Page 16 of Glitches and Kisses (The Havenwood #2)

Evan

The morning sun warmed the Green Bean Café’s patio, despite the crisp May air. The mountains rose in the distance, deep green and gold, and the creek nearby babbled softly, winding through Havenwood lazily. It was the kind of day that made you want to take a deep breath and enjoy the moment.

I was not enjoying the moment.

I should’ve been. I had my coffee, hot, strong, exactly how I liked it.

I had good company, Liam, one of the easiest people in the world to get along with, seated across from me, enjoying his own drink.

We’d been doing this for a while now, meeting up whenever our schedules aligned, shooting the shit, swapping stories, and people-watching from this very spot.

And we both had the morning off on Sundays so today worked out well.

But today I couldn’t focus. Noah is supposed to be back in Havenwood this afternoon. We have not really talked since we kissed at his apartment a week ago, except for a couple of texts that I am certain pissed him off. So, I had given him the space he seemed to be wanting.

Liam had been talking. About what, I had no clue.

I’d nodded at the right times, let out the occasional chuckle, but my brain was barely hanging on to the conversation.

I stared down into my coffee, watching the steam curl into the perfect morning air like it held the answers to all my problems. Spoiler alert: it didn’t.

Liam, ever observant, finally leaned forward, resting his thick arms on the small café table, his expression flat, but with something knowing behind it. “Alright,” he said, drawing the word out. “You gonna tell me what’s eating at you, or am I supposed to guess?”

I blinked up at him. “What?”

“You’re quiet,” he said, giving me a pointed look. “Too quiet. And I love you, man, but you’re not exactly known for your deep contemplative silences.”

I scoffed as I tasted my coffee. “Maybe I’m evolving.”

Liam snorted. “Doubtful.” He tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly. “Come on, Mitchell. Spill.”

I hesitated, as I tapped against the ceramic mug. The words were right there, pressing at the back of my throat, but saying them out loud? That made them real.

Liam waited. Patient, steady, the way only a man who had really mastered the art of sitting with silence could be.

I sighed. “It’s Noah.”

Liam sat back, arching a knowing brow. “Ah.”

I shot him a look. “That’s all you’ve got?”

“I mean, what do you want me to say? I could’ve told you that weeks ago.”

I shook my head, staring out toward the creek.

“It’s just… I don’t know, man. This thing with him, it’s been weird from the start, right?

One second, he’s this cold, sarcastic asshole who barely tolerates my existence.

The next…” My throat felt tight. “The next, we’re kissing, and he’s…

fuck!” rubbed my temples. “I don’t even know how to explain it.

It’s like he lets go for a second, just a second, and it’s good, it’s really good.

And then it’s like he realizes it, and suddenly he’s back to being all closed off and cold. ”

Liam hummed thoughtfully, savoring his coffee. He tilted his head, eyeing me like he was trying to figure out a puzzle. “You two aren’t even really dating yet, right? Like, this is so new… but it seems like you’ve already got a lot invested in this.”

I let out a breath, frustrated and tired of feeling like I was chasing something I couldn’t name. “Yeah. I know. It doesn’t make sense. But it feels like… I don’t know. Like there’s something there.”

“So, what happened?”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “I don’t know.

Nothing. Everything.” I grabbed my mug for comfort.

“We had a good night… a great night. And then he went to Chicago for work, and I figured, okay, co ol, I’ll give him space.

But I sent a few texts. Casual. Nothing crazy.

And at first, he barely responded, but then he just stopped. ”

Liam raised an eyebrow. “And then?”

“And then, Friday night, I get this text, ‘When I get home, we should probably talk.’” I scoffed, shaking my head.

“And I’m sitting there like, what the fuck does that mean?

Is he ending this thing? What the hell even is this thing?

Is he about to tell me that night was a mistake?

I don’t know, because after I said ‘OK,’ I got radio silence. ”

Liam was quiet for a long moment, then he set his coffee down with a soft clink. “Girl, look, I get it. Noah keeps his cards close. He’s a puzzle, and even when you do figure out a piece, it doesn’t mean the whole picture makes sense yet.”

Frustration prickled at my skin. “Yeah, well, I’m not a fucking cryptographer, Liam.”

Liam laughed, deep and warm. “I know. But listen, Noah’s a hard egg to crack.

It took me years to get past all his walls, and even now?

There’s still shit I don’t get about him.

” His expression softened. “But he’s loyal.

He’s the kind of person who, once he lets you in, he stays in your corner.

You just have to be willing to take the time to figure out how to be in his. ”

I stared down at my coffee.

And then frustration surged. I sighed and looked up at Liam.

“What is wrong with him?” I asked, my voice lower now, rougher around the edges.

