Page 95 of I Can't Help It

“I just feel like Luke is giving up on us before we’re even together for real!” I exclaim, hating the whiny edge to my voice. “What if he doesn’t want to be with me as much as I thought he did?”

“You guys should talk again before he says anything to Wyatt. Don’t pressure him into giving you answers, but just let Luke know that you want to have transparent communication with him. And if he’s still being vague and closed-off, then maybe he’s not ready for a relationship with you.”

My heart drops all the way down to the South Pole. We’ve been making out like he’s ready for a relationship with me. Doesn’t that count for something? It should! Luke can’t be the kind of guy who kisses you without—

“But you know what?” Aunt Kat interrupts my thoughts. “I saw the way he looked at you when he came to the house. It was like everything else stopped existing in his world once you stepped into the room, and that’s not a sign of a man willing to give up so easily. I think you two are going to be just fine, Ava.”

WORK-TRIP FLING

Luke

Last night had to be one of the worst nights of my life. I kept expecting to get a text from Ava, or to hear a knock on the door, but there was a whole lot of nothing. I don’t even know how I managed to fall asleep, because “you’re an idiot” was echoing in my mind for hours.

I’m the one who should’ve texted her. I’m the one who should’ve knocked on her door. But what could I tell her?

The truth.

The WHOLE truth.

She deserves to know why I’m so hesitant about talking to Wyatt. And she deserves an apology for how I’ve been acting.

Are we really doing this?

Yes.

Yes, we are.

No takebacks.

I jump to my feet and march over to the door of my room, but when I reach for the doorknob, I notice a folded piece of pastel yellow paper on the floor. Did she—

Please be one of Ava’s sticky notes.

I don’t think anyone else would slide a note under my door, but you never know.

Desperation shakes through me as I unfold the paper, and I recognize her familiar handwriting right away.

Luke, I’m going downstairs for breakfast, and I think we should talk. Meet me in the dining area? - Ava

Is this a good thing? Or a bad thing?

What if she wants to tell me that we’d be better off as just coworkers? What if I blew my chance with her?

There’s only one way to find out…

I try not to run downstairs like I’m being chased in a horror movie, but I also don’t know how long it’s been since she left me that note.

Once I’m in the dining area, my eyes dart back and forth as I search for Ava.

Finally, I see her.

Sitting by a window. Looking beautiful, as always.

And then she smiles.

At Wyatt.

She smiles at Wyatt, and he smiles back as he sits across from her in the seat where I should be sitting. Did she tell him about having breakfast with her too? Was this a setup for the three of us to talk? My stomach is in knots, and I can’t decide if it’s because I’m hungry or if it’s because I hate watching them together.

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