THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW TOO MUCH

Chapter 13: The People Who Know Too Much

(Ethan's POV – Ava & Noah Tag-Team Interrogation)

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Ethan barely made it home before Ava attacked.

He had just stepped inside, tossed his bag onto the couch, and grabbed a water bottle from the kitchen when he heard her dramatic gasp from the staircase.

"Oh. My. God."

Ethan stopped mid-sip.

Here we go.

Ava—tiny, terrifying, and way too observant for a twelve-year-old—stood at the top of the stairs, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.

"You worked with her today."

Ethan groaned. Here we go.

He didn't ask how she knew. Ava had her ways.

"No," he deadpanned. "It was a hallucination. Riley Carter isn't real."

Ava stomped down the stairs, pointing accusingly. "Noah told me."

Ethan cursed under his breath. Of course, he did.

Ava reached the kitchen, grabbing a banana from the fruit bowl like she was preparing for a long battle.

"Spill," she ordered.

Ethan sighed, twisting the cap off his water bottle. "We got assigned to the same fundraiser project. That's it."

Ava took a bite of her banana. Chewed. Stared.

And then—

"She fell on you."

Ethan choked. "What?!"

Ava smirked. "Noah texted me." She held up her phone like evidence in a crime trial. "He said, and I quote, 'YOUR BRO AND HIS LONG-LOST SOULMATE HAD A CUTE MEET-CUTE BUT HE'S IN DENIAL.'"

Ethan was going to strangle Noah.

"It wasn't a meet-cute," Ethan snapped. "She knocked over a box and almost killed me."

Ava grinned. "Sounds romantic."

Ethan took a slow breath. Counted to three. Did not throw his water bottle.

He turned away, walking toward the stairs. Maybe if he ignored her, she'd disappear.

Ava followed.

"So," she continued, voice way too casual, "do you still like her?"

Ethan stopped on the third step.

His grip tightened on the railing.

For half a second, he thought about lying.

But it wouldn't matter.

Ava would see right through him.

So instead, he said nothing.

Which, apparently, was enough.

Ava smirked. "Yeah. That's what I thought."

And with that, she skipped back toward the kitchen, humming.

Like she had already won.

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Noah – Later That Night (Text Messages)

Noah: DID YOU SURVIVE TODAY'S LOVERS' REUNION?

Ethan: Die.

Noah: So that's a no.

Ethan: Block me.

Noah: Not until you admit that you still—*

Ethan:BLOCK ME, KINGSTON.

Noah: Fine. But just know I'll be discussing this at length with Ava.

Ethan: I hate both of you.

Noah: Love you too, buddy.