Torn between risking it all and losing the man she loves, Ava must make a choice, but in the process of making this choice, Ava must accept the consequences of her actions and the damage that it leaves.
Series Order: Baby Steps, Colossal Jump, Movin...
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My breath gets caught in my throat as I become torn between two decisions. Keep this a secret, or confess to Kyle before he has the chance to hear it from someone else. I don't want him to figure this out himself either. However, I have a feeling he's going to be hurt regardless of how he hears the news.
"I'm fine." I huff, losing my sudden moment of courage.
A part of me wanted to tell Kyle everything, to spill my gut and confess that I'd done something bad. However, the words didn't seem to leave my lips. Somehow, they'd been caught in my throat and I'm fine comes out instead.
I'd never had the gut for facing things head on, not like Kyle, Blake, or even Logan did. I wanted to keep everyone happy, but by doing that, it meant I had to keep sacrificing myself along with other people.
To keep Blake happy, I'd have to scream it from the tallest building in our city, but for Kyle to be happy, I'd have to remain that same Ava he'd met once upon a fading memory. But for me to be happy? That seemed to be a fading illusion I didn't know how to catch.
Kyle steps towards me which makes my mind snaps from the spinning thoughts. He places his hands on either side of my face, which draws my attention to him.
"You're hiding something from me, Ava baby," he whispers, his warm beer stained breath fanning over my face.
As his brown eyes search, desperately looking for an answer within them, I lock away my emotions to safeguard us both. We'd both get hurt if he found out right now.
He draws my face closer to his, which prompts my breath to come out raggedly.
"Ava," he prods, his voice a warning.
"Maybe." With my mind hazed and confused, I suck in my bottom lip to chew on the drying skin. In my moment of weakness, I give Kyle the one thing he needs, a sign to confirm what he fears.
"Why are you hiding secrets?" A swirl of amusement, a hint of excitement reaches the depths of his brown eyes. The sight almost makes me sick. He'd never realise how serious this secret is until it leaves my lips.
My silence doesn't go down well, not for the cat and mouse position we're in. Kyle backs me into the corner counter of the kitchen without much resistance. One hand remains on my face, which guides me head to focus on his piercing eyes, while the other hand locks around my waist to keep me there.
"Ava," he warns again, but this time, his sharp voice doesn't affect me. With my emotions and secrets tucked deep inside me, I don't feel the pain of his words, I don't feel the urgency to explain everything I'm going through. I remain a distance between us, despite the close proximity of our bodies.
"Secrets hurt, Kyle." I heave.
"And?" The excited playful swirl traveling through his eyes comes to a halt. The brown turn a shade darker as the emotion on his face transforms to a brooding annoyance. The sudden flick of emotions has me gasping with fright.
