“Noah?” I say carefully.
He nods once. “So it was fake.”
“Yeah.”
“All of it?”
I hesitate, but what else can I say?
“Yeah. I’m sorry.”
He studies my face for a long second. Then he says quietly, “I don’t believe you.”
“What?”
“I said I don’t believe you.”
“Noah—”
“Maybe it started fake,” he says, his voice tightening, “but don’t sit here and pretend it stayed that way. I’ve known you half my life. I know my little sister. You think I didn’t see the way you looked at her? The way she looked at you?”
My mouth opens, but nothing comes out.
He leans forward slightly. “Tell me it was all fake. Say it to my face.”
I open my mouth, but I can’t. I don’t even want to.
Mel gasps softly. “It wasn’t fake. Not completely.”
Liam nods slowly. “You can’t act like that with someone and fake it.”
Kiara’s eyes soften as she looks at me. And then she says it. “Oh my God.” A small breath. “Ryan… you’re in love with her, aren’t you?”
The words hit like a punch straight to the ribs. “Ye—”
Kiara slaps both hands on the table. “OH MY GOD HE IS.”
“Kiara,” Mel whispers, mortified.
“No, this is huge,” Kiara hisses back. “This is cinematic.”
Liam points at me. “Bro. You have to go tell her.”
I let out a quiet, humourless breath. “I tried.”
Four faces shift at once.
“I told her how I feel,” I add, staring down at the table. “Last night. She said she didn’t feel anything.”
Silence settles over us for a beat.
“I don’t think she meant that,” Mel says softly.
“I think she’s just scared,” Liam adds, leaning back. “After what Jacob did, you can’t really blame her.”
I look up, blinking slightly. Is that really it? Is she just scared I’m going to hurt her like he did?Fuck. That actually makes sense.
Kiara leans forward, eyes sharp. “Okay, but listen. If she’s scared, that doesn’t mean you just give up.”