Liam blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Whoa, man.”

“What?” I said, eyebrows raised. “Did I do something?”

Liam held up a hand, his expression gentle but firm. “Okay, pump the brakes on the judgment. Leave the cutting assessments to Maxie. She’s licensed in that shit.”

I slumped back in the chair, frustrated and restless. “But seriously, why is he like this? This Jekyll and Hyde shit. One minute he’s a stone-cold bitch, and the next he’s kissing me like I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to him. What the fuck am I supposed to do with that?”

Liam sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Look, Noah’s not the easiest guy, but there’s nothing wrong with him.

He’s figuring it out. And yeah, he’s complicated.

But he’s also one of the most decent people I know.

That guy would walk through fire for the people he cares about.

He just doesn’t know how to say it half the time. ”

I didn’t say anything at first. Just sat there, chewing on the weight of that .

“Just… maybe don’t assume the worst,” Liam added.

I glanced over at him, quieter now. “Did something happen to him?”

Liam’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know,” I said, voice softer. “Some dark trauma or… something? The way he pulls back. Shuts down. It feels like more than just being guarded.”

Liam didn’t answer right away. He just looked out toward the street. His expression changed, something like hesitation, something like understanding. Then he sighed, shaking his head. “That’s not my story to tell, Evan.”

Something about the way he said it made my stomach twist.

“I know the story, but it’s his to share. When he’s ready. But from what I know? He’s not broken, Evan. He’s just been hurt. It was some pretty fucked up shit. And he doesn’t hand out trust easily anymore.”

I didn’t respond. Just sat there, the weight of that settling into my chest.

Liam looked at me, serious now. “If you want to know, ask him. And if you want this thing to last? Learn how to navigate it together.”

I let out a slow breath and nodded, though my mind was still tangled with frustration.

Liam must have caught the look on my face, because his face turned smug. “You’re already in deep, aren’t you?”

I glared. “Shut up.”

Liam chuckled, taking another sip of coffee just as his phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at it, then smiled as he turned the screen toward me.

Noah: I’m back in town. Can we look at our calendars in a couple of days? This week was brutal. I need to sleep for a full day first.

I felt so many things staring at the message. Anger. Frustration. Understanding. Confused. Anger again.

Liam grinned, giving me a meaningful look. “See? He’s reaching out.”

I wanted to feel relieved. I should have felt relieved. But all I could focus on was the fact that Noah hadn’t texted ME.

Liam, reading my expression like a goddamn mind reader, sighed. “Evan, do not spiral. The man’s been buried in work for a week, and now he’s exhausted. His job isn’t fun, it’s high-stakes and demanding. Give him a little grace. Also, you are the one who went after him. So give him time.”

I let out a slow breath, nodding reluctantly .

Liam leaned in. “And while you’re at it, maybe pump the brakes a little. I know you, when you want something, you go for it. But Noah? He needs to warm up to the idea of you.”

I frowned, the idea of slowing down grating against every instinct I had. But deep down, I knew Liam was right.

“Fine. I’ll try.”

Liam’s stare deepened. “Good. And in the meantime, maybe don’t act like a man on the verge of a nervous breakdown every time Noah texts.”

I scowled. “Fuck off, Carter.”

Liam laughed, shaking his head as he lifted his mug in a mock toast. “There’s the Evan I know.”

I laughed despite myself, rolling my eyes.

And then, my phone buzzed.

I pulled it out, my pulse picking up, and there it was.

Noah: Hey. I just got back. Can we talk soon?

I stared at the message, thumb hovering over the keyboard, caught somewhere between relief and absolute fucking panic.

Liam watched me carefully. “Evan.”

I didn’t look up. “Yeah.”

Liam didn’t say anything right away. He just studied me, the weight of his silence pressing heavier than any lecture could. Finally, he set his coffee down with a quiet clink and leaned forward. “Don’t screw this up.”

I stared at the text, like the right response would magically appear if I just waited long enough. “Not planning to.”

Liam hummed, unconvinced. “Then stop over analyzing it.”

I huffed. “Easier said than done.”

“Yeah, well,” Liam raised an eyebrow peering over his mug, finishing the last of his coffee before standing. “I’m not the one falling for Noah Patel.”

I did not look up at that.

Liam grabbed his cup and clapped me on the shoulder as he passed, his voice light but firm. “Text him back, Mitchell.” And with that, he strolled inside, leaving me alone at the table, the Appalachian Mountains stretched wide and endless before me, the creek still murmuring softly beneath it all.

I conceded and finally, finally, typed out a response.

Evan: Glad you’re back. Get some rest. Let me know when you want to talk.

I hit send before I could rethink it.