Chapter 24. Not Lust, It’s Love

Ava

As Martha dragged me away, I glanced over my shoulder at Adrian, a conflicted expression on my face.

He met my gaze, something soft and tender in his eyes that made my heart stutter. I felt a pang of regret at leaving him so abruptly, but I knew I needed to talk to Martha, to try and make sense of the whirlwind of emotions inside me.

Martha and I found a quiet spot on the grass, away from prying eyes and ears. She plopped down, patting the spot next to her for me to join.

I sat gingerly, wincing slightly as the soreness from last night’s activities reminded me of my encounters with Adrian.

“Spill,” Martha demanded without preamble, turning to face me with a mischievous grin. “Tell me about your stepdad and what exactly is going on between you two?”

I bit my lip, debating how much to tell her. Martha was my best friend, but this was uncharted territory. How could I explain that I was falling for my stepfather, that we had already crossed