Step into love

In the Shad

than looked at her, the gentleness in his touch. It was surreal - a dream she had been afraid to hope for. But as the sun rose higher, so did her anxieties. Wha

her mom preparing breakfast and humming to herself; a surge of

eep well?" she asked, ha

g her face didn't betray

t her heart skip a beat. He gave her a quick unreadable glance before gre

mpany was the only one. Ava felt the tension, the way they moved around each other-the stolen glances, the moments of almost t

l, she got a t

e garden. We

by the oak tree, hands in his pockets, looking up at the stars. W

softly. He stepped in close, and she felt the heat

on't know how to act around you. It's like I want to be clos

ers intertwining with hers. "We'll figure it out.

t of his gaze, the sincerity

made Ava's heart stop-the unmistakable sound

? Et

as her mother stepped into view. Her expressi

lding her arms. There was a subtle concern in he

bbly as the way she was feeling inside. She forced a casual smile in the hope that her

just passed between them. Then with a soft sigh, she nodded, giv

Ava had been holding was released. She tur

he whispered with barel

'll have to be more careful." He gave her a reassuring smile, but his

ret settling over them. It was a risky game they played, bu

soft rustling of leaves, the faraway chirping of crickets, and the quiet hum of the night air. But just as she

ed to see a girl she knew from school-Mia, one of Ethan's more boisterous and f

mth in his eyes was suddenly replaced with a gu

nd forth between Ava and Ethan. Ava felt an uncomfortable knot form in her stomach as she noticed

g in her throat as Mia took one step closer to

ly, though her eyes were whetted. "You know, Ethan, we really should get together more

issuing a challenge-she was here to stake her claim. Ethan looked at Ava,

ot really giving away his feelings. He appeared torn between the past that

imed with sparkling eyes. "We could watch that new t

n instinct to protect the fragile connection she'd forged wi

find some solidarity in his expression. He was staring back at her, his eyes locking onto hers as he

d, his voice even, but a storm

bring the popcorn!" she exclaimed and then repositioned

felt like an outsider in my own story. Ava looked at Ethan;

relief that washed over Ava was promptly replaced by an anxie

, his voice very low. "I hadn't exp

h her hair. "It's okay. I just... I don't

r shoulder. "You don't have to compete becau

of an assurance that what he said was tr

ir secret weighing once again heavy on her che

d with resolution. "

k. He had said it wouldn't be easy, and the world outside the tiny bubble they