Noah's pov
The days had felt longer than they should. Each one dragged on, stretched by an unbearable silence that echoed louder than any argument ever could. Stella was healing, slowly but surely, but I had kept my distance. I told myself it was to give her space, but deep down, I knew it was more than that. I couldn't face her. Not yet.
And then there was Pecan.
I'd avoided her too. Not intentionally, but every time I thought of her, the weight of my earlier outburst came crashing down on me. I wasn't proud of how I'd acted,how I'd let my emotions dictate my actions. And now, I didn't know how to bridge the chasm I'd created between us.
It wasn't until I found her alone in the garden that I finally worked up the courage to try.
