249
~Bella's POV
Before I could let the silence thicken again, Alex stepped closer.
His fingers brushed a loose strand of hair away from my face, and then, without warning or tension, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to my lips.
It wasn't rushed. It wasn't rough. It was soft, so incredibly gentle that it almost didn't feel real. But it was enough to ground me, to shut down the whirlwind in my chest. Enough to tell me that he knew, maybe more than I did, what was happening between us, even if he wasn't ready to name it yet.
When he pulled back, his eyes searched mine for a beat longer before he whispered, "Let's go back."
And just like that, he turned and led the way to where Noah and Luca were waiting.
Dinner was done. Luca was finishing up his wine, and Noah was leaning back in his chair, full and happy in a way I hadn't seen in years. Alex bent down beside me, placing a kiss on my forehead like it was the most natural thing in the world. My breath hitched.
