Page 37 of Honest With You

We’re still playfully shoving and teasing each other as we run up the stairs when we hear a bloodcurling scream coming from upstairs.

By the time I register where it’s coming from, Stephen has already bolted past me and is heading straight to Reese’s room.

Ava doesn’t show up for school the next day.

I’ve been texting her on and off all day, and though her responses were friendly enough, I’m still worried about how she feels about last night.

Yeah, we kissed…fuuuucckkkdid we kiss. I want… need to know where I stand with her.

I texted her an hour ago that I was going to stop by after school. I would have been there a while ago, but I made a few stops first.

I’m about to ring her doorbell when her brother comes rushing out the front door with a lab coat and a messenger bag, spotting me. His brow furrows until recognition dawns, and he scowls at me while yelling for Ava to come out through the open door.

He crosses the stone path to the gate in just a few strides. I’m 6’2 and taller than him by an inch or two, but his brooding presence makes him slightly more intimidating. He might as well be a giant compared to me and that fact makes me stand a little straighter as he pulls the gate open and motions for me to enter.

“Hey, Stephen.” I gulp through his name, slightly terrified because I know he saw me tongue his sister just mere hours ago. “Remember me?”

I try to chuckle but it quickly dies when I see there’s no humor in his face.

“Look man., I’m sorry about last night. It was my idea to go. I just wanted her to see the view without the crowd, you know? And ah—” I clear my throat, forcing myself to keep going. “About what happened after… I just want you to know I really like your sister. I’ve liked her since I was thirteen and–”.

I abruptly stop talking when he holds up a hand.

“I don’t want to hear it. And to answer your question, I remember you Jesse Matthews. I’d remember anyone who had the balls to kiss my twelve year old sister in my own house.” He scoffs, his eyes sizing me up and down. “I already told Ava this and now I’m telling you. No more late night rendezvous. You’re both still in high school, so act like it. No dates on school nights unless it’s right here at our house and you leave by nine. You can take her out on Friday or Saturday, but you bring her home by midnight. Do all those things and we won’t have a problem. Are we clear?”

I swallow the rock that had become lodged in my throat and muster up a nod.

A giggle followed by “Stephen, we talked about this,” comes from behind Stephen and we both turn to find Ava with her arms folded, a slightly amused look on her face.

My eyes eat up the sight of her. I’ve only seen her dressed up in school and last night in the jogger set. So seeing her now, so relaxed in bike shorts and an oversized yellow t-shirt that hasPinaysprawled on the front with stars around it and a half sun on top of thePthat’s made to look like a crown, makes my heart do that obnoxious gallop it does whenever I think of her.

Her jet black hair is hanging down her back and it takes everything in me now not to eat up the distance between us and lay one on her, present company be damned.

Stephen clears his throat, making sure I know that’s not an option.

I definitely won’t be making the same mistake of kissing the daylights out of her in front of her brother again.

“Just making sure yourfriendknows your curfew, Ace.”

Ava snorts and I almost laugh at how cute it sounds, if not for the currently glowering Stephen. “I don’t have a curfew, Stephen, but like we’ve already discussed, it won’t happen again. At least not on a school night, okay?”

She offers her brother a soft smile with a slight tilt of her head, and that’s all it takes. Stephen’s posture slacks and his eyes soften. He returns Ava’s smile with a nod before ducking his head to check his watch. He makes a tsk-ing sound before he crosses the distance to give Ava a one arm hug, whispering to her. She nods and gives him a thumbs up and a pat on the back.

He dips his head at me as a form of goodbye before rushing to his black Land Rover. Their gates open automatically and he peels out of the driveway.

“Let me help you with that.”

Ava gestures to the two tote bags I’m carrying. I hand her the lighter one with the snacks while I carry the heavier one holding the drinks and follow her into her house.

My head tips up, admiring the vaulted ceiling and the crystal chandelier that hangs in the center of the room between the banister and the front door. Stairs greet you as you enter the house, leading to a landing and then separating into two different sides of their second floor..

There’s a young girl, who I’m assuming is Reese, sitting at the top of the steps on the left side, wrapped up in a blanket and peeking in from between the balusters.

I flash her a grin and hold out the tote bag I’m carrying.

“I brought some snacks. Want some?”

Reese pads down the steps then stares curiously at the bag I’m holding.

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