Chapter 75

At breakfast the next morning, Avery and Elliot sat at the dining table in silence.

She was having eggs and toast, while he was eating cereal.

"Thanks for getting my phone back last night," Avery said, shattering the silence between them.

"I'm sorry about my mother," Elliot said, finally expressing the apology that had been bothering him.

Avery's cheeks flushed as she said, "You weren't the one who hit me. Why are you apologizing?"

"She shouldn't have slapped your face," Elliot said in a stiff voice. "If anyone touched my face, I would—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Avery lifted her hand and gently caressed his cheek.

His skin was surprisingly smooth and felt good against her fingers.

Elliot's eyes were smoldering as his Adam's apple rolled in his throat, while his hand around his glass of milk trembled slightly.

"Okay, we're even," Avery said as she withdrew her hand and lowered her head to have a sip of her tea.

Her heart was thumping wildly in her chest, and the sk