Chapter 210 210

Chapter 210 210
The restaurant's low golden lighting shimmered against polished wine glasses and flickering candles, making the whole space hum with warmth. Diana and Emma sat across from each other in a quiet corner, sharing a plate of appetizers. Their conversation flowed easily, half laughter, half the kind of quiet confessions that came when the world outside seemed far away.

Emma lifted her glass with a smile. "You know, I'm still not used to this, being spoiled with dinner dates instead of takeout on the couch."

Diana grinned, leaning forward on her elbows. "And you deserve every bit of it. Besides, I like watching you light up when you're somewhere special."

Emma's cheeks flushed. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking down at her plate with a soft smile. But before 

Diana could tease her further, a voice interrupted. "Emma? Diana?"

Both women turned, surprised, to see Noah standing a few feet away, his tie loosened from a long day but his expression bright with recognition. He looked slightly out of place, scanning the tables as if he hadn't expected to see them here.

"Noah!" Diana said warmly. "What are you doing here?"

"Late dinner," he explained, holding up a hand sheepishly. "Didn't expect to bump into familiar faces."

Emma smiled politely. "You should join us. There's plenty of food."

For a moment Noah hesitated, but when Diana echoed the invitation with a friendly nod, he pulled out a chair and sat down with them. What started as casual chatter quickly unfolded into a lively conversation. Diana kept the humor sharp and playful, but Noah found himself watching Emma more than he should, how her eyes softened when she listened, the way her laugh seemed to linger, catching in the air like a melody he didn't want to stop hearing.

At first, he told himself it was nothing. Just admiration. Just surprised to see her again in a new light. But as Emma leaned closer to explain something, her hand brushing the
table beside his, Noah felt a subtle pull inside him, a quiet awareness blooming with each glance he stole.

Emma was engaged in the moment, bright and genuine, oblivious to how deeply he was staring. Diana caught most of her attention, and still, Noah couldn't shake it, this creeping realization that he was seeing Emma not just as Chloe's friend, or a casual acquaintance, but as someone who suddenly mattered more than he intended.
He shifted in his chair, hiding his thoughts behind a sip of water. But even as he tried to focus on the conversation, he knew it was too late. The spark was there, and he was falling, whether he wanted to or not.

Noah leaned back in his chair, trying to follow the rhythm of their conversation, but his mind was elsewhere. He looked at Diana, her confidence, the playful way she swirled her wine before taking a slow sip, her neckline drawing his eyes even when he told himself not to look. She was as magnetic as ever, radiating a kind of boldness that made it hard to look away.

And then Emma laughed, soft and unguarded, and the sound was like a hook in his chest. Her innocence, her quiet warmth, pulled him in just as strongly, but in a completely different way.

His heart tugged in two directions, and he hated himself for it. What the hell was wrong with him?

Was he really falling for both of them?

It felt too familiar. High school all over again. Back then, it had been Alexa and Chloe, two very different girls, both tangled in his feelings, and he'd chased them with a reckless heart that only left him bruised. He remembered the heartbreak, the shame of not being able to choose, and the mess that followed.

And now, years later, here he was again. Different women. The same mistake is waiting to happen.

No. No way, he told himself. He couldn't chase this, couldn't risk breaking apart the relationship these two shared. He knew where that path led, it didn't end well then, and it wouldn't end well now.

But God, seeing them sitting there across from him, looking beautiful, their lips catching the glow of candlelight, the delicate curve of their shoulders framed by soft dresses, their laughter ringing like music... it was torture.

He dragged his eyes down to his drink, forcing his fingers to grip the cool glass. His pulse quickened as he tried to bury the thought, but it was there, alive and dangerous. 

I must push this down, he told himself, jaw tight. I must. Because if he didn't, he already knew, he'd ruin everything.

Noah forced a smile as Emma leaned forward, telling him about her latest pastry experiment she was trying to make at home. Her hands moved as she spoke, delicate and animated, and he nodded along like he was following every word. Truth was, half of it slipped right past him, he was too focused on the way her lips curved when she smiled ...so I thought I ruined the eustard completely," Emma was saying, "but Diana swooped in and somehow fixed it."

Diana smirked and nudged her with her elbow. "That's because you panic too fast, Em. You'd throw out a masterpiece just because you think it's not perfect."
Emma rolled her eyes but her cheeks flushed pink, making her look even more radiant.

Noah laughed softly, trying to play it cool. "Sounds like a good balance, then. One of you panics, the other saves the day."

"Exactly," Diana said, clinking her glass against Emma's. "That's why we work."

The ease between them, the natural chemistry, twisted something inside him. They weren't just beautiful, they belonged together. And yet, his chest still ached with want.

He took a sip of his wine, holding the glass a little longer than necessary just so he wouldn't have to speak. If he stayed quiet, maybe he could hide the storm inside him.

But Diana's eyes were sharp. She tilted her head, smirking as she leaned closer across the table. "You've been awfully quiet, Noah."

He coughed lightly, almost choking on his sip. "Quiet? No, I'm just….listening."

"Listening," Diana repeated, amused. "Or staring?"

Emma gasped and swatted at her arm. "Diana!"

Diana only laughed, sipping her wine lazily. "What? I'm just saying. He's sitting here looking like he's got a whole storm inside his head."

Noah raised his brows, forcing a chuckle, though his throat was dry. "I'm fine. Long day, that's all."

Emma's expression softened immediately. "Are you sure? You don't look fine."

Her concern hit him harder than Diana's teasing. He didn't deserve that softness. He didn't deserve either of them.

"Yeah," he said quickly, hiding behind his glass again. "I'm fine. Really."

But as they went back to their playful banter, leaning into each other, brushing hands, laughing over their inside jokes, Noah just sat there, smiling on the outside, chaos burning on the inside.

And all he could think was: God help me. I'm falling for them both.