Two Lovers Entwined

8. Fractured.

Los Angeles welcomed Noah and Sophia with bright skies, palm trees, and a dazzling array of possibilities. It was supposed to be the perfect escape, a chance to leave behind the doubts that had been gnawing at her ever since Liam entered her life. As they drove through the city, Noah pointed out the landmarks, smiling at Sophia as he held her hand, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

The sun beat down on them as they checked into their hotel, a beautiful boutique nestled near the coastline, the Pacific Ocean stretching out before them. It should have been relaxing, freeing even, but Sophia’s heart felt heavy. She tried to push thoughts of Liam away, tried to focus on Noah and the vacation they both needed. But the moment her phone buzzed, a ripple of guilt shot through her.

It was Liam.

She glanced at the screen, seeing his name light up. Quickly, she tapped the message.

Liam: "I'm in LA too. The gallery's hosting an exhibition for my new piece. Thought you'd want to know."

Sophia’s heart skipped a beat. Liam was here? In Los Angeles? The same city, the same weekend. She locked her phone, hoping Noah hadn’t noticed her tension, but her hands were shaking slightly. She should have ignored the message, but the pull was too strong.

Later that afternoon, after they had settled in, Sophia slipped into the bathroom, her phone still in her hand. She looked at herself in the mirror, clad in a white bikini that hugged her curves perfectly. Noah was out on the balcony, taking in the view. For a fleeting moment, she felt that familiar rush, that spark that came with Liam's attention.

Without thinking too much, she snapped a picture of herself, a soft smile on her lips, and sent it to Liam.

Noah suggested they head to a nearby beach café he had read about, and she eagerly agreed, hoping the distraction would ease her guilt. As they strolled along the boardwalk, the salty air filling her lungs, she tried to convince herself that it was nothing. Just a harmless photo. Liam was a friend… just a friend. But her phone felt heavy in her pocket, like a secret she couldn’t shake.

They found the café nestled near the sand, small and cozy with a great view of the waves. Sophia leaned back in her chair, sipping her iced coffee, while Noah scanned the menu.

"I’ll be right back," she said, standing abruptly. "I forgot something in the car."

Noah looked up from the menu, offering her a smile. "Want me to come with?"

She shook her head quickly. "No, it’s fine. I’ll be right back."

Sophia walked toward the parking lot, leaving Noah alone at the table. For a moment, he stared out at the ocean, enjoying the serene view. But then, something unsettled him. He glanced at Sophia’s phone on the table. She had left it behind.

He swallowed hard, his gaze shifting between her phone and the entrance where she had disappeared. His mind raced with doubts he had been trying to suppress. There was something off about Sophia lately—distant, distracted. He didn’t want to be the guy who invaded her privacy, but something gnawed at him, whispering that he had to know.

Before he could stop himself, Noah reached for her phone, his hands shaking slightly as he unlocked it. He hesitated for a moment, guilt washing over him. But then he tapped on her messages.

And there it was.

A message from Liam. His eyes widened as he saw the image—Sophia in her bikini, a soft smile on her lips. His stomach twisted as his thumb hovered over the response Liam had sent.

Liam: "You are the most beautiful piece of art 💖"

Noah’s heart sank as he stared at the words, his breath catching in his throat. He scrolled through the rest of their conversation, his hands clammy, but there was nothing incriminating—no declarations of love, no plans to meet up. Just… banter. Playful messages. But it was enough.

He locked the phone and set it down, his mind racing. A knot of tension coiled in his chest. Why had she sent Liam that picture? What was going on between them?

Just then, Sophia returned, her face lit up from the sun and slightly flushed from the heat. “Got it,” she said, sliding into her seat, unaware of the storm brewing inside Noah.

He tried to act natural, but the question burned on his tongue, waiting to be unleashed. He cleared his throat, glancing at her, unsure of how to approach the topic without revealing his snooping.

“So… you and Liam," he started, his tone too casual to be real. "How close are you guys?"

Sophia blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in conversation. "Liam? We’re friends. Why?"

Noah shifted uncomfortably, his fingers tapping against the table as he struggled to find the right words. “I just… I noticed you sent him that picture. The one you took earlier. Why him?”

Sophia’s stomach dropped, her mind racing as she realized what had happened. He had seen the messages. He knew about the photo. For a moment, she felt the walls closing in around her, guilt crashing over her like a tidal wave.

"I—" she stammered, trying to come up with a reasonable explanation. "It’s not what you think. Liam and I… it’s just banter. I don’t even know why I sent it."

Noah’s gaze hardened slightly, his jaw clenched as he stared at her. "Banter? He called you a 'beautiful piece of art.' You don’t think that’s crossing a line?"

Sophia bit her lip, her hands trembling slightly. She wanted to explain, to downplay it all, but she knew there was no easy way out of this. She had crossed a line, even if she hadn’t meant to.

"It was stupid," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I shouldn’t have sent it. I’m sorry."

Noah looked away, his face a mixture of hurt and confusion. "Why are you talking to him like that? Why are you even entertaining this? Am I missing something here?"

Sophia’s heart pounded in her chest, panic rising in her throat. She could see the hurt in Noah’s eyes, the way he was struggling to understand. The guilt weighed heavily on her, and for a moment, she considered telling him everything—about the kiss, about how confused she’d been. But the words wouldn’t come.

"It’s nothing, Noah," she said quietly. "I swear. It was just a stupid mistake."

Noah didn’t look convinced, but he nodded slowly, his shoulders tense. “Alright. Just… make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

The silence that settled between them was heavy, thick with unsaid words and unspoken fears. Sophia sipped her drink, trying to calm her racing heart, but she knew that things were changing. The cracks were starting to show, and it was only a matter of time before everything crumbled.

As they sat there, the waves crashing in the distance, Sophia’s phone buzzed once again. She glanced down at it, her heart skipping a beat as she saw another message from Liam.

She didn’t dare open it. Not now. Not with Noah sitting across from her, his trust hanging by a thread.

Instead, she slipped her phone into her bag, forcing a smile as she looked at Noah. “Ready to head back to the hotel?”

Noah nodded, but his eyes lingered on her a little too long, suspicion still clouding his gaze. “Yeah, let’s go.”

As they walked back toward the car, hand in hand, Sophia couldn’t shake the feeling that the distance between them had grown even wider. And no matter how hard she tried, she wasn’t sure if she could bridge that gap.