"What kind of distraction do you want?" Noah asked, signaling for the check.

They had finished their pancakes, and Violet felt a bit better, though she was mortified to have been caught out in her pajamas. Going to a clothes store first seemed like the best option.

"Can I get something to wear besides pajamas before we figure that out?" she asked nonchalantly, masking her embarrassment.

"Sure."

They returned to the car, and Noah drove them to a nearby mall. Violet bought the first thing she tried on: a white spaghetti-strap romper covered in sunflowers.

Her bedhead, however, remained a problem. Spotting a sunflower hair clip in an accessory store, she saw the perfect solution.

Violet excused herself to the bathroom, attempting to tame her hair with water. The result was a messy braid secured by the clip, but she looked boho chic instead of disheveled.

When she returned, Noah shook his head with an amused smile. "No one would ever guess you ran outside in your pajamas this morning."

"That's the idea," Violet replied, relieved she looked presentable.

She still hadn't decided on a distraction when Noah pulled into a parking lot near Central Park. A nostalgic smile touched her lips; they had spent a lot of time there as children.

He led her to the playground, specifically the swings. Only one was free, so he gestured for her to sit while he pushed.

Violet laughed. It had been years since she'd been on a swing. Once she was old enough to stay home alone, her mother stopped bringing her to the park with her younger brothers.

"If you're trying to distract me with nostalgia, it's working," she informed him.

Noah was behind her, so she couldn't see his smile, but she heard it in his voice. "Good. That was the plan. Plus, some sunshine wouldn't hurt. Vitamin D is important, you know."

She rolled her eyes. Everyone always chided her about not going outside enough. Wasn't the time spent commuting sufficient sun exposure? She preferred indoor activities.

That said, Violet enjoyed reading in her terrace hammock. Unfortunately, she lacked time lately. Schoolwork had become increasingly demanding. Even with her speed-reading skills, she spent hours on it daily.

Often, she brought her homework to her meetings with Noah so they could work on assignments together. This allowed her to help him while also completing her own work.

Before her workload increased, Violet finished everything at school and had plenty of free time after ballet. Life definitely got busier with age.

Things were simpler when she was younger. She didn't worry about her image, her twin brother, or her future. All that mattered was playing with Noah and Kaleb, her two favorite people.

While she looked forward to the future and longed for romantic excitement, Violet struggled with change. New schools, making friends, new schedules—adjusting always took time.

Now, she faced another difficult adjustment: life without her grandfather. He had been an important part of her life, and adjusting to a world without him felt impossible.

"What are you thinking about, Vi?" Noah asked, pushing her higher.

Lost in thought, she only registered his hands on her back.

"Change," Violet said sadly. "It'll be strange not having Grandpa. It was hard enough when he moved to the care center, but now I can't see him at all."

"I'm not sure what to say," Noah replied hesitantly. "When my grandma died, I was sad, but I only saw her a few times a year, so the difference wasn't as noticeable. It was easier to feel like she was still around."

Jennica's mother had passed away a year ago. The funeral was in Ohio, so Violet couldn't attend, despite wanting to support her friend. Her mother said she shouldn't burden the Singletons during their grief.

She reluctantly agreed; Jennica shouldn't have to care for an extra person while mourning her only parent.

Noah clearly wanted to comfort her but lacked the right words. That alone was almost comforting; his care and consideration were better than any advice.

The girl on the swing next to them ran back to the playground, allowing Noah to join Violet. He sat and gently rocked, using his feet.

Violet continued pumping her legs, using the momentum from his pushes to swing as high as possible. Perhaps she could leave her melancholy behind if she swung high enough.

"I don't need advice. I was just thinking aloud. You did ask," she said simply.

"Right. Sorry," Noah replied.

"Don't apologize! I appreciate you being here. I don't know what I would have done if I'd been stuck at home wallowing."

"Cried more?" he asked, smiling slightly.

Violet rolled her eyes. He wasn't wrong, but she didn't need him to know that.

(The final promotional sentence has been removed as it is irrelevant to the text cleanup.)