3

AVA

“ My presence messes you that much, Whitmore? Forget what you were going to say?”

His voice breaks me out of my reverie. “You wish,” I retort, rolling my eyes.

No wonder he always ends up in girls' pants. Cocky jerk, he really does have a way with words.

“ You know what I used to think about you?” Kai pauses, letting his words sink in. “ I thought you were just another spoiled brat. A goody two shoes who reads too much and barely speaks. Guess I was mostly right, except for the last part.”

“You do talk,” he mutters.

“ I talk,” I snap. “ Just not to you.”

“Fairs.”

Kai steps from behind me and starts to walk away. For a second, I think he's leaving just like that, but he stops and leans against a wall. He pulls out a cigarette, slips it between his fingers and lights it in with a lazy flick.

I watch as he brings the cigarette to his lips, inhales and lets the smoke slip out.

His blue eyes bore into mine through the haze. “ Do you smoke?” He asks.

I lift a shoulder in a half shrug. “No.”

“ I am sure part of what’s going through your head right now is you judging me.”

“Why would I judge you? It’s none of my business what you do.”

“So, would you like to try smoking?”

My eyebrows lift. Seriously? Why would he ask me that? And just like that, Mom’s voice creeps into my head: People like that Cooper boy next house will always try to pull you into their world. More reason you should stay away from them.

“No,” I say.

What the hell am I even doing here, alone with Kai Cooper? I should’ve walked out the second he walked in, but I didn’t. Have I completely lost it?

I should move right now, but my feet stay glued to the floor like they’ve forgotten how to function. Perhaps he is right, his presence really does mess with me and I hate that I can’t even explain why. I’m just sitting here, forcing myself to meet his gaze, even as it pierces right through me.

Kai takes another slow drag from his cigarette, smoke curling between us. “Wait, you are really here alone? Without your dick of a boyfriend? What happened, aren’t you two joined at the hip or something?”

Oh wow? He is bringing up Luke now?

“And where’s that girl who was halfway down your throat a few moments ago?” I shoot back.

“I thought you two were glued together.”

Those damn dimples flash again. What the heck is so funny to him?

“Wait… oh her.” He shrugs. “Fuck, I don’t even remember her name. She’s probably still around somewhere.”

“You kissed someone and didn't even know her name?”

“Because why not?”

I throw him a glare. Of course, another reminder of what Kai Cooper really is. That's all the push I need. I pack up my things and start walking away, not sparing him a last glance.

“Leaving me without a word?” His voice stops me in my tracks.

I don’t turn around.

“Let’s just forget I ever talked to you today.”

“ Not happening, Ava.”

My stomach flips. I can feel his gaze burning into me. Hell, I won't let him get into my head. I don't say a word, I just leave.

~

The doorbell rings, breaking the silence in the living room. I glance at Zade, my twin brother, lounging on the couch. He meets my gaze with a questioning look.

“ What's that look for?” He questions, his eyebrows furrowed. “ Answer the door or just let it ring.”

“ Aren't you expecting anyone?” I ask back.

He gives a half shrug. “ Do I ever bring people over?”

I roll my eyes. He has no idea I know about the random girls he sneaks in. He thinks he is slick with it, but he's not. If our parents ever found out? They'd lose it. They're already tired of Zade and all the ways he keeps breaking their rules. Bringing his flings into the house? That'd be the final straw.

My twin brother is the complete opposite of me. While I am the perfect one like he always says, he's the rebellious one. He doesn't care what our parents think. He does whatever he wants, however he wants and deals with the consequences.

Sometimes I wish I could be like Zade - bold, unbothered and able to live without constantly thinking of what our parents will say. But I'm not like Zade. I care too much, especially about my parents’ validation.

“Then let’s not answer it,” Zade’s voice jolts me out of my thoughts.

“If it bothers you that much, you could just answer it yourself,” I snap, shooting him a glance.

If there’s one thing we have in common, it’s the looks. Our parents really did us a favor in the gene department. Brunette hair, honey brown eyes, long lashes - we got all of it. If we were the same gender, we’d probably be identical.

I stand up from the couch and walk over to the door. I open it and there he is, Luke standing right in front of me.

Shit. He actually said he was coming over tonight. How the hell did I forget that?

“Hey,” I say, forcing a smile onto my face as I step aside to let him in.

Luke smiles back and leans in, pressing a kiss to my lips. His eyes trail over me slowly. “Damn, you look gorgeous in this nightgown. I might have to buy you more of these.”

I am about to say something when Zade cuts in.

“ You two might want to take that upstairs. I'd rather lose my hearing than listen to Westbrook say crap like that.”

Typical Zade. What a dick. He’s never liked Luke. He thinks I’m only with him because it fits my parents’ perfect little image of me. And of course, he’ll never admit he might be wrong about that because I’m not with Luke just because our parents introduced us. I am with him because he's perfect and makes me feel good.

“Let’s go upstairs.”

I take Luke’s hand and lead him to my room.

His eyes stay on me the whole way. I close the door and lock it behind me, then walk over to where he's already sitting on the bed.

“Come here,” Luke says, pulling me closer until there’s barely any space between us.

“How did the meeting with your coach go?” I ask.

“Don’t worry about that,” He replies. “Same old thing.”

“I wish you’d tell me more. Every time I ask about those things, you just brush it off. I just want us to talk more,” I say.

This isn’t the first time I’ve said something like this to Luke. And yet, here I am saying it again, like this time it might actually be different.

He shrugs. “It’s not like you’re really into soccer or know much about it.”

“I know. But you could teach me.”

“There’s a party this weekend. Just the football team. Would you come with me?”

“My parents - ”

Luke cuts me off. “We both know your parents won’t mind if you’re going with me. It’s been a while since you came to a party with me. I’d really love for you to come. Will you?”

I hold his gaze. I’m not a fan of parties and everything that comes with them. But Luke’s looking at me like if I am not there, something might be missing, like he might fall apart just a little.

So I smile. “Yes.”

His mouth curls into a smile. He leans in and cups my cheeks pressing his lips to mine. I kiss him back, my fingers tangle in his hair. One thing is certain about Luke, he's a really good kisser. He's the only one I've ever kissed, but he is so good at it.

I feel his hand move from my neck to the curve of my boob, deepening the kiss.

All of a sudden, he breaks the kiss. “Ava…”

“Luke, what?”

His voice drops low. “ I really want more than this, more than kissing and oral sex. I want all of you.”

My eyelids drop. “But I’m not ready yet. I just feel like the timing isn’t right.”

Luke pulls back a little, running his fingers through his hair. “We’ve been together for over six months, and you still think the timing isn’t right?”

He continues. “ I just don't get it, Ava. I do everything right. I treat you like a princess and you still don't give a damn about me as much as I care about you.”

“Luke, I -”

He shakes his head.“It is getting late. I think I should go home.”

“Don’t leave,” I say quickly without even stopping to think. “I can… I can suck you.”

“What’s the point?” He blurts out.

“But - ”

Before I can finish, he turns and walks away. Just like that.