Ava's POV
Ethan and I got back together, but he's been acting off lately. Less calls, shorter texts, distant eyes. I try not to overthink it, but something's changed. I feel it.
It had been one year of Ethan and me dating. We agreed to surprise each other with gifts. I got him a Valmoré Chronomaster wristwatch and wrote a letter, simple but honest.
I also bought lingerie. I didn't know which one I'd wear yet, but I had made up my mind—I was ready for sex, even if I didn't feel attractive enough.
Ethan picked me up from the house. When we got to his place, I saw Nico.
He was in the kitchen again, cooking like nothing existed outside that stove. I turned to face him.
"Uhmm, I'm sorry about the other day. I know I lashed out. I was just going through some things."
"Little angel," he said, voice low and careless.
He came closer, close enough that he could kiss me. "You've got fire. I like that."
My breath caught. I looked away, heart beating, suddenly very aware of the thin dress I was wearing under my coat.
"I'm with Ethan," I muttered, almost to myself.
"I didn't ask," he replied, walking past me like nothing just happened.
I stood there frozen, the air between us charged. It was wrong. All of it. But why did it feel like my skin was still tingling?
Just then, Ethan called from upstairs. "Babe, you coming?"
I blinked and hurried up, pretending nothing happened. But something had shifted, and I knew it.
Ethan opened his bedroom door, and we both froze.
Melissa was on his bed.
Not sitting. Lying there. Wearing nothing but one of Ethan's shirts, her fingers playing with the hem like she owned the place.
My heart stopped. I couldn't speak. Couldn't move.
Ethan stepped back, eyes wide. "What the hell, Melissa?"
She just smiled, slow and lazy. "I thought I'd surprise you."
I looked at Ethan. Then at her. Then back at him.
Something broke inside me.
"You told me to trust you," I said, my voice barely a whisper.
He didn't answer. He didn't have to.
I turned around and walked out. Again.
I was confused. Ethan and Melissa? When? How? None of it made sense. My chest tightened. I wanted to scream, cry—do anything but stand there. But I couldn't move.
The whole week passed by in a blur. I was heartbroken. Ethan only called twice. That's it. No explanations. No apologies. I guess I was just a joke to him.
It was a few days before our graduation party. I should've been happy—college was over—but thinking about Ethan still hurt.
Then there was a knock. Ethan.
"Your dad let me in," he said. "Ava, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for any of it to happen. I didn't know she was coming."
"Wait—so something is going on between you and Melissa?" I asked.
"No, babe. I swear, I don't know how she got in. I'm sorry."
I looked at him. He looked so damn sincere. I wanted to stay mad, but I couldn't.
"I love you, Ethan. I just... I don't want Melissa coming between us."
I wrapped my arms around him and held on tight.
The night of our graduation party came faster than I expected. Music. Lights. Laughter everywhere. I wore a smile, but my chest was tight.
I had Ethan by my side again—but something still felt off.
Ethan glanced at his phone, his expression changing.
"Babe, can you give me a sec?" Ethan asked.
"Sure, babe. I'm here, waiting," I replied.
I stood in the middle of the hall, heart sinking. Thirty minutes passed. No sign of him. I looked around, asked a few people—nothing. But there was one last place I hadn't checked.
The upstairs guest room.
I pushed the door open.
Melissa was on top of Ethan.
My heart stopped.
"What the hell is this?" My voice cracked, but I stood my ground.
Ethan pushed Melissa off, rushing to sit up. "Ava, wait—it's not what it looks like."
Melissa just smiled, like she won.
I backed away slowly, blinking hard, like maybe the scene would change if I looked again. But it didn't.
"You said you loved me," I whispered.
He stood, pants half-buttoned. "I do—Ava, I do. She came onto me, I didn't—"
"Don't," I cut in. "Don't lie to me again."
"Hey, do you really think I can keep coping with you? I gave you chances. You're lucky I'm even dating you," Ethan snapped.
"What?" I breathed, stunned. This couldn't be real.
Melissa mocked. "Bitch, who do you think you are? You really thought you could keep him? You're just trash."
"Let's go, babe," Ethan said, grabbing Melissa's hand and walking out like I was nothing.
I left the room, heading straight for the drinks. I chugged the hot liquor in my hand—burning, bitter, but not enough. I felt helpless. Lost. And then... everything went black.
I wasn't sure what was happening. I was floating, maybe. No—being carried. I tried to open my eyes, but the face above me was blurry. Unclear. I wanted to speak, but the words wouldn't come.
I woke up in a room I didn't recognize. It was dark. My head spun—I was still high. I reached for my phone. 1:06 a.m.
"Oh my God, Dad is gonna kill me," I snapped, sitting up too fast.
"I already texted him," a voice said calmly. Nico. "Told him you were hanging out with friends. That you're not coming back tonight."
"What? How am I here with you?" I said, already trying to get up.
"Where are you going? You're still high, and it's late," he said, standing but not moving toward me. "I texted your dad from your phone. And I'm not touching you, Ava… unless you want me to."
I sat down on the bed quietly. Nico sat across from me. Then a flashback of everything that happened came to my head.
"Ethan cheated on me with Melissa," I muttered.
Nico didn't speak right away. He just stared, like he was letting it settle, like he understood.
"He chose Melissa over me," I added, voice shaking now. "After everything."
Still, silence.
Then he leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "That's on him. Not you."
Just that. No pity. No fake comfort. But it made something in my chest crack.
He traced my body with his hands, slow and careful, like he was learning me. My skin burned under his touch, not from heat, but from how gentle he was. Like I might break. He paused at my collarbone, then brushed a thumb over my lips.
Then he stopped.
"Why did you stop?" I asked, breath caught, eyes locked on him.
"You're my nephew's girlfriend," he said, voice low.
"No... ex," I corrected him.
He looked away. "I can't do this, okay? You're young and—"
"I don't care," I cut him off. "I just want you to touch me."
He didn't answer. Just pulled me into his arms. I melted into him, letting my body sink into his warmth. We didn't speak. He didn't try anything. He just held me. And for the first time in a long time, I didn't feel broken.