Chapter 57: Rooftop Banter
The hotel rooftop was quickly becoming Ava’s favorite place in New York. It wasn’t just the breathtaking view of the skyline, though that certainly helped. Up here, high above the chaos of the city and the matchmaking convention, it felt like a montary escape—a rare pocket of peace in an otherwise insane whirlwind.
Tonight, the air was crisp and cool, the kind that left a refreshing bite on your cheeks. String lights crisscrossed the space, casting a warm, golden glow over the small seating area. The Empire State Building glead in the distance, a beacon of quiet majesty, while the murmur of the city below faded into a dull, calming hum.
Ava leaned against the railing, gazing out at the glittering expanse before her. The noise of the day—the debates, the matchmaking misfires, Julian’s smug face—still echoed faintly in her head, but up here, it didn’t feel as overwhelming.
Behind her, the rooftop door creaked open, and Ryan appeared, carrying two steaming cups of what she hoped was coffee. He was still in his suit from the gala earlier, but his tie was loosened, and his jacket was slung over his shoulder.
"I figured you’d be up here," he said, handing her one of the cups.
"Thanks," Ava murmured, wrapping her hands around the cup for warmth. She took a tentative sip and imdiately smiled. "Hot chocolate?"
Ryan shrugged, leaning against the railing beside her. "You looked like you needed sothing sweet. Also, I couldn’t find coffee, so... you’re welco."
Ava chuckled softly, letting the warmth of the drink and the mont seep into her. "I don’t know how you’re still standing after today. I feel like I’ve been run over by a matchmaking freight train."
Ryan grinned. "You did handle about fifty mini-crises back-to-back. Honestly, it was impressive. Exhausting to watch, but impressive."
Ava snorted. "Well, I’m glad I could provide you with so entertainnt."
"Always," Ryan teased, nudging her lightly with his elbow.
They stood in comfortable silence for a mont, sipping their hot chocolate and watching the lights of the city blink and shimr like a living, breathing thing.
Ava leaned against the railing, clutching the steaming cup of hot chocolate Ryan had handed her earlier. The warmth seeped into her fingers, but it did little to quiet her racing thoughts. Today had been a storm of chaos, from Ethan’s sabotages to Julian’s irritatingly smug face—and let’s not forget Astrid LaFleur’s dramatic proclamation that rcury retrograde would doom every decision Ava made this week. But up here, it felt easier to breathe, to think, to process. The city lights blinked like scattered stars, a reminder that life carried on, chaos and all, no matter what the universe—or Astrid’s horoscope—predicted.
Behind her, Ryan shifted, leaning against the railing beside her. He’d shed his jacket and loosened his tie, the crisp lines of his suit softened by the relaxed way he carried himself now. His easy presence had a way of making her feel grounded—or, at the very least, less like her head was about to explode.
"You’re awfully quiet," Ryan said, his tone teasing. "Should I be worried? Or are you plotting sothing diabolical?"
Ava smirked, though she didn’t look at him. "Just thinking."
"About?"
She hesitated, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. "Everything, I guess. The convention. Julian’s ridiculous algorithms. Whether or not i is secretly filming all of this for a reality show."
Ryan chuckled, his grin softening. "The thought’s crossed my mind. If she pulls out a cara crew tomorrow, I’m running."
Ava laughed softly, her grip tightening on her mug. "Honestly, I wouldn’t put it past her."
They fell into a companionable silence, the kind that didn’t feel heavy or awkward but comfortable. The kind you could only share with soone who’d seen you at your worst and sohow stuck around anyway.
---
Eventually, Ava broke the silence, setting her mug on the railing. "You know," she began, her voice quiet but steady, "I always thought intuition was... overrated. That it was just a fancy word for guessing."
Ryan tilted his head, his brow lifting slightly. "And now?"
"Now..." Ava exhaled, her breath visible in the chilly night air. "Now I’m not so sure. When I matched Emma and Lucas earlier, it wasn’t about numbers or logic. It was just... a gut feeling. And for once, I trusted it."
Ryan turned slightly, his gaze steady on her. "And?"
