Crossing the Line

AVA

I didn't bother typing a response back. I simply slipped my feet into my fluffy bedroom slippers and quietly crept out of the room, making sure the door didn't make a sound as I walked down the hall to his bedroom. I knocked gently once, then twice.

The door swung open, and Miles stood there. He wasn't wearing a shirt at all—only a pair of low-slung grey sweatpants. Seeing the hard lines of his bare chest and abs up close, I immediately thought to myself that coming here might have been a terrible idea.

“Dork,” he said, a soft smile spreading across his face.

“Are you actually going to let me inside, or are you just going to stand there?” I asked, crossing my arms to hide my nervousness.

He stepped to the side, opening the space to let me walk into his room, and locked the door securely behind us.

“Is Amora asleep?” he asked, leaning his back against the door.

“Yeah. And for some strange reason, I just can't seem to fall asleep.”

“I’ve been there,” he said smoothly. He folded his arms over his bare chest, his eyes locked onto me as he watched my every move.

Under his intense gaze, I suddenly felt incredibly small in the middle of the room. I cleared my throat quickly before speaking again, desperate to break the silence. “So, why exactly are you awake so late?”

“It’s not my bedtime yet,” he said simply.

“So when exactly is your bedtime?”

“Three or four in the morning,” he said, walking over to his bed and picking up his phone from the mattress.

“I really don't think that is healthy for you,” I said, frowning slightly.

He let out a low laugh. “I don't do healthy,” he said, using his fingers to make dramatic air-quotes.

I rolled my eyes at his arrogance as I walked over and took a seat on the edge of his bed.

“Well, if you are awake way past a normal bedtime, that usually means you’re thinking about someone or something,” Miles said, walking over and sitting down right next to me on the mattress. “Is something bothering you?”

I looked down at his face, and then quickly looked back down at my own fingers twisting in my lap. “Not really. But I was thinking a lot about my dad during the family dinner tonight,” I confessed quietly.

“Oh. No wonder,” he muttered softly, his tone instantly losing its teasing edge.

“Yeah. But I’m fine, really. I just miss him a lot,” I said.

“That’s completely fine, Ava. You are totally valid for feeling that way,” he said gently. “Especially after being forced to see my annoying parents kiss and act mushy all night.”

His comment succeeded in making me let out a little laugh. “Yeah, I guess. But they are really cute together, though. I just wished my mom had the chance to keep experiencing a love like that. That’s all,” I said, finally lifting my head to look at him.

He was already staring directly at me. “She’ll be fine. She has you, Ava. You are more than enough for her.”

I blinked, completely stunned by his tone. “Wow. I actually can't believe wise, supportive words are coming out of your mouth right now,” I teased.

He rolled his eyes, the familiar smirk returning. “Don't get used to it. I still hate you, dork. This is just me being… supportive.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered, smiling gently. I looked around the room, trying to change the subject before the air got too heavy. “You’ll be done with college soon. Are you excited about graduating?”

“I guess so. Life has to keep moving on, so yeah,” he said, shrugging his shoulders.

“Is there anything specific you want to do before school is officially over?” I asked, turning my body to face him.

“Yeah, a few things,” he murmured, his eyes locking onto mine.

“Like what? Sleep with every single girl in your social circle?” I joked.

“Done that already,” he shot back instantly without missing a beat.

My jaw dropped, and I snapped my head to look at him in pure disbelief.

Miles instantly burst out laughing at my reaction. “I’m joking, Ava.”

“You are such a whore,” I said, shaking my head in disgust.

“Only for extremely pretty girls,” he whispered, his voice suddenly dropping low as his eyes dropped down to my lips.

“Right,” I muttered, my throat suddenly feeling completely dry.

Miles suddenly stood up from the bed, taking a few steps away from me toward the center of the room. “You should probably go back to your room before Riles wakes up,” he said, his back turned to me.

I raised an eyebrow, completely confused by his sudden shift in energy. Was he actually being serious right now?

“Riley is completely knocked out, Miles. I don't think she is waking up anytime soon,” I said, standing up from the bed. “You literally asked me to come over, and now you're telling me to leave?”

“I’m just trying to prevent… things,” he said roughly, refusing to turn around.

“Prevent what exactly?” I asked, taking a step toward him.

“Ava.”

“Miles.”

“Stop being childish and just leave the room,” he ordered, his voice tight.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I said stubbornly, stepping right into his line of sight.

He let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his messy hair. “Why are you doing this to me?” he asked, his dark eyes looking completely tortured.

“I’m literally just existing right here, Miles. You’re the one being a complete coward.”

“A coward?” he repeated, his eyes flashing.

“Yeah, a coward,” I challenged. I knew it was definitely the wine from dinner talking through me, but I was honestly glad it gave me the courage. “Be a man and just own up to what you are actually feeling right now.”

"You remember that guy at lunch?"

I frowned at his question.

"Which guy?"

"Exactly."

"Miles."

"I spent twenty minutes wanting to throw him into the ocean."

"What?"

"I know. It's pathetic."

"Why?"

He laughed bitterly.

"Because he was talking to you.”

I watched him fight with himself, like every word hurt to say.

"Why are you doing this to me?" He asked

"Doing what?"

He looked at me like I was insane.

"Being you."

I stared.

"That doesn't even make sense." I said shaking my head

"I know."

He stepped closer.

"Nothing about this makes sense."

"Miles..."

"You're Riley's best friend."

"I know that."

"You're annoying."

"Wow."

"You drive me crazy."

"You're not helping your case." I said taking a step back.

A laugh escaped him.

Then his expression softened.

"And somehow you're still the first thing I think about when I wake up."

Silence stretched between us.

He laughed once and shook his head.

"I can't even get five minutes of peace from you, you're everywhere, Ava.”

“This is so weird,” he muttered, rubbing his temples like he was going crazy. “Please just don't think too much about this. I… I’m—”

“An idiot?” I finished for him, a soft, breathless laugh escaping my lips.

He opened his eyes, and the harsh tension in his face relaxed just a little bit.

“I know that already,” I whispered.

Miles rolled his eyes, but before I could even blink, he reached out, grabbed my waist, and pulled my body flush against his hard, bare chest. He wrapped his strong arms tightly around me. I froze in absolute shock at first, my heart hammering wildly, but slowly, I melted completely into his warm embrace. This was the first time the two of us had ever held each other this way.

He lifted his head slightly, his dark eyes moving from my eyes down to my lips. I was already on the absolute verge of melting away into puddles right there on his floor.

Giving up the fight, I went completely with my heart. I leaned up on my tiptoes and kissed him.

I was officially kissing my best friend’s fucking brother.

I let out a soft moan against his mouth almost immediately as his lips locked perfectly with mine. His large hands traveled down to grip my waist tightly, pulling me closer, while my hands flew up, burying my fingers deep into his messy hair. I had always secretly imagined what it would feel like to kiss him, but the real thing was a million times better than anything my imagination could have ever cooked up.

Fuck.