LUNA, LIES AND AWKWARD HOWLS

Chapter 8: Detective Wilson

Liam had barely been gone five minutes when someone knocked on Ava's door. She looked up from her book, annoyed at the interruption. Luna, who'd claimed the entire couch as her personal kingdom, didn't even bother lifting her head.

"Mr. Wilson?" Ava opened the door to find her elderly neighbor grinning like he'd just won the lottery. He was holding a tea tray with two cups, looking way too pleased with himself.

"Ava, my dear! I just made some Earl Grey and thought you might want some company." His eyes were practically sparkling with excitement, like a kid who'd discovered a secret.

"Oh, that's sweet of you, but—"

"I know you just had a visitor," Mr. Wilson said, already pushing past her into the house. He set the tray down on her coffee table like he owned the place. "That handsome young man from across the street. Liam Cross."

Ava closed the door, torn between laughing and being annoyed. "Mr. Wilson, please tell me you weren't spying on me again."

"Spying?" He put on his most innocent face, which fooled absolutely no one. "I was just watering my plants by the window. Total coincidence!"

"Your cactus? The one that needs water like once a week?"

"Even cacti need extra love sometimes," he said smoothly, then his attention shifted to Luna. "Oh! You got a cat! What's her name?"

"Luna," Ava said, giving up and sitting down. Might as well see where this was going.

"Luna! Perfect name for that gorgeous black coat." Mr. Wilson nodded approvingly, then leaned forward with that conspiratorial look she knew too well. "But what's really interesting is how Liam reacted earlier. Very... unusual."

"What do you mean?"

Mr. Wilson dropped his voice like he was sharing government secrets. "Ava, sweetie, I've lived in this town for seventy years. I know everyone and everything about them. And Liam Cross? He's definitely not what he seems."

Ava tried not to laugh. "Mr. Wilson, he's just a writer who doesn't like people much. That's totally normal."

"A writer?" Mr. Wilson scoffed. "Honey, trust me on this one. That man is a secret agent."

This time Ava couldn't help it—she burst out laughing. "A secret agent? Are you serious right now?"

"Hear me out!" He held up one finger dramatically. "First, he shows up in little old Oakwood for no good reason. Second, nobody ever sees him doing actual work—no office visits, no meetings, nothing. Third, he's way too fit for someone who supposedly sits at a desk all day writing."

Ava rolled her eyes. "Maybe he just works out."

"Fourth," Mr. Wilson continued, completely ignoring her, "he has crazy good reflexes. I once saw him turn around before a car even came around the corner. And fifth—this is the big one—he always knows when someone's coming before they even knock."

"That could just be—"

"And today," Mr. Wilson's eyes lit up even more, "I watched him with your cat. Ava, I've been watching that man for two years, and I've never seen him interact with a single animal. Today he shows up here, clearly allergic as hell, but still trying to be nice to Luna? That's agent training right there!"

"Agent training?" Ava raised an eyebrow, fighting back a grin.

"They train them to adapt to any situation to keep their cover! Even if it means suffering through it!"

Ava shook her head, but she was definitely entertained. "Okay, let's say you're right—which you're not—why would he pretend to be a writer in Oakwood?"

"Now you're asking the right questions!" Mr. Wilson clapped his hands together. "There's got to be some kind of operation in those woods. Maybe drugs, or smuggling, or—"

"Or maybe he's just a normal guy who happens to be a little weird," Ava cut him off gently.

Mr. Wilson gave her a look like she was a naive child. "Oh, Ava. You're too sweet for your own good. But I don't blame you—guys like that are trained to charm innocent women."

"Mr. Wilson!" Ava's cheeks turned pink.

"I could see it from my kitchen window," he continued casually, like he was talking about the weather. "The way he looked at you, how he forced himself to deal with that cat allergy just to make you happy... Classic romantic cover move!"

"Romantic cover move," Ava repeated flatly. "You watch way too many spy movies."

"Or," Mr. Wilson's voice got softer, "maybe he really likes you, and that's making him break character."

Ava went quiet. Something about the way he said it made her heart skip a beat.

"What do you mean?"

"Listen, kiddo," Mr. Wilson leaned forward, suddenly serious. "I've been around long enough to know when a man is completely smitten. And the way Liam looked at you earlier? That wasn't fake."

"But you just said he's a secret agent putting on an act," Ava reminded him.

"Even secret agents can fall in love, honey. And if you want some advice from an old man who's been there..." Mr. Wilson paused, looking thoughtful. "Sometimes even the toughest guys will do stupid things for the women they love."

"You sound like you know from experience," Ava said quietly.

