Page 7 of Fractured Faceoff

"Jared, I can't..." She sighed, her voice tinged with regret. "Kash is going to be here soon. I think you should go."

I furrowed my brow, trying to gauge if she was lying. Something felt off, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I didn't want to push it. Not when I had just seen her after months. Now that I played for the Serpents, I'd be able to see her much more often.

I'd always been a patient man.

I could wait.

I could wait forever if it meant I got Ava.

"Whatever you want, darling," I told her softly, pulling back slightly to look into her eyes.

She nodded, her gaze still clouded with uncertainty. "Kash and I are going to make an announcement Wednesday," she said after a pause. "Isla's going to be there, a few of our friends. Kash wants youthere too."

The mention of Isla made my chest tighten briefly, but I brushed it off. "I'll be there," I assured her.

"Good," she murmured, stepping back and creating a small distance between us. "Just..."

"Is there something I should know?" I asked, my voice steady but my insides churning. I searched her face, looking for any hint of what she might be hiding.

Ava gave me a long look, her eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite decipher. It felt like an eternity stretched between us in that moment, the silence heavy and suffocating.

I knew. Suddenly, I knew whatever it was; I wasn’t going to like it. My gut twisted, but I held her gaze, refusing to look away.

"No, Jared," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You can tell me anything, Ava," I told her, trying to convey the depth of my sincerity. "Anything."

"I-I know," she stammered. She couldn’t look at me, her eyes darting to the floor instead.

"Ava," I said softly, cupping her cheek with my hand. Her skin was warm under my touch, a small comfort during my growing unease. "I love you."

"I know," she repeated, her voice breaking slightly. "I… I know."

I wanted to push her for answers, to demand she tell me what was really going on. But I didn’t want to ruin the moment. This fragile connection we had felt too precious to shatter with my questions.

And honestly?

I didn’t want to know.

Not really.

I let me hand drop to my side. "All right then," I replied with a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes.

She offered a weak smile in return before turning away to busy herself again in the kitchen.

Taking that as my cue, I headed for the door. Just before stepping out, I glanced back at her one last time.

"I'll see you Wednesday," I said firmly.

"Yeah," she replied without looking up. "See you then."

With a heavy heart, I walked out into the night air and made my way back to my car. The engine roared to life as I drove away from Ava's house, thoughts swirling in my mind like leaves caught in a whirlwind.

Patience had always been my strength.

And for Ava, I'd wait as long as it took.

Chapter 3

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