Whispers of the Heart

**Chapter 13: Eye Candy**

The late afternoon light filtered through the blinds, casting a warm golden hue over Lily’s apartment. The city outside buzzed with its usual rhythm, the distant honking of car horns and the hum of people walking down the busy streets. But inside, there was an eerie quietness, a stillness that contrasted sharply with the rest of the world.

Lily sat at her desk, absently flipping through the pile of papers in front of her, trying to focus, trying to ignore the way her heart kept doing flips at the memory of Noah standing in her doorway earlier. She had told herself she wasn’t going to let his sudden reappearance disrupt her life. She was stronger than that. She had worked hard to get to this point, to create a life that was her own.

Yet, the mere thought of him sent her heart racing again. She hadn’t realized how much she had missed the way he made her feel—like she was the only person in the room when he looked at her, like the world could just fade away.

"Focus, Lily," she muttered to herself, rubbing her temples. "Focus."

But just as she was about to get back to her work, her phone buzzed on the desk.

Her heart leaped into her throat. She grabbed it quickly, her fingers shaking as she unlocked the screen. She didn’t know what she expected, but it wasn’t *that*.

Noah’s name flashed across the screen. *Noah*.

She hesitated, biting her lip as she stared at the message preview.

*Hey, I know I’ve already said this, but I’ve been thinking about what you said earlier. And I get it. I don’t want to push you, but I don’t want to walk away without at least trying to make things right. Can we talk?*

Lily exhaled sharply, setting the phone down on the desk. The words he had sent her had only stirred the uncertainty inside her further. He wanted to talk. But was there any point? Was there any part of her heart that still wanted to hear him out?

She stood abruptly and paced the length of the room, trying to shake off the sudden whirlwind of emotions threatening to consume her. The buzz of the city outside felt like a distant echo as her mind raced with questions. She had spent so long building walls, creating distance, convincing herself that she was better off without him. But now, Noah was back, and everything she had tried to forget suddenly seemed just within reach again.

The sound of a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

She froze. Her heart skipped a beat. Could it be him?

Lily quickly smoothed her hair down and adjusted the collar of her blouse before walking toward the door. She told herself it could be anyone—maybe one of the gallery staff, maybe a delivery, maybe even a neighbor. But deep down, she knew.

As soon as she opened the door, she was met with a sight that nearly made her drop to the floor.

Noah.

But this wasn’t the same Noah from years ago—the uncertain, confused man who had walked out of her life without a word. No, this Noah was different. His posture was more confident, his expression unreadable, as though he had worked through every single regret and was now standing in front of her with the determination of someone who had finally figured out what he wanted.

And, god, he looked good.

He was wearing a dark gray jacket, the kind that clung to his broad shoulders and tapered perfectly at the waist, and his black jeans were snug in all the right ways. His hair was slightly tousled, as though he had run his fingers through it a few too many times, and his eyes—the same eyes that had haunted her dreams for years—were now sharper, more intense, filled with a quiet confidence she hadn't seen in him before.

For a second, Lily didn’t know what to say. Her breath hitched in her throat, and her mind just blanked out, overwhelmed by how effortlessly handsome he looked. His presence was electric, as if the very air around them had charged with something undeniable.

“Lily,” he said her name softly, as though it was the only word that mattered. “I know I shouldn’t have just shown up like this. But I needed to see you. To talk.”

Lily swallowed, forcing herself to focus. She wanted to stay in control, to keep herself from slipping into the vulnerability that his proximity always seemed to pull out of her. But the pull was strong, and she felt a heat flood her chest as she caught herself stealing another glance at him. Focus, she reminded herself.

“Can we... sit down?” he asked, his voice low and smooth, but with a hint of uncertainty that made her heart clench. His eyes searched hers, as if waiting for her to give him permission to stay.

Lily took a deep breath and stepped aside, motioning for him to enter. “Sure. We can talk,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

As Noah walked into her apartment, Lily couldn’t help but notice how much he had changed over the years. He had always been tall—almost too tall—but now he seemed to carry that height with an elegance she hadn’t noticed before. His broad shoulders filled the space in her living room, his every movement exuding a quiet strength. It wasn’t just the physical changes that struck her; it was the way he held himself. The way he moved. He was confident, in a way that made him seem like someone who had finally figured out who he was.

Lily bit her lip, pushing away the part of her that still remembered how he had looked at her all those years ago, how she had longed for him despite everything. The Noah standing before her now was different—but the pull, the magnetism, was still there.

“So,” she started, trying to keep her voice light, “You wanted to talk?”

Noah nodded, running a hand through his hair as he looked around the room, clearly searching for the right words. “I know things ended... badly between us. I know I hurt you, and I’m sorry for that.” His gaze softened for a moment, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his face. “But I’ve had a lot of time to think, and I can’t help but wonder if I made the biggest mistake of my life letting you go.”

Lily took a breath, her chest tightening at his words. There was so much history between them, so much emotion tied up in every glance, every unspoken word. But after everything she had been through, was it enough to erase the years of pain? The years of building a life without him?

“You can’t just walk back into my life after all this time, Noah,” she said, her voice steady but firm. “Things aren’t the same anymore.”

He stepped closer, his eyes locking onto hers, his voice lower now. “I know. But I’m not asking for things to be the same. I just... I need you to know that I never stopped thinking about you. I don’t want to keep wondering ‘what if’ for the rest of my life.”

Lily’s heart skipped a beat. She could feel the tension in the room, the electricity crackling between them. It was like stepping back into a memory, back into a time when she had let herself believe in him.

She shook her head, trying to clear the haze of emotions swirling inside her. “I’m not that girl anymore, Noah. I’ve moved on. I built something for myself.” She paused, looking him over once more. “And, honestly? I don’t think I can go through that again. Not after everything.”

Noah’s face softened, but there was a fire in his eyes that she hadn’t seen before. “You don’t have to. I’m not asking you to go through anything. I’m just asking for a chance. One chance.”

Lily felt a tremor run through her, and for the first time in a long time, she couldn’t deny that part of her *did* want to give him that chance. But she had worked too hard to get to this place, to protect herself from the chaos of their past.

Noah was standing right in front of her, as irresistible as ever, as eye candy in a way she hadn’t expected after all these years. And, despite everything, Lily knew she had a choice to make. Would she give in to the pull between them, or would she let go of what might never be?

The choice, as always, was hers.