A soft smile crossed Mr. Wilson's face. "My wife always said she knew I was 'the one' from the moment we met. Said there was this connection she couldn't explain—like we'd known each other forever, like our souls had been looking for each other."

Something twisted in Ava's chest. Those words hit way too close to home.

"She believed in soulmates?"

"More than that," Mr. Wilson chuckled softly. "She believed in soul bonds—two people made to complete each other. She said when you meet the right person, you feel it in your bones. Like every part of you recognizes home."

Ava's throat went tight. Without realizing it, Mr. Wilson had just described exactly what she felt around Liam—that weird familiarity, like she'd known him way longer than just a few days.

"And," Mr. Wilson continued with a mischievous glint, "she also said that soulmates will protect each other no matter what, even if it means hurting themselves."

"Like what Liam did with Luna," Ava whispered without thinking.

"Exactly!" Mr. Wilson slapped the table excitedly. "He was willing to suffer through those allergies just to make you happy. That's not agent training, sweetie—that's a man falling hard."

Ava's face burned. "Mr. Wilson, you're being dramatic."

"Or maybe you don't realize how amazing you are," Mr. Wilson said with a warm smile. "Trust me, dear. I've watched a lot of couples in this town. What you two have? That's special."

"What we have?" Ava's voice was barely a whisper.

"Two people who are crazy about each other but too stubborn to admit it," Mr. Wilson laughed. "Perfect for each other but keep finding excuses to stay apart."

Ava sat there in silence, processing his words. There was truth in what he said that scared her—but also thrilled her.

"So what should I do?" she finally asked.

"Give him a chance," Mr. Wilson said simply. "Secret agent or not, he's clearly into you. And you—don't lie to yourself—you're into him too."

"But what if he really is hiding something big?"

"Honey," Mr. Wilson reached over and patted her hand gently, "everyone's got secrets. What matters is whether he's a good guy or not. And a woman's gut feeling about that is usually spot on."

Ava looked into Mr. Wilson's wise old eyes. "And you think Liam's a good guy?"

"I see how he looks at you, sweetie. That's not the look of someone who wants to hurt you. That's the look of someone who wants to protect you, even from himself if he has to."

A comfortable quiet settled over the room. Luna suddenly woke up and stretched, like she'd decided this conversation was finally worth paying attention to.

"Besides," Mr. Wilson added in a lighter tone, "that cat's got good instincts. She liked Liam right away, didn't she? Cats are never wrong about people."

Ava glanced at Luna, who was now stretching lazily. "Yeah, that was weird. She's usually super suspicious of strangers."

"More proof!" Mr. Wilson exclaimed. "Animals can sense people's true nature. If Luna trusts Liam, then he's trustworthy."

"Or maybe Luna just has a thing for guys who are allergic to cats," Ava laughed.

"Could be," Mr. Wilson joined in her laughter. "But the point is, Ava, don't overthink it. Sometimes the best things happen when we least expect them."

Mr. Wilson stood up, gathering the empty cups. "Well, I've bothered you enough for one day. But remember what I said—give Liam a chance. If he really is a secret agent, at least he's a hot one with a good heart!"

"Mr. Wilson," Ava called as he reached the door. "Thanks for the tea. And... the advice."

"Anytime, dear. And hey," he turned back with those mischievous eyes twinkling, "if it turns out he really is an agent and you two get married, invite me to the wedding! I'd love to meet his spy buddies!"

Ava shook her head, laughing as she closed the door behind him. When she turned around, Luna was sitting in the middle of the room, staring at her with those green eyes that seemed way too smart for a cat.

"Don't look at me like that," Ava told her. "I know what you're thinking."

Luna meowed once, like she was saying, "Oh really? And what's that?"

"You think I should listen to Mr. Wilson. You think I should give Liam a chance."

Luna meowed again, louder this time, then walked over to the window and stared toward Liam's house.

"Great. Even you're obsessed with him," Ava muttered, following her gaze. Liam's house looked quiet and mysterious as always, curtains drawn tight.

Ava found herself wondering what was behind those curtains. What was Liam doing right now? Was he thinking about her the way she was thinking about him?

And more importantly—was Mr. Wilson right? Was there really something deeper between them than just attraction?

"Maybe it's time I found out more about our mysterious neighbor," Ava whispered to Luna, who purred approvingly.

What they didn't know was that Mr. Wilson was watching from his upstairs window, lowering his binoculars with a satisfied smile. Phase one of his matchmaking plan was complete. Now he just had to wait for Ava to make her move.

"Game on," he murmured with the satisfaction of a master puppeteer watching his plan unfold perfectly.

Meanwhile, across the street, Liam sneezed for the seventh time since getting home, completely unaware that the conversation in Ava's living room had just planted seeds that would change everything.