Page 97 of I Can't Help It

“The food.” I point to my plate for emphasis. “We’ve eaten some really good food here.”

Ava’s eyes narrow as she drinks some of her milk, and I silently hope she realizes that I gave him a throwaway answer.

Sure, the food has been good, but nothing compares to spending time with her.

“The food has been great,” Wyatt agrees with a groan. “I mean, I tried a sweet potato brownie for the first time yesterday, and I loved it!”

Okay, well, that sounds like an abomination.

Vegetables don’t belong in brownies, even if they have the word “sweet” in their name.

* * *

Wyatt would NOT stop pulling conversation out of thin air. Eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore, so I said that I needed to make some notes from yesterday’s festival activities, and I came back up to my room. Well, that was almost thirty minutes ago, and I haven’t seen or heard from Ava.

I mean, I knew she wouldn’t leave right after me, but what the heck is going on? Is she still down there with him? Did she change her mind about talking? I reach for my phone again—wondering for the hundredth time if I should text her or not—but then it buzzes with a message from Ava.

Ava: I’m outside of your room.

She’s here. She still wants to talk. She didn’t change her mind.

Me: Okay, I’ll come get the door now.

I take a deep breath, but it doesn’t ease my nerves at all as I open the door for her.

“I’m sorry it took me so long,” she apologizes, rushing into the room. “Wyatt was asking about my aunt and Sloane—”

I try not to frown as I close the door. Of course, Wyatt was asking about the people who are important to her. Why does he have to be so annoying and considerate?

“—but then I was able to escape after Maren, Trista, and Carter came down for breakfast too.”

“It’s fine.” I offer a shrug. “You’re good.”

I wasn’t worried that you forgot about me.

Nope. No way.

“So, about yesterday…” she trails off as she walks over to the couch and sits down. “I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to say everything, but I’m just going to keep it simple and say what’s on my mind.” She wets her lips before giving me a helpless look. “I don’t want distance from you, Luke. I know you think it’ll be better for us, but I hate that you’re trying to push me away. I hate it so much.”

“I hate it too,” I mutter, scrubbing a hand over my face, “and I’m sorry for the way I’ve been acting. It’s okay if you don’t forgive me, I wouldn’t blame you, but I—”

“Does this mean you still want to be with me?” she blurts out. “Because I need to know that our time together is going to be more than just some kind of work-trip fling.”

The vulnerability in her voice stabs me like a knife. I did this. I’m the reason she’s having doubts. I made her question everything about these last few days. It’s my fault.

“Ava—” I almost choke on her name as I walk over to the couch, and then I’m dropping to my knees in front of her. “I have fallen so hard for you, Ava Ashton. There’s nothing I want more than to be with you. Only you. Always you.” Her eyes get hazy as she lets out a shaky breath, and I take her hands in mine before giving them a gentle squeeze. “I know I’ve been screwing everything up, but I can make this right, if you let me.”

She wants to say something, I can feel it, and yet she still hesitates.

“It’s okay,” I whisper, hoping to reassure her. “Whatever it is, you can tell me…I promise.”

Her gaze drifts to our clasped hands as she brushes her thumbs over my knuckles. “Why aren’t you ready to tell Wyatt about us?”

Here it is. The moment when I need to be completely honest with her. If she can be vulnerable, so can I. Even if I’m dreading the outcome of possibly losing her.

“I’m worried that Wyatt wants you back.” I struggle to keep my voice even. “And if he wants you back, then I’d have to take myself out of the equation. How I feel about you wouldn’t matter because he had feelings for you first.”

Her lips part in obvious surprise. “What? Wyatt doesn’t want me back. And even if he did—”

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