The drive home felt like an eternity. Ava's mind raced, piecing together the fragmented puzzle Ethan had just laid before her. His words echoed in her head, each one a weight that threatened to crush her. Dangerous things… People watching us… I'm not sure how much you're in danger.
She could still feel the heat of his touch, his hand brushing against her arm as she pulled away from him at the restaurant. The desperation in his eyes had been so raw, so real. Ethan hadn't lied about everything. She could sense the truth in his words, even if the full picture was still unclear. But how much of it was real? And how much was he hiding from her?
Her phone buzzed on the passenger seat, pulling her from her thoughts. She glanced at the screen. It was Ethan. Again.
She felt her chest tighten. Should she pick up? Should she listen to whatever explanation he had now? Or should she ignore him entirely? The more she thought about it, the more she realized how little she understood about Ethan—or about the world he was part of. What if getting too close meant stepping into a danger she wasn't prepared for?
Ava turned the volume up on the radio, trying to drown out the noise in her head, but the phone kept buzzing, relentless. He won't stop until I answer, she thought bitterly.
With a deep sigh, she pressed the button to answer the call, her grip on the steering wheel tightening.
"Hello?" Her voice was more distant than she intended.
"Ava…" Ethan's voice came through the speaker, low and strained. "Please, listen to me."
Ava could feel the weight of his words even through the phone. He was desperate, and it unsettled her. She hated how much she still cared. It was too much too soon. Too many unanswered questions.
I am listening, Ethan," she replied flatly. "But you're not giving me any answers. You're just adding more questions. You said you'd explain everything. Well, it's time."
There was a long pause on the other end of the line, as if Ethan was considering what to say.
I know this is hard for you to process," he finally said, his voice almost breaking. "I'm asking you to trust me when I tell you that you have no idea how dangerous this all is. The people I'm dealing with, the things they do… I've kept you at arm's length because I thought I could protect you from it. But now, you're already too close. They know about you. They've been watching you since the moment we met."
Ava's heart skipped. "Who? Who's watching me? And why?"
I can't tell you everything yet, Ava. Not until you're ready." Ethan's voice cracked with the weight of his words. "I never wanted you involved in any of this, but I'm afraid it's too late now. You have to trust me when I say that it's not just about you anymore. They won't stop. They'll come after you too if they think you're a threat. If they think you know too much."
Ava was silent, her mind reeling. What did I get myself into?
"I need to see you," Ethan continued urgently. "I need to explain things face to face. You deserve the truth, Ava. You deserve to know what's really going on."
She pulled into her parking space with shaky hands, turning off the engine. The quiet of her apartment complex felt suffocating.
"You've already told me enough, Ethan," she said quietly. "But if you're really going to be honest with me, if you want my trust, you need to tell me everything. No more secrets. No more half-truths."
She heard him exhale on the other end of the line. "I swear, I'll tell you everything. But not tonight. It's too dangerous."
"Then when?" Ava's voice cracked, the frustration bubbling over. "How long are you going to keep me in the dark?"
Ethan was silent for a long moment. Finally, he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "Soon. I promise. But I need you to stay safe. Please. I'll protect you, Ava. I just need time."
Ava's pulse raced. Protect me? How could he protect her if he was already tangled in something so dangerous? She didn't know if she could trust him anymore—or if she could trust herself to make the right decision.
"I'll think about it," she said, her voice softer now, tinged with uncertainty. "But you're right about one thing, Ethan. You've already pulled me in deeper than I ever expected. So you better be ready to tell me everything when I see you next."
There was a pause on the other end of the line before Ethan spoke again, his voice full of raw emotion. "I will. I promise you, Ava. I'll make things right."
She ended the call, her chest tight as she sat in her car, staring at the empty space ahead of her. The world felt like it was closing in on her, a fog of uncertainty and fear that she couldn't shake. The man she was falling for had secrets—dark, dangerous secrets. And now, somehow, those secrets had become hers to unravel.
That night, Ava couldn't sleep. The quiet of her apartment seemed to amplify her every thought. She kept replaying Ethan's words in her head: They know about you... They'll come after you too... I'll protect you, Ava. I just need time.
It wasn't the time she was worried about—it was everything that came before it. What was he protecting her from? And why hadn't he told her everything before? She had let herself believe in the connection between them, but now it felt like that bond was tainted with too many lies and secrets.
Ava swung her legs off the side of the bed, reaching for her phone. The screen was still dark, and for a moment, she considered throwing it across the room. But instead, she unlocked it, scrolling through her messages.
There was still no word from Mia—her best friend, her rock, the one person who could help her sort through the mess of her thoughts. She needed someone to talk to, someone who could ground her before she drowned in this confusion. But Mia was always the first to push Ava into situations she wasn't ready for. She would never understand the gravity of what was happening now.
Her phone buzzed again, jolting her from her thoughts.
Ethan: "Meet me tomorrow at the same place. 7 PM. I'll explain everything. I swear."
Her stomach twisted. How could she keep going down this path? The more she let herself care for him, the deeper she was pulled into a world of shadows. And yet, the longing to understand, to get the answers, was undeniable.
She typed a quick response, her fingers hovering for a moment as she fought the urge to ignore him.
Ava: "I'll be there. But this time, Ethan, you better tell me the truth."
She hit send, and then stared at the phone screen, waiting for his reply. But there was none. Just a single, final message sent into the quiet night, leaving Ava to wonder what the next day would bring.