Chapter Two

Ava

"So the apartment won't be ready for at least another week?" I exhale a heavy sigh and press my palm against my forehead.

The leasing agent presses her lips together with a grim smile and nods. "I'm sorry. We uncovered a water leak after the previous tenant moved out that we were never informed of. There's significant damage, which could cause mold. We have a crew coming out to start on the repairs on Monday. You should be able to get in by this time next weekend."

I press my fingers into my eyes, fighting off the tears threatening to spill. It wasn't only the fact my new apartment wouldn't be ready for over a week, leaving me with no place to stay. It's what this moment represented to me after all this time.

I've been counting down since graduation for the day I'd be on my own. Hell, I've dreamed of this moment long before I finished high school.

I'm extremely lucky to have grown up with a close family, and I consider myself to be a daddy's girl. My older brother, Alec, and I have always been close, although we argued a lot more when we moved into our high school years.

Either way, I know if I called Alec and told him something happened and I needed my big brother, he'd nearly blow out his engine to get to me as fast as he could. That's just who he is.

My dad and brother took their roles of protecting me seriously. It was enough to tell them I was moving out and on my own. I think my father gave in for the simple fact of knowing that Alec would be nearby at Keaton.

This was another one of those times—I could call and tell him I needed a place to crash for a week. Hallyn, my best friend and soon-to-be roommate, was still back in her hometown visiting her grandparents. She wasn't here because our coach, SJ, agreed to send her videos of our routines to practice back in Virginia.

I didn't want to resort to doing that, though. It's what they're expecting too.

The moment something big happens, when it feels like the ground beneath me is crumbling, they anticipate I'll come running back home.

I wanted to prove them wrong, but more than anything, I wanted to prove that I could stand on my own two feet. I am strong and more than capable of taking care of myself.

"Can you update me on how things are progressing throughout the week? I'm hoping it doesn't get pushed back…" I wanted to finish the sentence but saying it out loud struck me with fear that I'd be speaking it into existence.

"Of course, I'll keep in touch with you on how it's going, and toward the end of the week, I'll call to confirm a time for you to stop in and get your keys."

I nod and pat my hand on the counter, taking a step away. Tucking my hair behind my ear, I tip my chin as I step out the door. I wanted to wait until I was in the privacy of my car before I let the tears of frustration fall.

"Ava?" a gruff voice asks when I hit the sidewalk.

I never caught his name the other night, but I'd recognize that voice anywhere. I turn toward him slowly, nearly craning my neck to meet his gaze.

My eyes roam over his face, admiring the glint in his eye and his full beard. His mouth curves in a sinful smirk when he catches me staring like I had the other night. It isn't until I hear the low rumble of his laughter that I snap out of it.

"Uhh… I'm sorry, what did you say again?"

He chuckles. "I never got your name, but I'm going to guess you're Ava Watson." He holds up his clipboard, and I spot my name printed along the top.

"Oh yes." My heart seizes. "I am her. I mean, that is me."

Good grief, Ava, get your shit together.

My gaze flits down to the Makin' Moves logo on his chest, and it dawns on me why he's asking.

"Oh, you must be here to help move my furniture."

My parents arranged to have a moving company bring some of my things down from Beaufort. They were planning on being here until my mom fell a week ago. It was a freak accident, but she managed to tear her ACL and meniscus. My father, a surgeon himself, didn't waste any time getting her to have it repaired.

They originally planned to be here when I moved in, as my father said, "In case anything comes up and I need his help." I convinced him to stay home with my mom and that she needed him more than I did now.

I glance at the moving truck behind him and force a swallow.

"Dammit," I mutter low, and I realize I cut him off.

He stops and studies me, realizing I was distracted again. "Everything okay?"

I motion behind me toward the leasing office. "I found out there's water damage in my new apartment, so I won't be able to move in for at least another week." I massage my fingers into my temple. "I have no idea what to do with my stuff, though. I'm gonna need some time to call around and find a storage unit."

He rubs his hands together and shrugs. "You're not from around here, are you?"

I knew he played with Alec last season, but I guess the two weren't close enough for him to know we're from North Carolina.

I chuckle. "That obvious?"

"It's just that the closest storage unit is about twenty minutes out of town. If you want, I'm sure we can keep your stuff locked up at our facility until you're ready."

I tense. That would help a lot, but my father paid the bill, and I know it cost a pretty penny to have everything moved here.

"Well, you see, uh, I don't exactly have the funds to do that right now." I'm not even going to get into the fact I have no idea where I'm going to stay tonight. "I'm certain a storage unit would probably be cheaper, and besides, my dad is the one who paid that bill and…"

I stop, and he lifts his brows in question.

"I don't exactly want to run to him for help, if you get what I mean."

"Don't worry about that part, okay?" he says, nodding toward his truck. "Follow me back to our place, and we'll get everything sorted."

I press my lips together, feeling conflicted about what to do.

He brushes his hand along my arm like he did the other night. I swear it's like he touched me with a live wire, sending a jolt of electricity through my arm. My breath hitches, and my eyes snap to his.

He jerks his hand away and takes a step back, adding some distance between us. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"No, it's okay." I reach out for his hand.

I have no idea what I'm doing, but when he clutches my fingers, holding me, I'm starting to question how the hell I got myself here.

His thumb brushes along the back of my hand briefly before he releases me. I make a fist, trying to ignore how much I enjoyed having his hands on me again and how I didn't want him to let go.

He watches me walk to my car before he jogs over toward his truck. The window is down so I can hear his coworker shout something at him, and the two of them laugh before the truck engine roars to life.

As soon as I pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main road, I hit the button on my steering wheel.

"Call Hallyn," I say, following the moving truck.

"How is the moving going?" she answers, bypassing the greeting.

