Page 18 of Ava After Midnight

Her phone buzzes—Zoe again, probably almost here.

“Domingo?” She sets her half-empty mug down.

“Mm?”

“Thank you. For stopping me. For…” She gestures vaguely, words failing her.

“For showing you what freedom tastes like?”

She nods, her cheeks coloring again. I close the distance between us, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“Mi luz, mi vida,” I breathe against her temple. “You’re worth every star in the Miami sky and then some.”

The words are a punch to the gut, something I’ve experienced plenty but never done to myself. Before I can respond, car doors slam outside.

Her friends are back.

Chapter Five

AVA

Zoe’s grip tightens around my wrist as she drags me toward the Airbnb’s master bedroom. Behind us, Jade runs interference with Domingo in the kitchen, her voice light, teasing—keeping him occupied. My skin still burns where his lips touched mine. The ghost of his rejection lingers, stinging sweeter than it should.

“Spill,” Zoe demands, shutting the door behind us. “And don’t give me that ’nothing happened’ bullshit. Your lips are swollen and you’re practically glowing.”

“He stopped it.” The words taste like confession and disappointment. “When I kissed him, he?—”

“Hold up.” She grabs my shoulders. “You kissed him? Our good girl Ava made the first move?”

I collapse onto the California king bed, head spinning with tequila and what-ifs. “He said he wouldn’t be my revenge fuck.”

“Damn.” Zoe flops beside me. We both stare up at the ceiling; somehow it’s easier than looking directly at her. I’ve always loved Zoe for our gossip sessions, and this moment reminds me why.

“A gentleman stripper-turned-bartender with morals.” Zoe winks. “No wonder you’re sprung.”

“I’m notsprung. I’m—” My weak protest dies as Jade slips in, wearing a shit-eating grin. Both Zoe and I turn to look at her, propping ourselves up on our elbows.

“Your boy’s out there stress-cleaning my coffee mug like it personally offended him,” she announces. “And muttering in Spanish. Very hot.”

“He’s not my boy.” The denial sounds weak, even to me.I can’t even make it sound like I don’t want him.“Speaking of boys—what’s happening with Mia?”

Jade’s grin turns feral. “Let’s just say her phone had an unfortunate accident with some top-shelf vodka. But,” she holds up her own phone, a video playing silently. “not before she drunk-posted this.”

My stomach drops.

I watch myself in the club—Domingo’s hands on my hips, my head thrown back laughing. Even through grainy footage, the chemistry crackles.

“Matthew’s called six times,” Zoe says softly. “I’ve been sending him to voicemail.”

“Shit.” I press my palms against my eyes until stars burst behind them. “I should?—”

“You ’should’ nothing.” Jade snatches my reaching hand back from my phone. “That controlling piece of khaki isn’t your problem tonight.”

“But—”

“No buts.” Zoe’s voice turns serious. “We saw how he looked at you, Ava. Not Domingo—Matthew. At the engagement party. Like you were another acquisition for his portfolio.”

The words hit like a physical blow.

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