Never Underestimate Destiny

Part 17

Ava's brow was creased in confusion as she drove to Kyle's house. She just couldn't figure out why Kyle never mentioned that he'd slept with Liz.

It's not that Ava was jealous or expected Kyle to have been a monk before she met him. On the contrary, she knew he was experienced. It didn't bother her that he had been with other women.

He'd been very open with her about his past and she knew he'd had other relationships. She even knew he'd dated Liz briefly before she was shot and healed by Max. But Kyle had never mentioned that they'd slept together just a few weeks ago.

She wasn't mad at him, she just wondered why he hadn't told her. And she wondered if Liz had told Zan.

Ava guessed not. She thought Zan probably would have mentioned it to her.

Pulling the Mustang into the Valenti driveway she turned off the engine. Gathering her few things she walked up to the door and knocked.

Maybe Kyle and Liz decided it was a mistake, Ava thought. Maybe they agreed just to put it behind them.

The door flew open a moment later, Kyle greeting her with a warm grin. He wrapped his arms around her. "Hey, baby," he breathed.

Ava pressed herself against him automatically, and spoke in his ear the four words that men dread most. "We need to talk."

Kyle pulled back, his smile dissolving as he searched her face. "What's wrong?" He asked confused. He thought things were going great between them.

"Is your dad home?" She asked.

He nodded dumbly.

"Let's sit in my car, where we can have some privacy," she said.

A terrible feeling of foreboding rushed through Kyle. Was he losing Ava already? He was pretty sure he was falling for her.

He followed her to the car and got in the passenger seat, closing the door with a final – sounding thud, and turned to face her.

"Kyle," she started, "what is going on with you and Liz, and why didn't you tell me about her?"

Now Kyle was really confused. He shook his head. "I told you we dated before she got shot, and a little after, but she's been a goner for Max since then."

Ava's brow creased. "Aren't you conveniently forgetting that you had sex with her a couple of weeks ago?"

"What!?!" Kyle exclaimed, his voice rising unnaturally. "I never slept..."

He trailed off as he realized what he was saying. He had pretended to sleep with Liz, and she had asked him never to tell anyone. But he didn't want to keep a secret like that from Ava.

"This is going to sound crazy," he started, and then realized he was talking to a girl from another planet, "or maybe not."

He ran his hands over his face. "I never slept with Liz," he said.

"But Tess said," Ava started.

Kyle nodded, cutting her off. "Yeah, everyone thinks we did, but it was all a setup. You see Liz came to me needing my help. She asked me to pretend that we were sleeping together so Max could catch us."

"What?" Ava asked. "She wanted Max to catch you."

"Yeah," he continued, "and as far as I know, he still thinks we had sex. And before you ask me why, I have no idea. Liz wouldn't tell me. But I kinda think it was get Max to leave her alone. He kept trying to get her back, and she kept saying no, but he wouldn't give up."