Running into the Fire

Chapter 17 : A Place to Stay

Ava sat in the passenger seat, her hands resting in her lap, her fingers curled slightly like she didn’t know what to do with them.

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Ethan didn’t rush.

Didn’t fill the silence.

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He just drove.

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Steady.

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Ava glanced at him once.

Then again.

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His expression didn’t give much away.

Focused.

Calm.

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Like this was just another drive.

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But she knew it wasn’t.

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Not for her.

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Ava looked back out the window.

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Her fingers tightened slightly in her lap.

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She couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking.

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If he regretted this.

If he thought she was a mistake.

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Or worse—

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if he already saw her as something broken.

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Her chest tightened slightly.

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Then she forced the thought away.

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He hadn’t treated her that way.

Not once.

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Still—

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she couldn’t stop wondering.

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When they finally pulled up, Ava’s eyes moved immediately.

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The house sat back just enough from the road.

Not isolated.

But not exposed either.

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Her gaze tracked the edges.

The windows.

The corners.

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Then she saw them.

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Small cameras.

Subtle.

Placed where they could see everything.

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Ethan noticed.

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“Covers the front, back, and sides,” he said simply. “No blind spots.”

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Ava nodded.

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Something in her chest loosened.

Just a little.

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They stepped inside.

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The house was clean.

Organized.

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Not empty.

But not cluttered either.

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Everything had a place.

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Ethan carried her bags down the hallway without stopping, motioning for her to follow.

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“This way.”

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Ava followed.

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He stopped at a door and pushed it open.

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“This is yours.”

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The room was simple.

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A bed.

A dresser.

A small nightstand.

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Minimal.

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But it didn’t feel cold.

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It felt—

intentional.

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Comfortable.

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Ava stepped inside slowly.

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Her eyes moved automatically.

Corners.

Closet.

Window.

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Clear.

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Safe.

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She set her bags on the bed.

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Then turned back toward Ethan.

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The movement felt awkward.

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Like she didn’t know what to do next.

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Ethan leaned slightly against the doorframe, giving her space without stepping out.

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“The bathroom’s at the end of the hall,” he said, nodding past her room.

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Ava followed his gesture.

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Then looked back at him.

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“What about you?” she asked quietly.

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Ethan shifted slightly and pointed behind her.

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“My room’s right across the hall.”

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Ava glanced over her shoulder.

The door was open just enough to see inside.

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Neat.

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Simple.

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Not much decoration.

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But it still felt—

lived in.

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Comfortable.

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She turned back to him.

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“Do you need anything?” Ethan asked.

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Ava shook her head.

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“I’m just… tired.”

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Her voice was softer now.

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“I want to take a shower. And sleep.”

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A pause.

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“I’m exhausted.”

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Ethan nodded once.

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“Yeah,” he said. “I figured.”

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He pushed off the doorframe.

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“If you need anything, I’ll be here.”

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Ava nodded.

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Then he stepped back.

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Gave her the space.

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Closed the door halfway behind him.

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Not all the way.

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Enough.

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The water ran longer than it needed to.

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Ava stood under it, letting the heat soak into her skin.

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Letting the noise drown everything else out.

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For a few minutes—

there was nothing else.

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No past.

No fear.

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Just the steady rush of water.

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When she finally stepped out, the exhaustion hit all at once.

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Heavy.

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She didn’t bother unpacking.

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Just pulled on clean clothes and climbed into the bed.

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The sheets were soft.

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Unfamiliar.

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But clean.

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Safe.

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Her body sank into them before her mind could catch up.

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And for the first time in a long time—

sleep came easily.

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The smell woke her.

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Warm.

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Familiar.

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Food.

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Ava blinked slowly, her body still heavy with sleep.

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For a second, she didn’t move.

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Then it came back.

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The house.

Ethan.

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Everything.

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She sat up slowly, pushing the blanket back.

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The quiet was different here.

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Calm.

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She stood and stepped into the hallway.

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The smell grew stronger as she moved toward the kitchen.

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Ethan was there.

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Moving easily around the space.

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He glanced up when he saw her.

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“Morning.”

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Ava hesitated for half a second.

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Then stepped in.

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“Morning.”

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Her voice was rough from sleep.

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Ethan nodded toward the counter.

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“Coffee?”

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Ava nodded.

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“Yes.”

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He poured a cup and slid it toward her.

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“Thanks.”

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She wrapped her hands around it, letting the warmth settle in.

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Ethan leaned back slightly against the counter.

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“I already ate,” he said. “But there’s more if you want it.”

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Ava glanced at the stove.

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Then back at him.

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“I’m okay.”

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A pause.

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“I should head out soon,” Ethan added. “Work.”

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Ava nodded.

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“Fire station?”

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A small shift in his expression.

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“Yeah.”

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He reached for something on the counter.

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A key.

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“My number’s on the fridge,” he said, holding it out to her. “If you need anything.”

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Ava stepped closer.

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Took the key.

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Her fingers brushed his.

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Light.

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But neither of them pulled away right away.

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Just a second too long.

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Ava looked up.

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Their eyes met.

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Something passed between them.

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Quiet.

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Unspoken.

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Ava’s chest tightened slightly.

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She couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking.

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If he felt it too.

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Or if it was just her.

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Ethan gave a small smile.

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Then stepped back.

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“I’ll be back later,” he said.

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Ava nodded.

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He grabbed his things and headed for the door.

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The sound of it closing echoed softly through the house.

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Ava stood there—

key still in her hand.