Noah stood outside the hotel restaurant, trying to remind himself that this was not a date.
It was dinner.
A conversation.
With an ex.
An ex who once publicly broke up with him in front of over 80,000 people on a livestream and fled to Europe to date a duke's son. But sure—friends. Someday. Maybe.
He tugged at the sleeves of his charcoal blazer and stepped through the revolving doors into low light, expensive silence, and Molly Carlton in a scarlet silk dress.
She was already at the table, sipping white wine like it had personally offended her.
"Noah," she said as he approached, standing just enough to kiss his cheek. "You look amazing. All grown up."
He forced a smile and took his seat. "Thanks. You haven't changed."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
⸻
Noah gave the evening a chance.
"How was Europe?"
"It was... European," Molly laughed. Noah forced a laugh to avoid awkwardness.
"I saw your Bali photos."
"Oh my god! Did you see how small our room was?"
Noah decided not to mention the pictures of the duke's son Simon proposing to her. One week after she broke up with Noah.
Molly's laugh was light, practiced. She leaned across the table, casually resting her fingers on his hand mid-conversation. He didn't pull away at first. He didn't think to. They used to do this.
Not until the warmth of her touch triggered something uncomfortable—something that didn't feel like nostalgia, but guilt.
He slowly pulled his hand back.
Molly's smile didn't falter.
The wine kept flowing. So did the charm. But Noah felt… disconnected. He was trying to listen, but half of him kept hearing Lexi's voice in his head—snarky, sharp, and real.
This felt like set dressing. The candlelight. The designer menu. The illusion of closeness.
Not like the quiet chaos of home with Lexi's lipsmackers and scrunchies everywhere and her laughter echoing from the bathroom when she saw a frog in the shower.
Molly never made him laugh like that.
⸻
As they walked out, Molly's heels wobbled slightly.
"Oh," she gasped like a damsel in distress. "I… ugh. I think the wine hit me harder than I expected."
Noah hesitated. "You okay?"
She touched his chest. "Just a little dizzy. Could you walk me to my room?"
He almost said no.
Almost.
But old instincts kicked in. The protector reflex. The friend reflex. The fool reflex.
He looped an arm around her waist and helped her into the elevator.
⸻
"Noah, I hurt my ankle," Molly complained and pretended to limp as the elevator doors opened on her floor.
Noah sighed and lifted Molly up bridal style. It didn't look like anyone was around.
She leaned her head on his muscular chest the entire walk down the hallway, sighing dramatically as he guided her through the door of her suite.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Noah was going to put Molly down on the bed, but she grabbed his collar and pulled him down with her.
Their faces were close. Too close.
"I really missed you," Molly said, voice trembling just right and eyes filling with crocodile tears. "I never should've let you go."
He stared at her.
Two years ago, those words would have meant everything.
She leaned up and kissed him.
For a second—just one—he kissed back.
And then Lexi's face flashed through his mind.
The image of her walking out in that green dress, eyes sharp and unsure, calling him Mr. Blackwood like a punchline she didn't want to land.
Noah pulled back.
"Molly… no."
She blinked at him, eyes glassy. "Why not? You love me, Noah."
"I did. But it's over. You betrayed me. Broke my heart."
She cupped his face. "It will be different this time."
He stood up, shook his head and walked out without another word.
Behind him, Molly groaned like an upset toddler and grabbed her phone.
Fine. If Noah wouldn't come back willingly, she'd just burn whatever kept him away.
"Joseph? Dig up every piece of dirt you can find on Lexi Nova."
⸻
Lexi was in bed, wearing a gold face mask and eating ice cream straight from the tub. Her laptop balanced on her thighs as she scrolled TikTok.
And then—there it was.
A video of Noah and Molly laughing at the restaurant. Captioned: #NollyRising? Noah Blackwood spotted with ex-girlfriend Molly Carlton at a candlelit dinner.
A photo of Molly's hand on Noah's across the table. Captioned: Is Nolly making a comeback?
Another clip. Noah carrying a satisfied looking Molly into a hotel room.
Lexi stared at the screen, spoon paused mid-air.
"I'm not mad," she said aloud. "I'm mad that he's being stupid."
She clicked on the comments. Most of them were Team Noxi, but Team Nolly seemed to have some supporters too:
They're perfect together!
She's so elegant. What's Lexi's brand again? Glitter?
Noah and Molly: endgame.
They reunited after two years, this is true love! #TeamNolly
Her stomach turned.
She opened another pint of ice cream and ate it passive aggressively. But she wasn't upset. Absolutely not.
⸻
Noah walked into the house quietly, jacket slung over his shoulder. He looked up and saw Lexi's bedroom door slightly open, the glow of her lamp still on.
He tapped the door. "Hey. You still up?"
Lexi looked up, laptop in lap, face blank. "Mm-hmm. Did you have a nice dinner?"
He stepped in. "Dinner was… fine. Kind of boring."
"What did you do after dinner?"
He paused. "Nothing... I went home."
Lexi turned the laptop toward him.
The video played in silence. Molly in his arms. Her face pressed against his chest.
Noah winced. "Lexi—I can explain. Nothing happened. I swear."
She clicked the lid shut. "I don't care. You can fuck whoever you want. Just be more discreet. Don't mess up the sponsorships."
His chest clenched at her indifference. "Lex—"
"We have a contract." she cut in. "Don't cause a scandal."
Her voice was icy. Controlled. But her hands trembled slightly.
Noah swallowed. This wasn't the right time to clear the air. She needed space to cool down. "Good night," he said softly.
"Yeah," she muttered. "We're having lunch with my parents tomorrow. Try not to be late."
He left, closing the door behind him.
⸻
Lexi lay back in bed, staring at the ceiling.
She didn't care.
She didn't.
Except she obviously did.
Why else did her chest feel like it had been kicked?
⸻
Noah sat on the edge of his bed, rubbing his temples.
He hadn't done anything wrong.
Technically. Or had he?
But the moment Molly kissed him, he had kissed her back. And the thought of Lexi had stopped him.
And that meant something he wasn't ready to deal with.
He climbed into bed and turned off the light.
In the dark, they both lay awake in separate rooms—two actors in a viral marriage, trying to figure out why fake was starting to hurt like real.