N O A H

The meeting room is filled with the sound of conversation and the faint rustle of papers. I sit at the far end of the table, my fingers drumming against the polished surface as Mr. Hitch, the marketing lead, drones on about the campaign.

Leelo is beside me, flipping through files with his usual ease, while Sarah sits across the table, her head slightly bowed as she jots notes in her notebook.

I find myself glancing at her more than I should, her focused expression, the way she tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear. It's almost enough to distract me from the irritating subject of this meeting.

Mr. Richard clears his throat, bringing my attention back to the present. "And for the face of the campaign, we've decided to bring in Ryan Cox as the model."

My fingers stop drumming. Ryan? My jaw tightens as I try to keep my irritation in check.

"He's agreed to work for 50% of his usual rate, which is a great deal for us," Mr. Richard continues, looking pleased with himself.

Leelo nods approvingly. "That's a significant cost-saving."

But all I can hear is Ryan Cox. The name feels like nails on a chalkboard.

"No," I say abruptly, leaning forward. "We're not using him."

The room falls silent. Mr. Richard looks confused, while Leelo raises an eyebrow but doesn't say anything.

Sarah, however, looks up sharply.

"Why not?" she asks, her tone clipped. "Ryan's perfect for this. He's professional, experienced, and willing to cut his fee. What's wrong with that?"

I glance at her, my irritation flaring. "I just don't think he's the right fit."

Sarah narrows her eyes, her hands tightening around her pen. "What's wrong with him, Noah? You act like he's some sort of..."

Her words hit me harder than they should. The tension in the room spikes, and I can see Mr. Richard shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

Sarah must realize it too because she clamps her mouth shut and looks down, her cheeks flushing.

"Sorry," she mutters.

Mr. Richard clears his throat awkwardly. "Well, if there are no further objections, we'll move forward with Ryan for the campaign."

The meeting wraps up quickly after that, with the others filing out one by one. I stay in my seat, watching Sarah gather her things. She avoids my gaze, her movements stiff.

Once the last person leaves the room, I stand and block the door, leaning against it so she can't leave.

"Noah, what are you-"

I cut her off, my voice low and serious. "Do you find him attractive?"

Her eyes widen in surprise. "What?"

"You heard me," I say, my tone sharp. "Do you find Ryan attractive?"

She looks away, fidgeting with the strap of her notebook. "Why does it matter?"

"Just answer me," I insist, my chest tightening with every second of silence.

She hesitates, then finally looks at me. "Yes. He is fine," she says quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I clench my fists, trying to keep my emotions in check. "Is that why you're defending him?"

"No, it's not like that," she says, her voice rising slightly. "I just think he's good for the campaign and he is my best friend."

I stare at her for a long moment, searching her expression for something, anything that might soften the blow. But all I see is honesty.

Without another word, I step aside, letting her leave. She walks past me quickly, her shoulders stiff, and I stay there, rooted to the spot.

After a few seconds, I storm out of the meeting room and head straight to the parking lot, still fuming. Her words replay in my head like a broken record.

Yes, I find Ryan attractive.

Of course, she does. Why wouldn't she?

He's charming, capable, and always in her corner. Meanwhile, I'm the guy who can't even figure out his emotions long enough to stop messing things up.

As I reach the car, I spot her standing by it, arms crossed, her face unreadable.

"What are you doing here?" I ask sharply, not in the mood for another argument.

"I'm waiting for you," she replies calmly, her voice softer than I expect. "I wanted to talk."

"About what? How great Ryan is?" The words come out bitter, but I can't stop them.

She sighs and steps closer, but I turn away, unlocking the car without looking at her. "Noah," she says firmly, "Ryan is just a friend. That's all he's ever been."

"Sure," I mutter, not even looking at her as I climb into the car.

But before I can start the engine, she leans against the open door, blocking my view. Her expression shifts, a glint of mischief lighting up her eyes.

"You know," she says, her voice casual but teasing, "I was thinking of going out tonight."

I glance up at her, my irritation flaring again. "Yeah? With who?"

"Well," she draws out the word, tilting her head as if deep in thought, "I was going to ask you, but since you're mad at me... I guess I could always invite Ryan."

The mention of his name makes my head snap up. "You wouldn't," I say, my voice low and warning.

"Why not?" she counters, her lips twitching like she's holding back a laugh. "He's nice, attractive, and he wouldn't ignore me like you are right now."

The nerve of her. My jaw tightens, and I push the car door open, standing so abruptly that she steps back.

"Fine," I say quickly, my tone sharp. "We'll go out tonight. You don't need to call him."

That's when she does it, she laughs. Not a quiet chuckle but a full-on laugh that echoes in the parking lot. My irritation wavers as I stare at her, confused.

"What's so funny?" I ask, frowning.

"You," she says between giggles. "You should've seen your face. You were so serious."

I narrow my eyes, but there's no real anger behind it. She got me, and she knows it.

"Seriously?" I mutter, running a hand through my hair.

"And you're adorable when you're jealous," she fires back, grinning up at me.

I shake my head, unable to stop the small smile tugging at my lips. "You're lucky I like you," I mumble.

"Yeah, I am," she agrees, her smile softening as she looks at me.

I don't know how she does it, how she manages to pull me out of my own head and remind me that things don't have to be so complicated.

"Pick me up at seven," she says before turning and walking away, her ponytail swaying as she goes.

I watch her leave, my chest lighter than it was a few minutes ago. Damn her for knowing exactly how to handle me and damn me for loving every second of it.

I slide into the driver's seat, my heart thudding against my ribs, an unfamiliar mix of excitement and nerves building in my chest.

A date. Our first real date.

My hand hovers over the ignition for a moment, the reality sinking in. She said yes. Well, technically, she made me say yes, but it doesn't matter. Tonight, she's mine.

No games, no interruptions. Just us.

A grin spreads across my face as I start the car, the engine roaring to life. I'm already imagining how the night will go, her laughter, the way her eyes sparkle when she's happy, the way she looks at me when she lets her guard down.

I glance at the dashboard clock. Still hours to go. It's going to be a long wait, but it's worth it. Tonight, I'll show her just how much she means to me.

Pulling out of the parking lot, I can't help the stupid smile plastered on my face.