Page 39 of The Charade

"Well, yeah." She shrugged. "I mean, I've dated a few guys. But, um, it wasn't ever serious. And it's not like we went hot tubbing or swimming all the time."

Okay, so maybe she really didn't know what I was getting at. Maybe she was less experienced with guys than I'd assumed.

Which was totally fine. Not all people my age took their romantic relationships to a more physical level.

And now that I was on this side of my relationship with Sofia, our breakup probably would have been a lot easier on me if we hadn't ever brought sex into the equation. I didn't necessarily regret it since we'd dated for two years and at that time, I'd thought I loved her. But it did add some complications and a bigger sense of betrayal when she left me for another guy.

So, instead of pushing the topic with Ava, I just said, "Yeah, I don't go hot tubbing on all my dates, either."

I finished tying my shoes and stood up, ready to get downstairs to the basketball court. But just as I was about to walk past Ava and through the doorway, she grabbed my forearm. "Wait, were you just hinting that people at our school—" She shook her head before staring at me with her big, golden-brown eyes. "T-that Sofia’s going to think that we're…that we're hooking up during our tutoring sessions?"

And the look of shock and terror on her face at the thought told me that what I'd assumed about her dating life was probably right.

Spending the night with guys wasn't an extracurricular activity for Ava.

But since I couldn't resist being the one to keep her on her toes for a change, I stepped closer. She retreated. With her back pressed against the wall, I bent down so my lips were next to her ear and whispered, "With two people as hot as we are, I would almost bet on it."

Her whole body went still—her breath seeming to catch as she took in what I'd just said. Then after a moment, she asked, "Y-you think I'm hot?"

I couldn't help but chuckle at the way this girl's mind worked. Because even though it was apparent that she was also overwhelmed by my close proximity and the thought of people assuming we were hooking up bothered her…my saying she was hot was the thing she wanted to address first.

In a low voice, I said, "I guess I did say that."

Which was true. I liked what I saw whenever she was in my view.

Probably liked it a little too much, considering I was her math tutor and the only kind of relationship we'd be having this year was of the professional…or fake kind.

She braced her hands on my chest. Even though I'd just reminded myself of the boundaries our relationship would have, my heart didn't seem to get the memo since it pounded against my ribs at her touch, my whole body acutely aware of just how close we stood.

Crazy as it was, I had the strange urge to close the rest of the distance between us—to do something so impulsive and so out of character for me—and just kiss her right then and there so I could find out if she tasted as good as she looked.

My gaze fell to her mouth which was parted slightly, so soft and supple-looking.

She pressed her lips together. When I lifted my gaze back up to her amber eyes, I imagined there was some sort of anticipation in them—like she was as curious as I was about what it would be like to kiss each other.

I could imagine worse ways to spend an afternoon.

I was about to slide my hand up to cradle her neck when Nash's voice suddenly sounded from my Apple watch. "Carter, are you coming?"

And just like that, I was jolted back to reality.

Ava jumped at the sound of Nash's voice as well and immediately removed her palms from my chest, as if we'd just been caught in a compromising position.

Which yeah, it would have seemed compromising…if anyone was actually around to see it.

After taking one last look at Ava, I pushed the button on my watch to respond to Nash. "I'm on my way." Then after standing straighter, I cleared my throat and said to Ava, "Sorry. I, uh, forgot what I was doing for a minute." I stepped back to give us both some much-needed space.

"Yeah, I did, too." Ava tucked some of her long hair behind her ear. "I was trying to find the bathroom."

"The bathroom is right there." I pointed to the door straight across from my room, fighting the urge to run my fingers through her hair so I could discover if it was as silky as it looked. "Cambrielle is always getting her directions mixed up."

Ava stepped out of the doorway, and it might have just been me projecting my own feelings onto her, but I imagined she didn't seem in any hurry to leave quite yet.

But since I had people waiting for me downstairs, I came out of my room, closing the door behind me, and said, "I'll see you later, Ava."

"Yeah, see you, Carter."

And then I hurried down to the basketball court, wondering what in the world had just happened.

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