Kapitel 10: Her Smile, My Undoing

The walk to Ava's door was slower than usual, my heartbeat outpacing my steps. She was next to me, her soft laughter still ringing in my ears from the joke I'd nervously made earlier. I tried to act cool, hands in my pockets, but inside, I was a storm of nerves and excitement.

She looked perfect today—not just pretty, but the kind of beautiful that sneaks up on you and makes your stomach flip. Her hair caught the fading sunlight, her lips curved into that quiet smile she always saved for moments when she thought no one noticed. But I noticed. I noticed everything about her.

We stopped just shy of her porch, the soft glow of the porch light painting her features in gold. My chest felt tight as I turned to face her.

"Thanks for today," she said, her voice gentle, but there was a slight nervousness there too, like she was figuring out what to say.

"Anytime," I replied, my voice betraying how much I meant it. I shoved my hands deeper into my jacket, trying to ignore the way my palms were sweating.

This was it. I'd been thinking about it all day, maybe even longer than that. The way she looked at me, her gaze flicking from my face to the ground like she wasn't sure where to land—it gave me courage I didn't know I had.

"I—uh," I started, the words catching in my throat. She tilted her head slightly, her expression curious, and that was all it took.

Without overthinking it, I leaned in. My pulse roared in my ears as my lips brushed hers, soft and fleeting but enough to make the world tilt on its axis. It wasn't just a kiss; it was an answer to every question I'd been too afraid to ask.

When I pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, her wide eyes locking onto mine. She didn't say anything at first, and for one horrifying moment, I thought I'd miscalculated. But then she smiled—a full, radiant smile that knocked the air out of my lungs.

"Goodnight, Liam," she whispered, and before I could say anything else, she turned and disappeared through the door.

I stood there for a second, staring at the closed door like an idiot, before finally shaking myself and heading back down the street.

And that's when it hit me.

She kissed me back.

A laugh bubbled out of me, breaking the quiet of the night. I couldn't help it. My grin felt too big for my face as I shoved my hands back in my pockets and started walking.

"She kissed me back," I muttered to myself, my voice carrying just enough disbelief to make me chuckle again.

The further I walked, the more the night felt alive—the stars brighter, the air sweeter. I replayed the moment in my mind a dozen times, each detail etched into my memory. The softness of her lips, the way her eyes lingered on mine, how beautiful she looked standing there with the light catching her like she'd stepped out of a dream.

God, she was beautiful.

I couldn't stop smiling, couldn't stop giggling like some lovesick fool. My chest felt light, my thoughts spiraling in a thousand directions but always landing back on her. Her smile, her laugh, the way she made me feel like the luckiest guy alive just by being near her.

By the time I got home, I knew I wouldn't sleep that night. Not with the memory of her kiss still fresh, her beauty still burned into my mind.

And honestly? I didn't want to.