apart, he kept his forehead against mine.

“I really like you, Ellie,” he whispered. “More than I planned to.”

“I like you too.”

We stayed like that for a while, just breathing the same air. It felt safe. Real.

On the drive home Noah seemed lighter again. He walked me to the door and kissed me one more time before leaving.

I went upstairs feeling almost happy.

Then my phone lit up.

Jace:

You two looked cute today.

Almost made me jealous.

I stared at the message, my pulse picking up even though I didn’t want it to.

Another one came right after.

Jace:

Almost.

I locked the screen and threw the phone onto my bed.

Noah’s kiss was still on my lips.

But Jace’s words were already under my skin.

And I hated how much space they took up in my head.