And something passes between us.
Something quiet.
Certain—and it takes my breath away.
I’ve been collecting little pieces of him lately.
The way he remembers the music I like.
The allergy pills he brought without being asked.
The tiny pink carnation he left on my pillow.
The way he feeds me dumplings like he can’t help it.
All these tiny, thoughtful things I’ve been storing away in the back of my mind for a rainy day.
Because the truth is I’m too far gone now to pretend I don’t care.
And now I’m thinking, maybe Noah Walker might care too.
Chapter19
Noah
I don’t seeChiara again after the little rumble during practice.
And that’s mostly my bloody fault.
Coach Dane absolutely loses it once the scuffle is broken up.
Nobody gets to wander off.Nobody gets to cool down quietly.
Nope.
We get the full punishment.
First, we clean up the field.
Then, we wash up in the locker room.
Then, we haul our arses right back out to the pitch to warm up for the actual match.
By the time we finally start running drills again, my knuckles are still throbbing and my head’s buzzing from adrenaline.
And this game?
It’s brutal.
Fast, heavy, relentless.
The kind of match where every collision rattles your bones and reminds you rugby is a young man’s sport.
But every time there’s a break in play, my eyes drift to the sideline.
To her.
Chiara’s sitting with Carolina, Finley, and a couple of the other players’ wives.
