Ava's POV
Anderson’s gaze shifted to me, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.
For a moment, he actually looked… unsure. That alone caught me off guard. My wolf tilted its head slightly.
That’s new.
I exhaled quietly and lifted the tickets a little higher, forcing a small, casual smile onto my face.
"If you don’t want me tagging along, you two can go have fun," I said. "I don’t have to come."
It was easier that way, less complicated. Less… dangerous for me.
But Anderson didn’t take the tickets.
Instead, he simply raised a hand and waved over the ice cream vendor nearby, his attention shifting like he had already made a decision.
"Two ice creams," he said. Then, glancing at Maria, "tell him what you want."
Maria lit up instantly, all traces of earlier fear gone as her energ
