Crossing the line

5: New Rules, Same Dangers

AVA

Ava spent the rest of the day avoiding everyone, locking herself in her room under the pretense of organizing her things. But no matter how many times she folded and refolded her clothes, the conversation with Jake replayed in her mind on a loop.

I care about you. I always have.

The words had been so simple, yet they had thrown her entire world off balance. Jake had always been a fixture in her life-annoying, persistent, impossible to ignore. But she had never allowed herself to believe that he might see her in the same way she had started to see him.

She shook her head, pacing the length of her room. This couldn't happen. Whatever was brewing between them had to stop. Jake was her brother's best friend. Liam would flip if he even suspected that something more than friendly banter was going on between them.

But the look in Jake's eyes had been undeniable. He wasn't playing around anymore. And worst of all, Ava wasn't sure if she had the strength to resist him.

Her phone buzzed on her nightstand, pulling her from her thoughts. She glanced at the screen and saw Liam's name.

Liam: Bonfire at the lake tonight. You in?

She stared at the message, debating whether to go. Normally, she'd jump at the chance to hang out by the lake, especially with some of their old high school friends around. But now, with Jake's confession still lingering in her mind, the idea of seeing him again felt overwhelming.

Another buzz. This time, a message from Jake.

Jake: Hope you're coming tonight. We need to finish our conversation.

Ava groaned, tossing the phone back onto her bed. Of course Jake wouldn't let it go. He never had been one to back down from a challenge, and now it seemed that she was the challenge.

But the truth was, she wasn't ready to finish that conversation. She wasn't ready to face the possibility that she might want something from Jake that she couldn't have.

After another ten minutes of indecision, Ava finally threw on a pair of shorts and a hoodie. She couldn't avoid this forever, and besides, she wasn't going to let Jake ruin her summer. If she kept things casual, if she kept her guard up, maybe she could survive the next few months without falling into something she'd regret.

When she arrived at the lake, the bonfire was already in full swing. A dozen or so people milled around, laughing and drinking, the flames casting warm light over the familiar faces. Liam spotted her first and waved her over, his face lighting up with a grin.

"Glad you made it!" he called, handing her a beer as she approached. "Was starting to think you were going to bail on us."

Ava forced a smile, taking the bottle and twisting off the cap. "Nah, just needed some time to myself."

Liam nudged her playfully. "Well, you're here now. That's what matters."

Ava nodded, taking a sip of the beer, her eyes scanning the crowd. She spotted a few familiar faces from high school-people she hadn't kept in touch with but who still greeted her like old friends. And then, as if her body had a radar for him, her gaze landed on Jake.

He was standing near the edge of the lake, talking with a couple of guys, his hands shoved into his pockets and a relaxed smile on his face. But the second he spotted her, his eyes locked onto hers, and that smile faltered, replaced by something more serious. Something that made her heart race.

She quickly looked away, trying to act casual, but she could feel his gaze lingering on her, watching her every move. It was like a magnetic pull, something she couldn't shake no matter how hard she tried.

Liam, oblivious to the tension simmering between them, launched into a story about some construction mishap at work, and Ava did her best to laugh at the right moments, nodding along like she was fully engaged. But her mind was elsewhere-focused on the fact that Jake hadn't taken his eyes off her since she arrived.

After what felt like an eternity, Liam was called over by one of their friends, leaving Ava alone near the fire. She glanced around, half-hoping Jake had wandered off, but when she turned, he was already making his way toward her.

Her pulse quickened as he approached, his expression unreadable. "Hey," he said, his voice low enough that it felt like they were the only two people there.

"Hey," she replied, trying to keep her tone neutral. "Enjoying the party?"

Jake shrugged, his eyes never leaving hers. "It's alright. But I've been waiting for you."

Ava swallowed, suddenly very aware of how close he was standing. "Look, about earlier-"

"I meant what I said, Ava," he interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. "I care about you. I don't know when it changed, but it did. And I'm done pretending like I don't feel something."

Her heart pounded, and she could feel the pull between them growing stronger with every word he said. Part of her wanted to push him away, to tell him that this couldn't happen-that it was a bad idea for a thousand reasons. But another part of her, the part that had been longing for him all these years, was dangerously close to giving in.

"You can't just say things like that, Jake," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the crackle of the fire. "It's complicated. Liam-"

"I don't care about Liam," Jake cut in, his voice soft but determined. "Not when it comes to this. Not when it comes to you."

Ava felt like the ground was shifting beneath her. She had spent so long convincing herself that Jake was off-limits, that he was nothing more than her brother's best friend-the guy who teased her relentlessly when they were younger. But now, standing here with him, she couldn't deny the way he made her feel.

"I don't know what to do," she admitted, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "This can't happen, Jake."

"Why not?" He took a step closer, his gaze intense. "Who says it can't?"

"Liam would lose it if he found out," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We'd ruin everything."

Jake's jaw tightened, his eyes flickering with frustration. "So, what? We just ignore this? Pretend like nothing's changed between us?"

Ava didn't have an answer. She was trapped between what she wanted and what she knew was the right thing to do. But before she could say anything else, Jake took another step forward, his hand reaching out to gently touch her arm. The heat from his touch sent a jolt of electricity through her, and for a moment, she couldn't breathe.

"I can't pretend anymore, Ava," he murmured, his voice raw. "I don't want to."

Her heart was pounding so hard she thought it might burst out of her chest. She looked up at him, torn between the fear of what this could mean and the undeniable pull she felt toward him.

But just as she was about to speak, they were interrupted by the sound of someone calling Jake's name from across the clearing. He hesitated, his gaze flicking between Ava and whoever was shouting for him.

"I have to go deal with this," he said reluctantly, taking a step back. "But we're not done, Ava. We're going to finish this conversation."

Before she could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing by the fire, her mind reeling and her heart racing.

As she watched him go, Ava knew one thing for certain: this summer had just gotten a lot more complicated. And no matter how hard she tried to resist it, she wasn't sure she could stay away from Jake any longer.

<3