FALLING FOR MR.WRONG (AGAIN)

THE ART OF NOT FALLING

CHAPTER 05

Ava woke up to the sound of her phone buzzing incessantly on the bedside table. Groggily, she reached out and squinted at the screen—an array of texts from her roommate, two missed calls from her aunt, and a notification about an upcoming exam she had somehow forgotten.

But one text caught her attention.

It was from Logan.

“Did you get home okay? I can come over if you need someone to talk to. You know where to find me.”

Ava’s heart fluttered a little at the words. She’d gotten used to Logan’s charm, his confidence, his unpredictable moments of warmth. But something about that message felt different—gentler. Maybe it was just her overthinking, but it seemed like he was starting to care more than he let on.

She quickly typed a response, careful to keep things light.

“Yeah, I’m good. Thanks for the ride last night. Let’s not make a habit of hanging out, though. I don’t need you being my personal chauffeur.”

She hit send before she could second-guess herself, hoping it didn’t come off too harsh. She needed to keep her boundaries, right? Logan was Logan, after all—wild, unpredictable, and definitely not someone she should be getting attached to.

Still, she couldn’t deny the warmth in her chest at the thought of him checking on her.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Classes, assignments, and rehearsals took up most of her time. But no matter how hard she tried to focus, her mind kept drifting back to the conversation with Logan last night.

She tried to convince herself that it was just another one of those moments. Another time when they’d connected through their shared love of music, the easy conversations, the rare moments of understanding. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized she had a tendency to let things like that mean more than they actually did.

By the time her final class was over, Ava felt exhausted—not physically, but emotionally. She had a bad habit of getting caught up in her own head, overanalyzing every interaction, every word. And with Logan… that habit was practically a reflex.

As she walked back to her dorm, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a call from her aunt.

“Hey, Ava!” her aunt’s voice rang through the speaker, warm and cheerful, “How’s everything going? Have you decided on a major yet?”

Ava sighed and plopped down on her bed, rubbing her temples. “I’m fine, Aunt Lisa. Everything’s going well. Just busy, you know?”

“I bet! College life can be crazy. Are you still planning to come home for the break?”

Ava bit her lip, hesitant. She hadn’t exactly felt like going home. The thought of returning to a house that felt more like a stranger’s living room than a home was a bit unsettling. But she didn’t want to worry her aunt.

“I think so,” Ava said, forcing a smile in her voice. “I’ll make it work.”

“Well, don’t overdo it. We don’t want you burning yourself out. Remember, I’m here if you need anything. And I’m sure your mom would’ve wanted you to take it easy, too.”

Ava felt a pang in her chest at the mention of her mother. “Yeah, I remember,” she said softly.

After a few more minutes of small talk, they hung up. Ava sat there for a moment, her mind racing. It was hard not to feel the weight of everything sometimes—her aunt’s well-meaning but somewhat suffocating care, her constant drive to prove she could make it on her own, and now, Logan Reid.

The sound of her phone buzzing again broke her thoughts.

It was Logan.

“I was thinking maybe we could grab some food later. It’s been a while since we’ve hung out. Plus, I’m getting really sick of pizza.”

Ava hesitated, looking at the message for a long moment. She should say no, right? She had to stay focused. No distractions. But then again, she hadn’t seen Logan since last night, and despite herself, she missed their easy banter. Besides, it wasn’t like he was asking for anything serious.

She quickly typed back.

“Sure. But no more spontaneous car rides this time, okay?”

She smirked as she hit send, already knowing Logan’s response would be sarcastic and teasing.

Within seconds, his reply popped up.

“No promises, Sinclair. Meet me at 7?”

Ava felt her stomach flip, but she couldn’t help the smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth. She’d already agreed, after all. No backing out now.

The clock ticked by slower than usual, the minutes dragging until it was time. She hadn’t really planned for what to wear, but she threw on a simple black dress and a cardigan, pairing it with boots that were practical yet cute enough for a casual dinner.

She checked herself in the mirror one last time, adjusting her hair and pulling it into a messy bun. She was a little nervous—just a little—but at least it wasn’t a date, right? It was just dinner. With Logan.

The thought almost made her laugh at herself. But she pushed the thought away, grabbed her phone, and headed out the door.

When she arrived at the agreed-upon spot, Logan was already there. He was leaning against a low brick wall outside the restaurant, his arms crossed as he scanned the street. He looked up when he saw her, his face lighting up in that familiar grin.

“There you are,” he said. “Was starting to wonder if you bailed on me.”

“Not a chance,” Ava replied, fighting to keep her voice casual. “I told you I’d be here.”

“True. You’re a woman of your word, Sinclair.” He gestured toward the door. “Ready to eat?”

Ava nodded, following him inside. The restaurant was cozy—dimly lit with candles flickering on each table, the faint smell of grilled vegetables and fresh bread in the air. It felt… different from their usual hangouts. This was a real date vibe, and yet it wasn’t. Or at least, she tried to convince herself it wasn’t.

They were led to a small booth in the corner, and Logan slid in across from her.

“You’re acting like this is some sort of serious dinner,” she teased, trying to ease the tension she felt in her chest. “It’s just food.”

Logan raised an eyebrow. “Just food? You’re not getting off that easy, Sinclair. You agreed to this. Don’t act like you don’t want to be here.”

Ava chuckled, more to herself than to him. “Okay, fine. I’ll admit it. I’m here for the food.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” Logan said, leaning back in his seat, the smirk still playing on his lips. “But I’m betting there’s more going on in that head of yours. So, tell me—what’s the deal with you and music? Besides being amazing at it.”

Ava blinked, taken off guard by the shift in the conversation. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve never really talked about why you sing. Why you do it, I mean.” Logan’s gaze softened slightly, but there was still that edge of curiosity in his eyes. “It’s not just a hobby for you, is it?”

Ava felt the weight of his question settles on her. It was the same question she’d asked herself a hundred times over, but she hadn’t found an answer she was ready to share. She wasn’t sure she ever would.

But she took a breath, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. “It’s how I survive, Logan. Music’s always been there when nothing else was.”

Logan didn’t say anything for a moment. He just looked at her, a slight understanding flashing in his eyes.

“Yeah,” he finally said. “I get that.”

Ava nodded, but she could see the change in him—the same unspoken understanding between them that had been there from the start. It wasn’t love, not yet. But it was something deeper, something that neither of them could deny.