"It worked," she admitted, a small, almost sheepish smile tugging at her lips. "They hit it off. And it felt... good. Like maybe i’s whole ’trust-your-gut’ thing isn’t as ridiculous as I thought."
Ryan studied her for a mont, his expression softening. "Sounds like soone’s learning to loosen their grip on control."
Ava gave him a sideways look. "Don’t push it."
Ryan grinned, leaning closer. "Hey, I’m just saying—it’s progress. Baby steps."
Ava rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. "Fine. Maybe I’m starting to believe there’s more to this matchmaking thing than spreadsheets and formulas. But don’t tell i. She’ll never let
live it down."
"Oh, she already knows," Ryan said, his grin widening. "She’s probably got a celebratory scrapbook started."
Ava groaned, but the laugh that followed betrayed her amusent. "You’re the worst."
"And yet," Ryan said, leaning against the railing and shooting her a sideways glance, "you keep hanging out with . Funny how that works."
---
The playful banter faded, leaving behind a quieter, more charged atmosphere. Ava tucked her hair behind her ear, a small gesture that Ryan’s gaze lingered on for just a beat too long. The golden glow of the string lights softened the sharp angles of his face, highlighting the faint curve of his grin, though his eyes held sothing deeper—sothing almost hesitant.
"You know," Ryan said, his voice quieter now, "you’re a lot braver than you give yourself credit for."
Ava blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
"You take risks every day, Ava. Even when you don’t realize it. You fight for people. You push through the chaos. You care—so much that it’s almost scary sotis." He paused, his grin fading into sothing softer. "It’s one of the things I admire about you."
Her heart skipped, his words settling over her like a warm blanket. "You... admire ?"
Ryan chuckled, though it was quiet, almost shy. "Yeah. Don’t let it go to your head, Matchmaker."
Ava opened her mouth to respond—sothing sarcastic, maybe, to deflect the way her chest tightened—but the words caught in her throat as Ryan reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers brushed her cheek, lingering for just a mont too long.
"Ava..." he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
Her breath hitched, and she felt herself leaning in slightly, drawn to him by so invisible pull. The city lights blurred, the rooftop falling away until it was just the two of them, suspended in a mont that felt both infinite and fleeting.
Their faces were inches apart, the tension so thick it was almost tangible. Ava’s heart pounded in her chest, her pulse roaring in her ears. She could see the faint flicker of uncertainty in Ryan’s eyes, like he was giving her the chance to pull away.
She didn’t.
Their lips brushed—soft, tentative, like the beginning of a question neither of them was sure how to answer. The warmth of the kiss spread through Ava like a spark catching fire, and for a mont, everything else fell away. There was no Julian, no seminar, no chaos—just Ryan, steady and real and right there.
But just as the kiss deepened, the rooftop door slamd open with a resounding bang.
"Ava! Ryan!" i’s voice rang out, cheerful and oblivious as ever. "There you are! I thought I’d find you two hiding up here."
Ava and Ryan broke apart like teenagers caught sneaking out, their cheeks flushed and their breaths uneven.
"We’re not hiding!" Ava blurted, stepping back and clutching her mug like it was a lifeline.
Ryan, ever the picture of composure, cleared his throat and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Just... getting so air."
i raised an eyebrow, her gaze darting between them, but she said nothing about the obvious tension. Instead, she smiled brightly. "Well, don’t stay up too late! We’ve got a busy day tomorrow."
As soon as i disappeared back inside, Ava let out a groan, burying her face in her hands. "I hate her timing."
Ryan laughed, the sound warm and unbothered. "It’s kind of her thing."
Ava peeked at him through her fingers, noting the way his grin hadn’t faded entirely. "You’re not helping."
"Hey, if it makes you feel better..." Ryan paused, his smirk softening into sothing more genuine. "I’m pretty sure we’ll get another shot."
Ava’s breath caught, but before she could respond, he nodded toward the door. "Co on. We should call it a night."
She followed him inside, her heart still racing and her mind spinning. And though she didn’t say it out loud, part of her couldn’t help but hope he was right.
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