We had talked a couple of hours ago, so it's not like we needed the formalities anyway.

"You'll never guess what happened," I deadpan.

"Oh God, that doesn't sound good. What is it?"

"Well, my appointment with the leasing office was at four o'clock, so my dad arranged for the movers to show up at four thirty, thinking I'd have my keys and they could start moving things in."

"Uh-huh…" She waits for the other shoe to drop.

"Well, that was until I found out there's water damage in our apartment."

"Are you kidding? Do they have another open unit we could move into instead?"

"No, with all the students moving back to Braysen for the fall semester, they are full. The leasing agent reassured me they'd have our unit ready in a week, though."

"Well, that's not so bad. You could stay with Alec and Tanner until then. I'm sure your brother wouldn't mind, right?"

The line goes silent, and she sighs.

"I've been meaning to talk to you about things with Tanner…" Hallyn trails off.

Hallyn's been dating Tanner, my brother's best friend, off and on for the past year until the two finally called it quits.

It was always our dream to go to school and join the dance team at Braysen together. We've been talking about it for what feels like forever now. It worked out perfectly since Tanner wanted to play alongside Alec at Braysen too.

Except our plans didn't pan out the way we had envisioned. When Tanner was passed over for the quarterback position, he accepted a scholarship at Keaton, and my brother transferred to play with him.

When Hallyn didn't tag along, things between them went south quickly.

"Are you two back together?" I ask, cutting to the chase.

I've known Tanner for most of my life. He and Alec are as close as I am with Hallyn. He comes from a prominent family in Beaufort, and he's always been a good friend to Alec. It doesn't change the fact that I think he's a shitty boyfriend.

My opinion of him changed quickly after seeing how he treated her when she decided she still wanted to come with me to Braysen. He couldn't believe she'd want to still follow her dream and not stay with him to follow his.

As much as I loved her and felt she deserved more, I wasn't going to interject and push her to do something she didn't want to do. I'd be no better than Tanner.

"We've been talking more, and he asked me last night if I'd be his girlfriend again. I told him I'd think about it, but I miss him and…"

"I think you should do what makes you happy, Halls."

"Yeah?"

She wants my approval.

"Of course! If Tanner makes you happy, you should give it another shot."

We both know Hallyn is going through the same phase of life I am. Excited for the next chapter and what's to come but scared and nervous to make the first leap.

Tanner is comfortable for her. I know her well enough to know that she needs to work through this to come to terms with the truth that he isn't her person.

I'll be there for her either way.

The moving truck blinker flickers, and I follow them down the long road before pulling into a parking lot. Several more trucks like it are parked along the side of a large building.

"All right, Hallyn, well, I just got to the moving company and need to sort out what I'm gonna do with my stuff until we can move in."

"Oh shit, I'm sorry. Here I am going on and on about my relationship, and you have far bigger things to worry about."

"No, it's okay. It was a welcome distraction."

I didn't want to tell her that I was still struggling with what to do and how I was leaning more toward getting a hotel room tonight over driving across into Georgia to stay with my brother.

I could always ask Mandy if I can stay in her dorm. The problem is her dorm mate is moving in soon, and there are only two beds in their cramped room. We met when Hallyn and I came to Braysen a few months back for dance team tryouts and immediately clicked. I know she'd help me if it came down to it.

The handsome stranger reappears, standing on the sidewalk in front of me, waving his hand with a look of concern on his face. I didn't catch his name the other night, but I overheard some of his friends call him Vaughn. I hold my finger up to him, signaling to give me a minute, and smile.

"Will you do me a favor, though, Halls?"

"Anything!"

"Don't say anything to Tanner about the apartment, will ya?"

"Okay, but why?"

"I just don't want it to get back to Alec. Not until I have a plan anyway."

She agrees although I pick up on the skepticism in her voice. I promise to call her back later, though, and we end the call.

"Everything okay?" His gravelly voice returns when I step out of my car and hit the lock.

"Could be better, but that's life. Right?"

He chuckles. "We'll get it figured out. Come inside with me."

He opens the door for me and motions me to take a seat in the small waiting area inside. I might've stared at his ass in his athletic shorts when he walked away.

I check my unread messages while I wait for him. One of them is from my dad, checking in on how the move is going. I try to ignore the pang in my chest when I fire off a response, reassuring him everything went smoothly and I'm thrilled to be moved into my new place.

He replies immediately, likely waiting to hear from me with an update, telling me he's happy to hear I made it safely and am getting settled. He follows it up with a photo of my mom on the couch, her leg propped in front of her and a warm smile on her face.

I don't notice him until he's standing in front of me and hear the throaty sound of his voice clearing.

"Ava?"

My head snaps up to meet his, and a slow smile stretches across his face.

I try not to overthink how he looks at me or the way my heart races and warmth spreads through my body when I see him grin.

"I got everything sorted for you. We'll keep your stuff locked up until you can move into your apartment next week."

"Wait, that's it? Don't you need my payment or anything?"

"We'll call it a favor." He winks.

I drag my lip between my teeth and smile.

"There has to be some way I could repay you for your kindness."

I'm waiting for him to bring up our conversation yesterday outside the gym or again last night at the bonfire. His gaze locks on my lips and his nostrils flare before meeting mine.

"Well, you could let me take you out for a drink. I'm off now and wouldn't mind grabbing dinner while we're at it."

I study him. I need to figure out where I'm going to stay for the next week, but at the same time, I wouldn't mind distracting myself some more by hanging out with him.

"You never did tell me your name…" I say, noting he's not wearing a badge.

He holds his hand out between us, and I slip my hand into his.

"My bad. It's Colter. Colter Vaughn."

He brushes his hand over my skin again and pulls me toward him.

"Besides, something tells me you could use a drink after the turn of events today."