One Little Lie

AVA

“Harper.”

Miles’s voice sounded right behind me, scaring me half to death. I gasped, dropping my hands to the counter.

He had a fresh t-shirt on now, his hair still damp. An amused look danced in his eyes. “It is just the two of us in the house, dork. Why are you getting all scared?” he asked, stepping closer to me.

“What do you want, Miles?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

He stopped a few feet away from me, rubbing the back of his neck. The arrogant smirk was gone. “Look… I’m sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have snapped and sent you out of my room in that manner,” he said softly.

I froze, taken aback. Miles Thompson never apologized to anyone. Especially not to me. I narrowed my eyes, looking at him with deep suspicion.

“What do you actually want, Miles?” I asked again, folding my arms tightly across my chest.

“I don't want anything, dor—Ava,” he said, correcting himself. He stepped closer, and that familiar, playful mask slid right back over his face. He smirked down at me. “I’m just trying to make peace with my little sister's hot best friend.”

The moment the words left his mouth, I finally realized exactly what this was about.

He wasn't being nice because he cared. He was going to beg me to convince Riley not to call their parents about the house party. It was the exact same routine every single time. The only time he ever used my real name and acted sweet was when he wanted a favor.

“No,” I said immediately, not letting him finish. I turned around, already walking away from him.

Before I could take two steps, Miles reached out. His large, warm hand wrapped around my wrist, and he firmly pulled me back toward him.

He didn't let go of my hand. He kept his grip firm but gentle, his dark eyes staring intensely into mine. “Hey, hey, hold on. I haven’t even said anything yet,” he murmured, his voice suddenly becoming very serious. He didn't look like he was playing a game anymore.

We stood there in the quiet kitchen, completely frozen, just looking at each other. My breath hitched in my throat, my skin burning everywhere his fingers touched my wrist. Miles cleared his throat, breaking the intense spell, and his playful smirk quickly returned.

“Ava! Let’s go, I’m ready!” Riley’s voice called out from the living room.

I tried to pull my hand away to leave, but Miles held on for just one more second, his gaze lingering on my lips. Finally, he let go, raising his hands in the air in surrender.

“I thought you’d follow me upstairs,” Riley said as I walked back into the living room, completely ignoring Miles. “I was about to show you—”

“How can you be so evil, Riley?” Miles’s voice interrupted, loud and angry as he walked out of the kitchen behind me.

Riley stopped packing her bag and snapped her head up. “What the fuck are you talking about, Miles?”

Miles raised his hand, waving the brown leather wallet in the air. “Sarah was just looking for this. You hid it from her, didn't you?”

Riley’s face turned bright red with fury. “Are you joking right now?! What business do I have with your whores and their personal belongings?!” she snapped back, her voice echoing in the house. “You are just mad because—”

“Let’s just go, Riley,” I interrupted quickly, grabbing my best friend’s arm and physically pulling her toward the front door. My heart was beating so fast I could barely breathe.

“Can you actually believe him?” Riley fumed the moment we walked out of the house and onto the driveway. “Why would I ever steal a wallet? It is not my fault his girls turn completely blind after being fucked all through the night!”

I slowly let out a massive sigh of relief, looking back at the closed front door one last time.

“Let’s just forget about him,” I whispered.