Chapter 4: I Need You.

CHAPTER 4: I NEED YOU.

AVA’S POV

It had been days—maybe weeks—since that moment in the living room with Damon. Since the kiss. Since my mind had been flooded with confusing thoughts. What the hell was wrong with me? I had to tell Adriana, I reasoned. I just had to tell her what her husband had been up to behind her back. Before I could change my mind, I went upstairs and walked quietly down the hallway, making my way to Adrianna's room.

The door to her room was slightly ajar, and as I stood at the threshold, I hesitated. Should I knock? Go in? My hand hovered near the doorknob, but I didn’t move.

Then, I heard it. Adrianna was speaking in a low, soft voice. It was obvious she was on a call. I was about to turn around when I caught her words.

"Do you remember what you did to me the last time? You were so rough. I loved it." She said. I stiffened, pressing my ear closer to the door, unsure of what I had just heard. There was a softness to her tone, something I hadn’t expected. “Yeah, I miss you too. You know I can’t stop thinking about you.”

My breath caught in my throat. My chest tightened as I stumbled backwards, my heart thudding in my chest. I shouldn't have been listening. I knew that. She was still on the call.

"I can’t wait to see you again,” She said. “But you need to be careful. Damon’s suspicious. I don’t want him to find out.”

Adrianna? Cheating on Damon? The realization hit me like a punch to the gut and I backed away. Suddenly, the phone call ended. There was a soft click as Adrianna hung up.

My heart beat loudly in my chest as I stood there, paralysed. I knew I had to leave. I had to walk away. But then, I heard her footsteps coming towards the door. I had no time to react.

The door opened, and there she was—Adrianna, standing right before me. I stood there, frozen. Adrianna’s surprise was evident in the way her eyes widened as she stepped out of her room, her suitcase in hand. It was like she hadn’t expected anyone to be at the door, certainly not me.

“Ava?” Her voice caught in a gasp. “What are you doing here?”

I didn’t know what to say. I’d heard things I shouldn’t have and I didn’t know how to process it all, so I just stood there.

“I was, um... about to knock,” I mumbled. The words felt lame as soon as they left my mouth.

Adrianna glanced at me, her brow furrowing. She didn’t seem angry, just surprised. But there was something else. Maybe it was guilt—something that didn’t quite fit. She shifted her weight and adjusted the strap of her bag, avoiding my eyes.

“I had to pack for a trip,” she said, shrugging like it was no big deal.

“A trip?” I echoed, trying to keep my voice neutral, though I couldn’t hide the doubt in my tone. “Just like that?”

“Yeah,” she answered too quickly. “Business. It’s... last-minute. I’ll be gone for a few days. Maybe longer, depending.”

I raised an eyebrow. I hadn’t even known she was going anywhere. This felt sudden.

“Okay,” I said.

Adrianna’s eyes darted.

“I’ll be back soon,” she added, brushing past me without really looking at me. “Take care, alright?”

I nodded, feeling a knot form in my stomach. “Yeah. Safe travels.”

Her footsteps faded as she left, and I went downstairs. What had just happened?

It didn’t take long for the sound of Adrianna’s car to fade in the distance, and then the house was still. Adrianna hadn’t just been talking to anyone. She’d been talking to someone else. Someone she... didn’t want Damon to find out about.

Before I could stop myself, Damon’s car pulled into the driveway, tires crunching against the gravel. He stepped inside a few minutes later, the sound of the door clicking shut behind him.

“Hey,” he said casually, but I could tell something was different. He paused when he saw me standing there, watching him.

“Adrianna left?” he asked, his voice low, but there was something in the way he looked at me that made my heart beat a little faster. Like he was trying to gauge something. His gaze lingered.

I nodded, forcing myself to sound normal. “Yeah. She’s gone. Said something about a business trip. Last-minute.”

He looked at me, his eyes narrowing a little, like he didn’t quite believe it, but he didn’t press the issue.

“Alright,” Damon said, but there was an edge to his voice now. Something that wasn’t there before. His eyes flickered to me, then away. “I... need to tell you something.”

I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up. His tone was different. Too serious. Too heavy.

“What is it?” I asked, my voice was quieter than I wanted it to be.

Damon stood still, taking a breath before he turned to face me. “There’s something I’ve been hiding from Adrianna. And I can’t hide it anymore. It’s... it’s time you knew.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “What are you talking about?” My heart was starting to race, but I didn’t know why.

His eyes softened, but there was still that deep sadness behind them.

“I’m sick, Ava. I have a terminal illness.” His voice was raw, like the words themselves had been too heavy to say.

I felt the ground shift beneath me. Sick? Terminal illness? I stared at him, unable to speak for a moment. “Sick?” I whispered. “What do you mean sick?”

Damon exhaled slowly, his shoulders slumping like the weight of it all had been too much for him. “I’ve been hiding it for a while. But I don’t want Adrianna to know. I can’t break her. I... I can’t let her watch me fade away.”

I swallowed hard. “What do you mean you’re hiding it? You’ve been sick, and you never told her?”

He didn’t meet my eyes for a second. When he did, there was nothing but exhaustion in them.

“I didn’t want to hurt her, Ava. I didn’t want to put that on her. But it’s not going to get better. I don’t have much time.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that. How could I?

“I’m sorry,” I managed, though the words felt empty. I didn’t know what else to say.

Damon didn’t seem to expect anything else. He stepped closer to me, as his eyes remained steady on mine. “But there’s more. I need something from you. Something I can’t get from anyone else. I have a few months. A few months, and then... everything ends.”

His words hit me.

“I don’t want to be alone, Ava,” Damon continued. “I don’t want her to know. I don’t want you to feel sorry for me. But I need you, Ava. For a few months. That’s all. Just... mess around with me. After that, everything ends.”