Chapter Seven
Breakfast felt… wrong.
Not because of the food. Not because of the quiet clinking of plates or the low sound of my mom talking about something I wasn’t even listening to.
It felt wrong because of him.
Ethan sat across from me.
Like nothing happened.
Like this morning didn’t exist.
Like he didn’t just stand inches away from me outside, looking at me like he already knew every thought I was trying to hide.
I kept my eyes on my plate.
If I looked at him, even for a second, I knew I’d lose whatever control I had left.
“Ava?”
I blinked, looking up at my mom. “Yeah?”
She smiled lightly. “You’re quiet this morning.”
“Just tired,” I said quickly.
That part, at least, wasn’t a lie.
She nodded, going back to her conversation, and I forced myself to take a bite of food I
