Stars Waited Above Empty Streets by Lorin Wren 115

Chapter 115 Her Past 

70 

Finished 

Even in heels, she ran fast. Within seconds, she vanished around the corner. 

Keith said, “You know she’s shy. Why the hell would you grab her waist?” 

Mason stood still. His brows were drawn tight. Ava’s reaction was worse than he expected. “Something’s not right.” 

“What’s not right?” Ryan asked with a frown. 

Mason turned to Keith. “That’s normal contact between a couple. You think I crossed a line?” 

Keith didn’t say a word. 

“I touched her for one second. Her whole body locked up. It wasn’t subtle. She rejected me like I was fire.” Mason hadn’t cared much at first. She slapped him last time, and he thought it was just embarrassment. 

“You’re saying…” Keith didn’t finish the sentence. He looked at Mason. One look was enough. They both got it. 

Ryan cut in with irritation. “If you’ve got something to say, then f*cking say it. Don’t stand there acting cryptic.” 

Keith’s face turned cold. “If someone went through trauma as a kid, it can mess them up long after. But I hope this is just us being paranoid. Maybe she’s just shy.” 

She was only twenty–five. Technically an adult, but still so young. That thought planted itself in his mind, and he froze. He couldn’t pull at it. He didn’t have the guts to lift the veil. He didn’t want to reopen her pain. Just imagining her going through something awful made him sick. 

Mason stared out toward the edge of the lawn. “I hope I’m just being stupid.” 

But deep down, he knew he wasn’t. Her instincts couldn’t lie. No matter how well she covered it up, her reflex had already spoken. 

Ava went straight to the bathroom. She shut the door, leaned back against the wall, and closed her eyes. Her heart thudded in her chest. She tried to slow her breathing. 

Even that kind of touch? Was it that bad? 

They were locked in now. This was her life. Unless something massive happened, they’d stay together. She’d already accepted it. She even thought she’d prepared for it. She had planned 

how to deal with each one of them. 

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13:11 Wed, Jan 14 

Chapter 115 Her Past 

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(70) 

Finished 

But her body had betrayed her. His hand had felt scalding hot. The second it touched her, she froze like a statue. Her breath caught. Her chest locked up. And before she could think, she shoved him away. 

She crouched down slowly and wrapped her arms around her knees. 

She couldn’t stay like this forever. She knew d*mn well no man got close just for emotional bonding. They were married. Sooner or later, it would come up. 

“Major Caswell. Hi. Just wanted to introduce myself. I’m Roxy. Nice to meet you.” 

Laurent turned. A woman stood in front of him. He glanced at her once, then looked away without saying anything. 

Roxy repeated herself. “Major Caswell, I’d like to get to know you.” 

“I do not see the necessity in that, lady,” Laurent said flatly. “Try someone else.” Then he walked right past her like she didn’t exist. 

The silence around Roxy hung heavy, like she didn’t know what just hit her. 

Mireya burst out laughing. She nearly shed tears of joy. “Oh my God! Roxy, I told you he looked like a brick wall! But no, you had to try. Well? Happy now?” 

Watching her usually–confident friend crash and burn was just too good. Roxy never made the first move. 

Roxy gave a lazy shrug. “Whatever. It’s his problem passing up on me. There’s plenty of guys out there.” 

She just happened to think this one was hot. Nice build. Killer face. That’s the only reason she shot her shot. She hadn’t expected to get iced like that. 

Lianne stood next to Caela with a pout on her lips. “Told you my brother wasn’t into her. But no one ever listens to me.” 

Caela pinched her cheek with a grin. “Ignore her. She’s dramatic. She just got the cold shoulder. She’s sulking. Roxy’s loud and bold, but she knows when to back off. Don’t worry. Your brother already turned her down. She’s not gonna chase him.” 

Lianne didn’t answer. But in her head, she jotted Roxy’s name down in bold ink. Messing with Ava’s man? That was stupid. Thank God her brother didn’t take the bait. Because if he had, she’d have gone nuclear. 

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13:11 Wed, Jan 14 

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