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Ava froze in her tracks. She was aware of his feelings, as Abigail and Debra had already told her today. However, she had no idea how awkward things would become for her
She bit her bottom lip because she did not know what to sa
Luke took her hand and said,
“Let’s go.”
He led her out of the shop and looked at her.
“I understand it might be awkward for you. You-“.
“I knew about it,” Ava interrupted him.
“You knew?” Luke said with a broad grin.
Ava glanced at him and mumbled,
“Abigail and Debra told me about it.”
He paused as his smile faded. “So you did not notice it from your side?”
Ava parted her lips, but nothing came out. She did not feel anything inside, indicating that she did not like him more than just a friend.
“Ava, I know you don’t have any feelings for me. But give me a chance. I promise we will end up together. I don’t want to end our friendship. You can take your time, and when you feel it is okay to go for a relationship, you can tell me.”
Ava was stunned. She felt that Luke was really a good guy. Her heart was warmed by the way he always expressed his care for her.
He was a caring boy who had feelings for her.
She had never thought someone could even like her. After all, who would be in love with a nerd like her?
“Thank you for understanding me, Luke,” she said.
Luke smiled at her and opened the door for her. She entered the car, and they headed to her house.
On the way, Ava thought about what Luke had said to her.
She had planned to say yes to Luke, but something was holding her back.
Luke asked her to have dinner with him when he saw a famous restaurant on their way.
She glanced at her phone. She checked her phone and found no missed calls. She assumed her mother had not returned home yet because if she had, she would have called her.
So she agreed to Luke and went to the restaurant.
As they took their seats at a table, Ava looked around the restaurant.
Because the restaurant was well–known, every table was filled with wealthy people. She recognized some familiar faces from their university.
Her gaze drifted to Luke, who was sitting across from her. He was staring at her.
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Ava felt the atmosphere between them had changed. She cleared her throat and said,
“Let’s order something.”
They ordered what they would like to try. Ava noticed all the dishes were very expensive there. But she was relieved that she still had money in the bank card that her mother had given her before the wedding,
They began eating when the waiter brought them delicious dishes.
Luke tried to make the situation less awkward by talking to Ava about her mother.
Ava told him how hardworking her mother was.
As Ava spoke with Luke, her gaze shifted to a couple approaching their table.
Both of them came to a halt in front of the table. Ava furrowed her brows when she noticed how the unknown couple were staring at her.
They were both young. The boy had green eyes, while the girl had blue eyes.
She calmed her expression and asked,
“May I know you?”
The boy’s brow arched as if he were looking at a ghost or something. The girl quickly shook her head and grabbed the boy’s arm.
“No. We don’t know each other, dear,” the girl said with a polite smile.
The girl started dragging the boy with her to the next table.
Ava stared at them until they sat down at the table.
“Ava?”
“Hmm?”
Ava looked away from the couple and turned her head at Luke.
“Do you know them?” he asked.
“No. Don’t you think they are strange?”
“Strange?” Luke asked, glancing at them.
The boy was still looking at Ava. Luke glared at the boy. But when he noticed the girl was also looking at Ava strangely, he felt Ava was right.
“Yeah. You are right. That’s odd.”
At that time, Ava got her mother’s call.
She received the call.
“Mom.”
“Ava, I heard from Stephen that you went out with Luke.”
She glanced at Luke and replied, “Yes, Mom.”
Her mother cleared her throat and whispered, “How is it going?”
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Ava looked away from Luke and chuckled.
“Mom, come on.”
“Okay, okay, fine. Enjoy your time. I won’t bother you. I like that boy for you anyway. I saw you both together at our wedding. So…”
“Mom!”
“Okay, my baby. I won’t tease you anymore. Are you coming back?”
She glanced at her food and mumbled, “I will take some time. I am having dinner, and the ride will be long to get back.”
“Oh, you are having dinner? I wanted to ask you to join me and Harper for dinner. He booked a table for us. Stephen is not at home, he said he can’t join. And you also won’t come then-”
“It’s okay, Mom. You both should go and enjoy your time. I will be back home safely. Don’t worry.”
After talking with her mother, Ava continued to eat her food. But all the time she felt the unknown couple’s gazes on her. Luke noticed it as well.
After finishing their dinner, Ava and Luke paid the bills together.
It was because Ava did not let Luke pay for her. She insisted that he split the bill. Despite Luke’s eagerness to pay for her, she declined, saying that she would never go anywhere with him if he did not listen to her. Luke had no option rather to split it.
When they stood up, Ava glanced at the couple for the last time.
She felt awkward looking into their eyes. After letting out a sigh, she left the restaurant with Luke.
During the long ride, Luke told her how he was trying to gather his courage to tell her about his feelings. Ava realized that she would never get a boy like him who was so eager to talk to her or give his best for her.
When they arrived at Ava’s house, Luke pulled up behind other cars. There were a few cars parked there, so he had to park it behind.
Luke got out of the car and opened the door for Ava.
She stepped down, and he closed the door.
Ava hugged Luke as she felt thankful to him.
“Thank you, Luke. You understood my situation. You care for me. That’s a huge thing for me.”
Luke hugged her back and replied,
“It is just how I feel.”
After saying goodbye to Luke, Ava waved her hand at his car as it drove away.
She had a smile on her lips as she started to walk past the other cars.
However, she froze when she heard a familiar voice.
“I see you had a great time with him.”
