The room feels impossibly still. Liam’s fingers are still warm against my jaw, his presence steady, grounding. Our foreheads are nearly touching, breaths syncing without effort.
And then—
A knock at the door.
We both freeze.
It’s soft, almost hesitant. But unmistakable.
Liam pulls back slightly, jaw tightening. “Noah,” he says under his breath.
I stand slowly, heartbeat kicking up again for an entirely different reason. There’s a pause—like time holds its breath—and then the knock comes again.
“Hey,” Noah’s voice drifts through the door, quiet, careful. “I know I should give you space, but… I just wanted to say I’m sorry if I made it worse. Can we talk?”
Liam stands now too, rubbing the back of his neck. He’s facing the floor, unreadable.
I glance at him. “Do you want me to tell h
