Chapter 50

Naomi pulled into the underground parking garage, the hum of the engine fading as she shut it off. Celeste sat quietly in the passenger seat, her head resting against the window, the weight of exhaustion heavy on her face. Naomi reached over, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before they both climbed out.

The elevator ride up was silent, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Naomi carried the small bag of takeout she’d picked up on the way the smell of warm food filling the air. When they reached Celeste’s condo, Naomi unlocked the door and stepped in first, making sure everything was just as she’d left it earlier: clean, quiet, peaceful.

“I already got food for you,” Naomi said softly, holding up the bag as Celeste slipped out of her shoes. “So you don’t have to order anything.”

Celeste offered her the faintest smile. “Thank you… really.”

They moved to the kitchen, Naomi setting the bag down on the counter. She looked at Celeste with that steady, grounding gaze she always had, then asked, “Do you want to be alone… or do you want me to stay tonight?”

Celeste hesitated for only a second before answering, her voice quiet but firm. “Stay.”

Naomi nodded, no hesitation on her end. “Okay.” She pulled out the containers of food, sliding one toward Celeste. “Then I’m staying.”

The night settled into something softer. Celeste sat curled up on the couch, a blanket over her legs, a container of food in her lap. Naomi sat close by, cross-legged with her own meal, her presence steady and quiet. They didn’t need to fill the silence with words; it was enough just knowing Celeste wasn’t alone.

For the first time all day, Celeste managed to eat without feeling like her stomach was twisted in knots. Naomi would glance at her every now and then, making sure she was okay, offering a small smile whenever Celeste caught her.

After they finished, Naomi cleared the containers and returned with two glasses of water. “Hydrate,” she said softly, handing one over. Celeste managed a little laugh and accepted it.

They’d just started settling in again when a knock echoed through the condo. Celeste stiffened, her eyes darting to the door. Naomi frowned and rose immediately. “Stay here,” she murmured, her tone protective.

Celeste pulled the blanket tighter around herself, her heart thudding in her chest.

Naomi didn’t move. She stepped halfway into the doorway, blocking the view inside. Her voice was calm, but firm. “Rowan… Celeste needs time. She’ll reach out to you when she’s ready.”

“Naomi, please,” Rowan said, her words tumbling fast. “I need to talk to her. Just five minutes. I can’t let it sit like this.”

Celeste buried her face in her hands, every muscle in her body taut. Naomi’s voice was firm, steady, carrying no hesitation.

“Rowan, no,” Naomi said. “She needs time. You coming here, pushing for a talk she’s not ready for that’s not helping her.”

Rowan’s voice cracked, raw with frustration. “But she told me she loved me, Naomi. She dropped that on me and then walked out. You don’t get it I didn’t know what to say, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel anything for her. I can’t just… do nothing.”

Naomi sighed, her voice softening but never breaking. “I do get it. But right now isn’t about what you need. It’s about what Celeste needs. And she needs space. Respect that, or you’re only going to push her further away.”

A heavy silence stretched on the other side of the door. Celeste could almost feel Rowan standing there, torn between protesting again and listening to reason. Finally, Rowan’s voice came quieter, almost defeated.

“Tell her… tell her I’ll wait. However long it takes.”

Naomi nodded once, though Rowan couldn’t see it. “I’ll tell her,” she saidnd then she shut the door gently but firmly, locking it.

When Naomi turned back, Celeste was staring at her with wide, tearful eyes. Naomi crossed the room and sat beside her again, taking her hands.

“She wanted to talk, but I told her no,” Naomi said softly. “I told her you’ll reach out when you’re ready. And Rowan… she said she’ll wait.”

Celeste’s breath trembled, her chest rising and falling quickly as if she’d been holding it all along. She squeezed Naomi’s hands, whispering, “Thank you… for protecting me.”

“I love you too, Celeste!“

Rowan’s voice raw, desperate, unmistakable. It carried up through the hallway like a shout of truth, leaving no room for doubt. Celeste’s entire body went rigid, her heart slamming against her ribs so hard she swore Naomi could hear it.

Naomi’s eyes widened as she glanced toward the door, then back to Celeste. “She wanted you to hear that,” Naomi murmured softly.

Celeste blinked, tears stinging her eyes. She didn’t move, didn’t speak, just sat frozen on the couch, staring at the door as if Rowan might burst through at any second. The words echoed in her head, looping over and over: I love you too.

Naomi reached up, brushing a tear that had slipped down Celeste’s cheek. “You see? She does love you. But now you need to decide if you’re ready to let her back in or if you still need time to breathe.”

Celeste inhaled shakily, clutching Naomi’s hand like a lifeline. “I don’t know,” she whispered, voice trembling. “I don’t know what to do.”

Naomi squeezed her hand gently. “Then don’t do anything tonight. Just let yourself feel it. You’ve got me here, okay? You’re not alone.”