Chapter Eleven: Place of Memories

Ava’s POV

When Aiden spoke, his words sent a chill down my spine. They reminded me of a painful past. Saying, "We were cool before," he seemed to downplay the seriousness of the cracks that had once broken the trust. His offer of company and casual mention of a past they both had made me think he was trying to hide the wounds that were still there.

"Friends now?" I repeated myself, and my voice was calmer than the crazy thoughts going through my head. He spoke in a carefree way that hurt my sensitive feelings, and his tone made them worse. "After all, there's no place like home, right?" His words, which were meant to heal the wounds of the past, made things even less clear.

Looking into his eyes, I tried to find any sign that he felt bad about what he had done or knew how much pain he had caused. While the table was carefully set for a private talk, it became a stage for the feelings that were still brewing below the surface. Aiden's laugh, which used to be familiar and comfortable,