_Avery’s POV_
As Liam and I walked back into the house, my mind was a storm of emotions. Kaden’s kiss had thrown me off balance, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t push it out of my head. My heart was racing, but I forced myself to focus on Liam, who was looking at me with concern.
“What happened out there?” Liam asked softly as we headed upstairs. “You look shaken.”
I hesitated, biting my lip. I didn’t want to ruin the evening by talking about Kaden, but Liam deserved the truth. “Kaden... he is bothering me,” I admitted quietly. “He is acting like he owns me, like I don’t have the right to move on and be happy with someone else.”
Liam’s jaw tightened. “What did he say to you?” he asked, his voice low and steady, but I could see the anger simmering beneath the surface.
“He
