One Year, One Lie

Chapter Three: The Move-in

Ava had expected a house.

She wasn’t prepared for this.

She stood just inside the entrance, her small suitcase beside her, trying not to look as out of place as she felt.

Everything was too clean.

Too quiet.

Too perfect.

It didn’t feel lived in.

It felt maintained.

You’ll adjust.

She turned.

Ethan stood behind her, already at ease in a space that clearly belonged to him.

Ava glanced around again.

I’m not sure I’m supposed to, she said.

You are.

That sounds like a decision you made already.

It is.

She almost smiled.

Of course it was.

A woman approached them, calm, composed, the kind of person who looked like she had never rushed a day in her life.

Miss Lawson, she said politely. I’m Mrs. Greene.

Ava nodded. Hi.

Your things will be taken upstairs”

Ava hesitated slightly.

My room?

A brief pause.

Then,

Our room, Ethan said.

Ava turned to him.

That wasn’t discussed.

It was implied.

No, it wasn’t.

Ethan stepped closer, not aggressively, just enough to shift the space between them.

It needs to be believable, he said quietly.

Ava held his gaze.

So we’re skipping straight to that part.

Yes.

She let out a small breath.

Right.

Mrs. Greene stepped in smoothly. This way.

Ava followed her upstairs, trying not to overthink the situation.

But it was hard not to.

Everything here felt planned.

Prepared.

Like she had stepped into something that had been waiting for her.

The room, no, the space was larger than her entire apartment.

Minimal.

Beautiful.

Empty.

This is a lot, she admitted.

It’s functional, Mrs. Greene replied.

Ava glanced around.

Functional wasn’t the word she would’ve used.

But she let it go.

Dinner is at seven, Mrs. Greene added before leaving.

The door closed behind her.

And suddenly, it was quiet again.

Ava set her bag down slowly.

Then turned,

Ethan was still there.

Watching.

Do I get any say in this? she asked.

In what?

This, she gestured around. Living situation. Space. Anything.

You’ll have privacy.

That’s not the same thing.

No, he agreed.

Ava crossed her arms slightly.

So we just share a room like it’s normal.

For this arrangement, it is.

A pause.

Then,

What happens if it stops feeling like an arrangement? she asked.

Ethan didn’t answer immediately.

Which, somehow, was more of an answer than anything he could’ve said.

It won’t, he said finally.

Ava looked at him.

She wasn’t sure she believed that.

Not at all.