Ava’s POV
I couldn’t stop the whirlwind of emotions running through me as I walked away from Liam. His words still echoed in my mind: If you say so. They seemed so indifferent, so casual, yet the way his eyes had searched mine told a different story. I wouldn’t let him know what I was feeling, though—not now, not ever.
The walk back to the house was quiet, but my thoughts were anything but. My heart beat erratically, my chest tightening with every step I took. I needed to clear my head, but instead, I felt even more tangled in the mess of whatever this was between us.
When I pushed the door open and stepped inside, the smell of something savory wafted through the air, catching me off guard. My eyes immediately fell on the kitchen, and there he was—Liam.
He stood in front of the stove,
