A movement outside alerted her of an incoming company. But she was not alarmed. Judging by his scent, she knew who he was.
Thankfully, Jace showed up by the door, allowing her the chance to dodge the question she was not ready to answer, not truthfully anyway.
"Hi, Adam. I did not know that you were here." Jace moved further inside the room and tapped his friend on the shoulder.
But somehow, she sensed he seemed uncomfortable seeing them together as his eyes shifted from him to her. But she dismissed it, thinking that her mind was overworking what Cathy had mentioned to her.
These men could not be both attracted to her. Although she was not blind that she was beautiful, still, it was an insane idea. Besides, she had no time to entertain such thoughts.
Aside from that, she doubted this place was where she could find her answers. The sooner she could get out of here, the better. She could not stay long because she knew she was running out of time.
Still, she was thankful that she had met these people and made new friends. She would surely miss them as she continued her journey in her search for the answers to the many questions going through her mind.
"I came by to replace the woods we consumed last night. Then, Ava was kind enough to offer me a drink." Adam immediately answered Jace, standing up from his seat as if preparing to leave.
Avana wanted to ask him if he finally agreed to help her. He did not give her a definite answer earlier. But she did not want to involve Jace in the conversation.
"Oh! You did not have to do that." Jace answered him. "I could have easily ordered some wood stocks from the store." He added, which made her squint her eyes at the bigger man.
She was slightly surprised by what she heard. She thought that this place was so primitive that everything they would need would require physical labor. It clearly showed how inadequate her knowledge was of the present world around her.
"Don't worry about it," Adam answered the doctor as he moved towards the door. "Besides, I need the exercise." Adam gave the doctor a particular look, which the doctor acknowledged.
Then, he turned to her. "Thanks for the drink," Adam told her.
But she did not understand the silent conversation between the two men as Adam disappeared behind the door as he exited the house, leaving her alone again with the doctor.
She was not afraid of Jace. She believed that despite sensing something different about him and Cathy, she still could trust them.
When she shifted her attention to him, she noticed the object on his right hand, dangling on his side. "What is that?" She asked while busying herself.
She decided to make him a drink as well. She could feel the heat of the raging sun outside even when she was inside the comfort of a roof. What more than those people who just came from outside like him.
He probably forgot that he was carrying something as he looked surprised at her question. But realizing what she was pointing at, he suddenly remembered.
"It is something for you." He placed the box on the counter, pushing it toward her. Before he sat down on the stool that Adam vacated and looked at her.
"What for?" Her eyes looked at him inquiringly since she doubted there was an occasion that warranted a gift-giving.
She moved closer to him, passing him the fresh glass of drink she had prepared. Then, her hands touched the box wrapped nicely and tied with a red ribbon.
"It is nothing. I saw it in the window shop and thought it would look nice on you." Jace told her as if it was not a big deal, but somehow she could read something different in his eyes. "Please, I hope you will accept it."
She did not wish to impose on the kindness of these people. She felt they had done more than enough to help her, especially Jace, but she also believed it would be rude not to accept the gift even though she did not need it.
"Are you sure? You can probably give it to your sister. I think we are the same size." She still tried to avoid accepting the gift.
"I also bought her a new one. Besides, there is a festivity going on at the plaza. I thought you might want to join me later." Jace shyly asked as if he was asking her out.
"Are you asking me on a date?" She asked reluctantly, afraid she might break his heart.
Well, it sounded like that in her mind. But as she had decided earlier, she had no plan to complicate things by getting involved in a relationship.
Many boys did try to catch her attention. She did try to date a few times in the past, but it seemed she was not interested in any of them. There was this particular boy that she almost thought she liked, but she still rejected him in the very end.
"It doesn't have to be a date, but two friends going out to enjoy a night outside." Jace probably felt her hesitation, so he retracted and changed his mind about naming it. "Please, open it and see if you like it."
Her hands started untying the ribbon off and unwrapping the box. When she finally opened it, she could not help but smile at the simple but beautiful sundress.
"This is beautiful," Avana could not help but express her delight with the new dress as her lips curved into a smile.
Suddenly she remembered her mom, who always adored her with gifts from dresses to shoes or other girly things.
Some thought that she was a spoiled brat because of the many beautiful things she owned and surrounding her. But those were all gifts that she appreciated. But if it was her choice, she was also happy with the simple things.
"I hope you will accept it as a token of our friendship." The doctor offered this time.
"But I have nothing to give you in return." She still had a little cash on her things that remained intact in her hiding place, but she still had to look for a store where she could spend it.
"I am sure that you can return the favor someday. It doesn't have to be a gift just like this." Jace answered her with a genuine smile.
She could sense that he was a good person. Despite feeling odd about him, she still believed he was a person she could trust.
She pulled out the dress from the box and put it in front of her, imagining herself on it.
"Wow, that looks so beautiful on you." Again she saw it in his eyes.
He was interested in her romantically, but she could only reciprocate his kindness with a genuine friendship. She hoped it would be enough because she could not offer more. She and Jace could only be in the friend zone.