Ava couldn't get the almost-kiss out of her head.
It replayed over and over—Nicholas's breath ghosting over her lips, his fingers brushing her cheek, his chest rising sharply as if he were fighting the urge to claim her right there against the wall. She felt the warmth of his body hours later, like it had been branded into her skin.
But instead of leaning in, he pulled away.
Walked off.
Left her breathless and confused.
She shouldn't care.
She shouldn't want more.
But every fiber of her being was tangled around him, unable to loosen itself no matter how she tried.
By morning, Ava told herself she would act normal. Pretend the moment never happened. Pretend her heart didn't nearly slam out of her chest when his face was inches from hers.
But when she walked onto campus, the first person she saw was him.
Nicholas Wolfe.
Sitting with friends on the low wall near the cafeteria.
Head thrown back as he laughed at something one of them said.
He looked effortless—white t-shirt hugging his chest, silver chain glinting under the sun, hair messy in that careless, perfect way. Girls passing by kept stealing glances, whispering behind their hands.
And Ava…
Ava couldn't look away.
For a single second, his eyes cut through the noise, through the people, straight to her.
Her breath caught.
But then he did the last thing she expected.
He looked away.
Completely.
Like she wasn't even there.
Her stomach dropped.
Lila nudged her arm. "Ignore him," she whispered. "He's acting weird on purpose."
Ava forced a shaky laugh. "I'm not even thinking about him."
Lila gave her that look. "Right. And I'm the Queen of England."
Maya caught up with them, flipping her braids over one shoulder. "Is it just me or has Nicholas been staring at Ava all morning but pretending he's not staring at Ava?"
Ava's head snapped up. "He's not—"
"He is," Maya said casually. "Every time you turn your head away, his eyes are glued to you."
Ava froze.
Her pulse tripped.
She glanced back at him out of the corner of her eye, trying to be subtle.
Nicholas wasn't looking at her now, but his jaw was tense. His fingers kept tapping restlessly against his knee, like he was irritated. Or trying not to act on something.
Trying not to look at her too obviously.
Ava swallowed hard. "He's probably just annoyed."
"Annoyed?" Lila scoffed. "Girl, that man almost kissed you in a hallway last night."
Ava looked around quickly. "Lila!"
"What? We all saw the tension since day one."
Maya nodded. "Honestly, I'm surprised the wall didn't collapse."
Ava groaned and covered her face. "Please let's not talk about it."
But the problem was—she was talking about it. To herself. In her head. On repeat. Every second.
She spent the whole morning distracted. Every time the lecture hall door opened, she thought it was him. Every time Liam leaned closer to ask her a question, she found herself comparing him to Nicholas—his voice, his scent, the way he stood too close.
Liam was kind. Sweet. Normal.
Nicholas was none of those things.
And yet her heart kept reaching for the one who avoided her.
After class, Liam walked beside her as they made their way out. "You're quiet today. Everything okay?"
"Yeah. Just tired," she lied.
He smiled gently. "You don't have to pretend with me, you know."
Ava wished she could give him the part of herself that was busy spinning around Nicholas. Maybe then she could stop hurting. Stop wanting.
"Hey," Liam added softly, "if you want to talk—"
"She's fine."
Ava stiffened.
Nicholas's voice cut through the space between them, low, cold, controlled. He stepped in front of them like he owned the ground they were standing on.
Liam blinked. "I didn't say she wasn't."
Nicholas ignored him completely, his gaze landing on Ava with a force that made her forget how to breathe.
"You're coming with me," he said.
Ava's brows furrowed. "Why? What do you want?"
Something flickered in his eyes—frustration, heat, something raw he kept burying.
"Just… come." His voice was quieter this time, almost strained.
Liam stepped between them slightly. "She doesn't have to go anywhere with you, Nicholas."
A muscle ticked in Nicholas's jaw. "I wasn't asking you."
Ava swallowed, torn, flustered, overwhelmed. "Nicholas, what are you—"
"Five minutes," he said, eyes locked on hers, tone softening. "I need five minutes."
Her stomach flipped, but before she could answer—
Lila called out from behind, "Ava! Come on, Maya's waiting for us!"
Nicholas's expression darkened instantly. Like he hated being interrupted. Like he hated that she wasn't alone with him.
He stepped back, fists clenching. "Fine," he muttered, voice suddenly distant. "Forget it."
He walked off without looking at her.
Didn't wait.
Didn't explain.
Just left.
Again.
Ava stood frozen.
Liam touched her elbow. "Are you okay?"
She nodded numbly. "Yeah… I just need a second."
But even as she joined her friends, she kept glancing back. And each time, she caught Nicholas looking at her from a distance before snapping his gaze away.
Avoiding her.
But watching her.
Keeping his distance.
But not letting her go.
Ava hated how much power he had over her.
How just one look from him could break her rhythm.
How his absence felt louder than anyone else's presence.
And that almost-kiss…
It was still there.
Hovering in the air between them.
Unfinished. Unspoken. Unavoidable.
Something was going to happen.
She could feel it.
But whether it would fix her…
or ruin her…
She wasn't sure anymore.