Page 64 of Fractured Faceoff

The truth was, I felt a knot of nerves tightening in my stomach. I didn’t understand why. We’d rehearsed this; it should have been straightforward. But as wemade our way towards Ava and Kash, the reality of what we were about to do hit me like a freight train.

Ava looked up first, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took us in. Kash followed her gaze, his expression one of mild curiosity.

“Hey there,” Jared greeted them with a wide smile, his arm still firmly around my waist. “Hope we’re not interrupting. Just wanted to stop by and say hello to our gracious hosts."

“Not at all,” Ava replied, her tone polite but cool. She turned her attention to me, an eyebrow arched in question. “Isla,” she said simply, her voice carrying an undercurrent of something I couldn’t quite place.

“Ava,” I replied with a nod, trying to keep my voice steady. “Kash.”

Kash gave us a nod of acknowledgment but didn’t say anything. His eyes flickered between Jared and me, a hint of confusion evident.

“So,” Jared began, his tone casual but purposeful. “We wanted to share some news with you guys.”

“Oh?” Ava’s gaze sharpened, focusing intently on Jared.

“Yeah,” he continued smoothly. “Isla and I…we’re together."

Chapter 18

Jared

Ilooked at Ava, really looked at her. The sun glinted off her hair, turning it into a halo that framed her face. She had that spark in her eyes, the kind that always drew me in, making the air feel electric.

Ava burst out laughing, a sound like music mixed with disbelief.

“Come on, you’re joking,” she said, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. Her laughter echoed around us, cutting through the sizzle of Kash’s barbecue.

Kash stood nearby, flipping burgers with a smirk plastered across his face. He didn’t miss a beat; his hands moved expertly while amusement danced in his gaze. It was clear he enjoyed this little performance.

I chuckled back, shaking my head slowly. “What’s so funny?” I couldn’t help but challenge her reaction. This was serious for me—everything hinged on this moment.

“You’re not dating my sister,” Ava stated, her tone matter-of-fact.

“Am I not?” I shot back, raising an eyebrow. The challenge hung in the air between us.

She shook her head vehemently. “No.” She crossed her arms, a gesture that told me she was digging in for the long haul. “Isla’s not your type.”

“Not my type? What does that even mean?” I leaned in closer, intrigued by the sudden tension.

“Well, for one, she's very serious,” she explained, her voice dropping as if she feared someone would overhear our little conversation. “You go for the wild ones. The ones who’ll throw caution to the wind. The fun ones.”

Kash, still flipping burgers like he was unaware of the gravity of our conversation, chimed in. “I don’t know. I think Isla’s definitely girlfriend material.”

Ava turned sharply toward him. “I’m not saying she isn’t! I just… I don’t think Jared would date her.” Her frustration danced on her features as if trying to break free from the words tumbling out.

“And what’s my type?” I asked, leaning back with a smirk. This was turning into a game now—one that had me intrigued.

She rolled her eyes but didn’t hesitate. “You like girls who are spontaneous, adventurous. They light up a room without even trying.” She waved a hand as if to emphasize the point. “Isla is a lot of things but… she isn't that.”

I scoffed lightly, folding my arms across my chest. “So you think just because Isla has her head on straight, she wouldn’t hold my interest? That’s rich.”

“Exactly!” Ava insisted, tapping her finger against her chin thoughtfully. “You need someone who’ll challenge you and keep you on your toes—not someone who has a ten-point plan for every aspect of life.”

Kash shrugged while flipping another burger with one hand and holding his drink in the other. “Yeah, but sometimes it’s nice to have someone grounded around.”

“I get that,” Ava replied quickly, rolling her eyes again. “But grounded doesn’t mean it’d ever work between them.”

I leaned against the wooden railing, watching Ava’s expression twist into something between disbelief and irritation. The air hung thick with tension, and I could feel Isla's eyes on me, searching for reassurance.

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