54. ICY TOUCH

ISLA'S POV. I rolled my eyes, but the corner of my mouth betrayed me, curling into the faintest smile. Ava Zhao, my best friend's loud gasp, shattered the calm café. Her voice was so loud that it turned a few heads from nearby tables. Her jaw practically hit the table as she gawked at me. “You’re living with your brother’s best friend and you think he’s hot?!” “Shush!” I hissed, my face burning as I glanced around frantically. My words tumbled out in a rushed whisper, sharp with embarrassment. “I don’t think—he just… is, okay? But he’s arrogant. They’re so different, I don’t even know how that works.” Ava leaned in, her eyes gleaming with mischief as she dropped her voice. “Wait. What the fuck? I thought you were living in the dorm? How the hell did you end up living with your hot brother’s best friend? That’s totally forbidden. And older than you!” She dragged out the last words, clearly savouring the scandal. Before I could come up with an escape lie, a voice cut through the café noi