Chapter 99

Ava’s POV

The apartment lights glared too bright when I pushed through the door, my hand trembling just enough on the knob to betray me.

I didn’t bother to hang up my coat or kick off my heels.

My whole body was wired with the kind of restless energy that couldn’t sit still.

The faint hum of the dishwasher ran in the background, and the living room lamp was on.

She was home.

Of course she was.

“Emily?” My voice came out sharper than I meant.

She appeared from the hallway, pajama shorts and a loose T-shirt, her hair still damp from a shower.

She froze when she saw me, like she could already read the storm rolling off me.

“You’re home early,” she said cautiously.

I let out a bitter laugh. “Yeah, dinner didn’t exactly go the way I planned.”

Her brow creased. “Dinner with Alex?”

I flinched at his name. “You knew, didn’t you?”

Emily’s lips parted, then pressed together again. Her silence was enough