Chapter 5 - Too Close to Ignore

Ava's POV

Lila insisted that the best way to "stop spiraling over a boy" was to keep busy.

So naturally, five minuted later, I was reorganizing my closet, regretting every clothing purchase I had ever made, and absolutely still spiraling over a boy.

I kept replaying his face. His voice. They way he smiled when he saw me watching.

This was ridiculous. I needed air.

I headed downstairs to grab a cold drink-and my mom called from the back room, "Ava! Can you run next door and return the measuring tape Mrs. Carter lent me?"

Perfect. Next door. Exactly where I wasn't supposed to be thinking about going.

But I grabbed the tape measure anyway and stepped outside, telling myself it meant nothing. I wasn't going over for him. Just a quick errand. Easy.

The Carter front door was partly open, so I knocked lightly and stepped inside. "Hello? Mrs. Carter?"

No answer.

I turned the corner-and nearly collided straight into Noah.

He caught me by the arms on instinct, warm hands firm against my skin.

For one dizzying second, I didn't move. Neither did he.

We were close-way, way too close. Close enough to hear his breath. Close enough to see the speck of gold in his eyes. Close enough that stepping away felt impossible.

"Ave," he said softly. Like my name meant something.

"I-I was just returning this," I manages, holding up the tape measure like a pathetic shield.

His lips twitched. "Dangerous weapon."

I rolled my eyes trying to ignore how fast my heart was beating. "Your mom lent it to mine."

He didn't step back. Not even a little.

Instead, his thumb brushed my arm before he let go-barely a touch, but enough to send a spark straight through me.

"You okay?" he asked, voice low.

"Totally. Fine. Great." I was none of those things.

He leaned one shoulder against the wall, studying me like hr was trying to figure something out. "You ran away pretty fast earlier."

My face heated instantly. "I didn't run."

"You did." A slow smile appeared. "It was cute."

Cute. No. Absolutely not. I refused to let that word affect me the way it did.

"I wasn't running from you," I lied.

"Good," he said softly. "Because I'm not running either."

My brain caught. My brain short-circuited. Every warning my brother ever gave me evaporated.

Noah stepped aside so I could pass, but as I brushed by him, his hand grazed mine-light, intentional, devastating.

"See you later, Collins," he murmured.

I walked out the door with legs that barely worked, heart thudding like it was trying to break out of my closet.

Lila was right.

I wasn't surviving this summer. Not even a little.

And the worst part?

I didn't want to.