_Avery's POV_
When I got Kaden’s text, my stomach churned with unease. I hadn’t expected him to contact me, let alone insist on meeting alone. My first instinct was to ignore him, but he kept pushing, saying it was urgent. Against my better judgment, I agreed. Part of me was curious about what he wanted to say, though I told myself it didn’t matter anymore.
Still, I felt a pang of guilt as I lied to Liam, telling him I was going out for a girls’ night. His trusting smile made my heart twist, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell him the truth. Not yet. I didn’t know what Kaden wanted, and I didn’t want to cause any unnecessary drama.
When Kaden’s car pulled up outside, I hesitated for a moment before stepping out of the house. As I opened the car door and slid into the passenger seat, an
