71. ICY TOUCH

ISLA’S POV “YOU’RE SLEEPING WITH YOUR BROTHER’S FRIEND?!” Ava’s voice exploded in my ear piercing enough to make me wince. “AND I HEAR ABOUT IT FROM KEVIN’S RANT?” I pulled the phone away from my ear, the volume of her outrage was too much to handle. My stomach churned at the mention of Kevin. Of course, he couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Why had I been foolish enough to forget how petty and vindictive he could be? “Ava, I—” I tried to explain, but she cut me off sharply. “An address, Isla. I need an address. We’re meeting, now.” Thirty minutes later, we sat across from each other at a table. The smell of tea wafted through the air, but neither of us touched the tea in front of us. Ava’s eyes bored into mine, questioning and her fingers drumming impatiently against the table. One breath. Two. And then came her explosion. “WHAT? He’s like, what? Fourteen years older than you?! Are you insane?” “Ava,” I whispered, sighing heavily as I rubbed my temples. “I—look, it happened, okay? And ther