Love Beyond Borders [ON-GOING]

CHAPTER 18: THE RECKONING

Noah waited at the bar stall, a slight unease settling over him as he ordered a tequila.

He wasn't entirely sure how things would go with Draven, but he knew they needed to clear the air.

The bartender set his drink down, and Noah took a small sip, his eyes scanning the room until he spotted Draven walking in.

Draven's expression was a mix of irritation and curiosity as he made his way over.

Noah managed a small, uncertain smile as Draven approached, but Draven's demeanor was guarded, his gaze cold.

"Hey," Noah said, motioning to the seat beside him.

Draven sat down, eyes narrowed. "So, you wanted to talk?"

"Yeah," Noah sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Look, I know I've messed things up. And I owe you an apology, especially for using your photo on Tinder. That wasn't fair to you... or to Eileen."

Draven's jaw tightened. "You think? You used my face to get close to her. You made things complicated for all of us."

Noah nodded, swallowing hard. "I know. I thought... I don't even know what I thought. I just wanted a chance to get to know her, and I messed up. I'm really sorry, Draven. I never meant to hurt you, or her."

Draven studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable.

Noah held his breath, waiting for the verdict.

After a tense silence, Draven let out a sigh, his shoulders relaxing ever so slightly.

The tension between Noah and Draven hung in the air as they sat at the bar, a silent understanding passing between them.

Finally, Draven picked up his glass, giving Noah a hard look before lifting it in a toast. Noah followed suit, clinking his glass against Draven's with a faint smile of relief.

"To mending things," Draven said, his tone resigned.

"To making things right," Noah replied quietly, and they each took a sip of tequila.

Noah couldn't shake the lingering guilt. He'd managed to patch things up with Draven, but in the back of his mind, the thought of Eileen haunted him.

The turmoil that had sparked between the three of them had led to a painful end, with Draven and Eileen becoming strangers instead of friends.

After a few moments of silence, Draven spoke up. "So... how's Eileen?"

Noah took a deep breath. "She just got back to New York yesterday," he replied, watching Draven's face as he processed the news.

Draven's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of something; regret, maybe; crossing his face. "She's really gone, huh?" he murmured, almost to himself.

Noah felt a pang of sympathy, realizing Draven hadn't understood that Eileen's last words to him had been goodbye. "Yeah... she's back in New York," Noah said softly, not wanting to twist the knife. "She's moving forward, you know?"

Draven let out a slow breath, leaning back. "It's hard to believe she's really gone." He looked down at his drink, swirling it absently. "What... what was she like after, you know, after she found out?"

Noah paused, trying to choose his words carefully. "Honestly, she was hurt. But she did her best to make the most of her time here. I tried to keep things light for her, to make sure she'd have good memories."

Draven nodded, a faint look of gratitude in his eyes. "Thanks for looking out for her, man. Even if... well, things didn't go as planned."

They shared a quiet moment, the weight of what had happened settling between them.

They'd both played a part in the mess, and they both knew it. But there was a flicker of relief in Noah's chest; at least they'd managed to salvage their friendship from the wreckage.

"Well, I should get going," Draven said, standing up. "Love's waiting for me back home."

Noah nodded, managing a small smile. "Take care, Draven."

As Draven walked away, Noah couldn't shake the feeling of unfinished business. He'd made peace with Draven, but a part of him still felt tangled in the memories of Eileen. He only hoped that, in time, they could all find their own ways to heal.