The Rejected Luna

Chapter 14

_Avery’s POV_

The next morning, I woke up feeling a little lighter. Being home again, surrounded by my parents and Liam’s comforting presence, made everything seem a bit easier to handle. I was still nervous about the idea of running into Kaden, but today, I just wanted to enjoy my time with Liam.

“Good morning,” Liam said as he walked into the kitchen, his voice cheerful. He came over and gave me a quick kiss on the forehead. “I was thinking, how about we go out for lunch today? You can show me your favorite spots.”

I smiled at him, feeling grateful for how considerate he was. “That sounds like a great idea. I know just the place. There is this burger restaurant I used to go to all the time. You’re going to love it.”

He grinned, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “Burgers? I’m in. Lead the way.”

After breakfast, we got ready and left the house. The weather was perfect, with a bright sun shining and a gentle breeze that felt like a warm hug. Liam took my hand as we walked down the familiar streets of my hometown. It felt good, his hand in mine, as if I could almost forget all the pain I had been through.

“You look beautiful today,” he said, leaning in to whisper in my ear, his breath tickling my skin. I blushed, a smile spreading across my face.

“You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you?” I teased and gave his hand a squeeze.

“Only for you,” he winked, making me laugh. For a moment, I felt genuinely happy.

The restaurant was just as I remembered it, with its bright red booths and the delicious smell of grilled burgers and fries in the air. The place was buzzing with people but we managed to find a cozy table near the back. A friendly waitress came over. She smiled as she handed us the menus.

I already knew what I wanted. “I’ll have the classic cheeseburger with extra pickles, and a side of sweet potato fries, please,” I told her.

Liam glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. “Extra pickles, huh? I didn’t know you were such a fan.”

I grinned. “You’ll see. It’s the best part.”

He chuckled and then, turned to the waitress. “I’ll have the double bacon cheeseburger, no pickles, and regular fries. And two chocolate milkshakes, please.”

“Coming right up!” the waitress said, scribbling down our orders before hurrying off.

Liam turned to me, his eyes shining with mischief. “I can’t believe you didn’t order a milkshake. Chocolate is the best part of any meal.”

I laughed, feeling a warm flush of happiness. “Maybe I was just waiting to steal a sip of yours.”

“Oh, you’re welcome to share,” he said with a playful wink. He leaned in closer, his lips brushing my cheek in a soft kiss. My heart skipped a beat, and without thinking, I leaned in and kissed him back—this time on the lips. It was brief but enough to send a small shiver of excitement through me.

Liam looked surprised, his eyes widening slightly, but then he smiled, a slow, satisfied grin that made my stomach flip. “I could get used to that,” he murmured.

We continued chatting, talking about everything and nothing. He told me more about his adventures in Sweden, his love for hiking in the mountains, and how he once got lost in the woods for hours. I laughed so hard my sides hurt. It felt good to forget, even just for a little while, all the pain of the past.

But as I was laughing at one of his jokes, I felt a strange sensation—like someone was watching me. My smile faded, and I glanced over Liam’s shoulder. That’s when I saw him.

Kaden.

He was sitting at a table across the restaurant, staring at me with those intense, dark eyes that I knew so well. He wasn’t eating, wasn’t even looking at the girl sitting across from him. His eyes were locked on me, his gaze so piercing that it made my heart stutter.

I quickly looked away, trying to focus on Liam. “So, tell me more about that hike,” I said, forcing a smile. But I could feel Kaden’s eyes burning into me, and it was impossible to ignore. My heart was racing, my palms suddenly sweaty. What was his problem? Why was he staring at me like that?

I glanced back, hoping he had looked away, but no. Kaden was still staring, his jaw clenched, his hands fisted on the table. He looked furious.

I turned back to Liam. I was determined to ignore Kaden. This was my pack too. I had every right to be here, to be happy, to move on with my life. If Kaden had a problem with it, that was his issue, not mine.

“So, how is the burger?” I asked Liam, trying to sound casual.

“It’s amazing,” he said, giving me a thumbs up. “You were right about this place.”

But I couldn’t focus on his words. I kept sneaking glances at Kaden, my heart twisting with confusion and anger. Why was he acting like this? Did he think he could just glare at me and I would crumble? No, I wasn’t that girl anymore.

A thought hit me then. Was he… jealous? No, that couldn’t be it. He was with Anna. He had chosen her over me. He didn’t want me, had made that very clear. But the way he was looking at me now, it was like he was… angry that I was with someone else. That didn’t make any sense.

I tried to push the thoughts away, focusing on Liam, who was telling me about a new photography project he was working on. He was so passionate, so genuine, and I wanted to be present, to enjoy this moment with him.

But Kaden’s stare was like a weight on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I glanced back one last time, and this time, our eyes locked. For a split second, I saw something there, something that almost looked like… pain. But then his face hardened, and he looked away, turning his attention back to the girl sitting across from him.

I felt a strange pang in my chest, a mix of anger and something else I couldn’t quite name. I had spent so long trying to get over him, trying to heal from the hurt he had caused me. And now, here he was, acting like he had some kind of claim over me, like he had the right to be angry that I was with someone else.

I turned back to Liam, determined to shake off the unsettling feeling. I reached across the table, taking his hand in mine. “Thank you for coming here with me,” I said, my voice soft.

He smiled, squeezing my hand. “There is nowhere else I would rather be.”

I smiled back, but my thoughts were still swirling. Kaden was here, in the same restaurant, in the same town I had run from. And now, I was back, with Liam by my side, trying to rebuild the pieces of my broken heart.

The waitress brought our food, and I forced myself to focus on eating, on enjoying the delicious burger and the sweet, creamy milkshake Liam insisted I try. But Kaden’s presence lingered, a shadow that I couldn’t quite shake off.

As we finished our meal, Liam leaned in closer, his voice low and teasing. “How about dessert? I saw they have a huge chocolate cake on the menu.”

I smiled, grateful for his attempt to lighten the mood. “You’re going to spoil me,” I teased.

“Only if you let me,” he winked.

I laughed, the sound genuine this time, and for a moment, I almost forgot about Kaden. But as we stood up to leave, I couldn’t resist one last glance in his direction.

He was still watching me, his expression unreadable, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. Whatever was going on in his head, I didn’t want to know. I had moved on. I had someone who cared about me, who made me feel special.

Kaden had made his choice. Now it was time for me to make mine. And I chose to be happy, to move forward, to let go of the past that had hurt me so deeply.

But as we walked out of the restaurant, Liam’s arm around my shoulders, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something I wasn’t ready to face.