Chapter 9: Fluorescent Lights and Neon Signs.

After all the intense drama, confrontation, and bruised egos of the last few chapters, this diner scene was the exact breath of fresh air Ava and Liam deserved! 🫐🥞✨Stella’s 24Hours Diner was such a cozy, comforting backdrop to contrast the loud, chaotic world Ethan always demanded to be the center of. Seeing Liam open up about his own hideaways, coupled with his confession that Ava was never the noise—she was the only reason he stayed in those crowded rooms for three years—gave me instant butterflies! 🥹❤️No phone checks, no lingering shadow of the campus pub scene—just late-night pancakes, 70s rock records, and two people finally locking into the exact same wavelength under neon lights.Are you completely smitten with Liam taking her to his secret sanctuary? How do you think Ethan is going to react when he realizes Ava truly isn't coming back to his orbit? Drop your theories in the comments, smash that vote button for late-night blueberry pancakes, see you in chapter 10