Page 89 of I Can't Help It

Wyatt gives Ava a high five for the second time today—which feels like another slap to my face—and then he jogs over to where Trista is stepping off the tarp. I’m sure that’s going to end in an argument, of course, but at least he’s not around Ava anymore.

“Hey, you,” Ava says, her ponytail swinging back and forth as she walks toward me, “did you have fun?”

There was nothing fun about watching them together.

And there was nothing fun about losing,

But I offer a smile to mask my bitterness. “I would’ve had more fun if we had been on the same team.”

“Well, maybe we can sneak away for a little bit…” She tilts her head to the side, giving me a playful look. “I saw a sign that said brown sugar maple nutmeg cookies, and I need to know what I’ve been missing out on, because they sound amazing.”

They do sound amazing. And sneaking away with Ava sounds even more amazing.

What about the others though? They’re going to notice that we’re gone.

I glance over her shoulder to see that Maren is taking pictures of Carter, while Wyatt and Trista are throwing pumpkin guts at each other as they shout incoherent things.

Hmm. Maybe they won’t notice right away.

I motion ahead of us. “After you.”

* * *

We snuck away to eat cookies, but I think we both knew that eating cookies would lead to this…

Ava’s back is pressed against a tree.

I’m cupping her face with both of my hands.

Our mouths are fused together—and at the risk of sounding cliché—the kiss is sugar and spice, and everything nice. Just like those cookies Ava wanted us to try.

Except this is way better.

Ava rubs her hands over my chest as her lips part against mine, causing electricity to crackle through my veins. Then she makes a needy sound before deepening the kiss, and I’m filled with an overwhelming rush of relief.

Why was I so worried about her and Wyatt? She wants to be with me. She’s kissing me.

Yeah, but what if she’s thinking about Wyatt? What if kissing you reminds her of when they used to make out? Maybe Ava is wishing that she was kissing Wyatt instead.

Every ounce of relief vanishes from my body.

Instead, it’s replaced with dread. Frustration. And more jealousy.

I can’t do this.

It’s too much.

I rip away from Ava, my chest heaving as I fight to catch my breath, and her cloudy eyes become confused as they study me.

“Are you all right?” she asks, her lips full and swollen. “Is it your leg again? Or—”

“Wyatt being here is messing with my head,” I blurt out, unable to stop the words from tumbling off my tongue. “It’s harder to pretend that you guys weren’t together now that I’m seeing you together again.”

“But we aren’t together again,” she reminds me, her voice gentle. “Just because we’ve been around each other today doesn’t mean we’re suddenly getting back together or something.”

The words should reassure me, but they don’t.

Does she not realize that Wyatt is trying to move in on her?

---