𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨 𝙋𝙊𝙑:

By the time the sun started setting, we were sprawled out on Avery's living room floor, surrounded by empty snack wrappers and the remnants of my crushing defeat in every single board game we'd played.

"Alright, I'll admit it," I sighed, leaning back against the sofa. "You're actually ridiculously good at board games."

Avery smirked, stretching her legs out. "Told you. You should've just accepted your fate."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help smiling. Spending the day here had felt weirdly normal—like no time had passed at all.

A grumbling sound broke the silence.

Avery glanced down at her stomach. "Okay, that wasn't me," she said.

I stared at her. "That was 100% you."

She groaned. "Ugh, fine. I'm starving." She reached for her phone. "What do you fancy? Pizza? Thai? Indian?"

"Anything that involves an absurd amount of carbs," I said, stretching my arms.

Avery nodded. "Chinese it is."

Twenty minutes later, we were sitting on the floor again, cartons of fried rice, sweet and sour chicken, and dumplings spread between us.

"This was a great decision," I mumbled through a mouthful of food.

Avery nodded in agreement, shoveling rice into her mouth. "Honestly, takeaway tastes better when you don't have to share it with five siblings."

I chuckled. "You do realise I grew up with only one sister right? and she didn't even like Chinese I don't know that struggle."

She gasped. "You've never had to fight for the last spring roll?"

I grinned. "Nope."

She shook her head, sighing. "You've lived an easy life, Dixon."

I laughed, nudging her foot with mine. "I think I'd rather have the spring roll struggle than be terrible at Uno."

Avery just smirked and took another bite of her food.

An hour later, I was standing at her front door, slipping my shoes on.

It had been a good day. Better than I'd expected. Hanging out had felt easy, and a part of me didn't want to leave yet.

Avery stood beside me, arms crossed as she leaned against the doorframe. "Thanks for the snacks. And for letting me destroy you at board games."

I smirked. "Yeah, yeah. Next time, I'll win."

"Next time?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow.

I hesitated. "I mean... if you want."

She tilted her head slightly, like she was considering it.

And in that moment, something in me just went for it.

I leaned in, closing the space between us—just enough to see if she'd meet me halfway.

But she didn't.

Instead, she pulled back, her brows furrowing. "Chris..."

My stomach sank.

"I—" She hesitated, letting out a breath. "I don't think we should do this."

I frowned. "Do what?"

She gave me a look.

I ran a hand through my hair, stepping back. "Right. Yeah. No, I get it."

Avery sighed, tucking her arms tighter around herself. "It's just... I don't want us to be that."

That.

The word sat uncomfortably between us.

I swallowed. "You mean romantic?"

She nodded. "I think it's better if we're just—" She hesitated. "—friends."

Friends.

I forced a nod, ignoring the way my chest tightened. "Yeah. Sure. Of course."

Avery studied me for a second, like she wasn't sure if I actually meant it. "Okay."

An awkward silence settled between us.

I exhaled, stepping toward the door. "I'll, uh... see you around then?"

She gave me a small smile. "Yeah. See you around."

And with that, I left.

The whole way home, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd completely misread everything.