Chapter 2

The Biggest Shock

Ava buried her face behind the book she was pretending to read as soon as Freya entered the library the next morning. Her best friend didn’t waste a second, dropping into the chair beside her and crossing her arms.

“What’s wrong?” Freya demanded. “You didn’t answer my calls or messages. I was this close to showing up at your house with a search party.”

Ava sighed, lowering the book. “I’ve got some really freaking news. Well… to my mom, it’s good news.”

Freya’s brow furrowed in concern. “What happened?”

Ava leaned in, her voice dropping. “She’s getting married.”

Freya’s mouth fell open. “Wait—what?”

“To a guy named Mark Davis,” Ava continued, scowling. “She dropped the bomb last night over dinner. And get this man,he has a son.”

Freya blinked, taking a second to process. “Whoa. So you’re getting a stepbrother?”

“Yeah,” Ava muttered, fiddling with the edge of the book. “But he wasn’t there last night. Apparently, he couldn’t make it. Or maybe he just didn’t want to come.”

Freya exhaled in surprise, then gave Ava a pointed look. “Okay, I get that this is a shock, but maybe you should cut your mom some slack. She’s been single for years. Don’t you think she deserves to be happy?”

Ava’s head snapped up. “Whose side are you on?”

Freya lifted her hands in surrender. “Yours, obviously. But come on, Ava. Your mom has been alone for so long. She finally found someone she wants to be with. Shouldn’t she have that chance?”

Ava groaned and let her head fall onto the table. “Ugh. You sound like her.”

Freya smirked. “Maybe she’s got a point, you shouldn't be so hard on her, remember she's lonely and even if we are not ready to get boyfriends yet I believe your mother should be allowed to have her's.”

Before Ava could argue, her phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at the screen and let out a sigh.

“Who is it?” Freya asked.

“It's my mom she's texting.”

Mom: I’m really sorry for keeping it from you. I should have told you sooner. But still, you shouldn’t have left without eating breakfast. (The broken heart emoji)

Ava rolled her eyes, but her heart clenched a little. She wasn’t mad at her mom,well, not really. It was just so much to take in at once.

Freya peeked at the message and nudged her. “She’s trying, Ava, like I said, cut her some slack and do not be a pain in the ass.”

Ava sighed, locking her phone. “Yeah, I know.” she whispered.

By lunchtime, Ava and Freya made their way to the cafeteria, trays in hand. The usual buzz of conversation and laughter filled the space, but as they found an empty table, Freya stiffened.

“Oh, great,” she muttered.

Ava followed her gaze and sighed. Jenna and her clique sat at the next table, tossing perfect hair and laughing like they were in some teen drama.

Freya made a face. “We should move.”

Ava smirked. “Relax. It’s not like they even care about us.”

Freya was about to argue when someone dropped into the vacant seat beside them.

Ava barely spared a glance before Freya let out a sharp inhale.

“Oh my God,” she whispered, gripping Ava’s arm. “That’s Ethan Davis.”

Ava frowned. “Who?”

Freya gave her a look of pure betrayal. “Ethan Davis. The hottest guy in school? The Ethan Davis?”

Ava sighed. “Okay? And?”

Freya looked personally offended. “And he’s sitting right next to us. This never happens.”

Ava was unimpressed. “Maybe he just likes this seat.”

She turned her attention back to her food, but then another guy,Leo, if she remembered correctly dropped into the seat across from Ethan.

Leo smirked. “Dude, how was dinner with your dad and the new stepmom?”

Ava froze, her fork pausing mid-air.

Ethan scoffed. “Didn’t go. I bailed.”

Leo laughed. “Seriously?”

Ethan leaned back, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah. The thought of sharing my once-quiet house with two new people? Freaky. No thanks.”

Freya gasped and turned to Ava so fast she almost gave herself whiplash. “Did you hear that?” she whispered.

Ava kept her expression blank. “Nope.”

Freya nudged her. “He’s your stepbrother.”

“Technically, not yet.”

“Still! Oh my God, Ava. This is insane.”

Ava sighed. “Freya, I know you have a thing for him, but I don’t even fancy him. So drop it.”

Freya pouted but couldn’t stop sneaking glances at Ethan as they ate. “You're just in denial,you know I'm right.” Freya whispered, smiling sheepishly.

___

Later that evening, Ava sat cross-legged on the floor of her room, a paintbrush in hand as she worked on her latest canvas. The soft glow of her desk lamp illuminated her workspace, the smell of fresh paint filling the air.

Painting always calmed her down. It was her escape in a world where she wasn't in control. She recalled her father's last days,he was gloomy,the cancer had taken them by surprise and he'd died suddenly on his third month of becoming cancerous.

She had just finished adding a stroke of deep blue when the doorbell rang.

Frowning, she set her brush down and wiped her hands on a rag.

Who could that be? Her mom wasn’t home, and she wasn’t expecting anyone. She smiled, thinking it was Freya,she probably decided to show up and make her smile.

She padded to the front door and swung it open,only to freeze in shock.

Standing there, looking equally surprised, was Ethan Davis.

Her brain short-circuited for a second.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she blurted.

Ethan crossed his arms. “I could ask you the same thing.”

Ava narrowed her eyes. “Uh, this is my house.”

Ethan scoffed. “Yeah? Well, my dad sent me to grab some of your mother's stuff.” His lips curled into a smirk. “Your stepfather sent me.”

Ava’s stomach dropped.

Stepfather.

Her grip on the door tightened.

Oh, hell no.