Crossing the Line
Aviana
I wake to find the cabin empty. Ryan must have gone out. I know he will be back.
My body aches from staying in bed so much, and I know it’s time to get moving. Maybe a yoga class with Dr. Flores will help stretch me out, loosen up the tension.
Changing into some yoga pants and a sports bra, I grab my water bottle and find a notepad leaving a note for Ryan in case he comes back while I am gone.
Heading to the gym for a yoga class. Will be back later.
I leave it on the dining table where he’ll see it when he walks back in. If I am not back by the time he gets back, he’ll come looking for me.
As I walk toward the gym, Cade’s words echo in my mind, his voice heavy with concern. You need to choose what’s best for you, Aviana. He wasn’t wrong, but I already knew what my choice was. I didn’t need to be told.
I’m drawn to Ryan. I always have been, in a way that’s different, stronger than anything I felt with Cade. But Cade was right about one thing—the emotions between us are wrong, tangled up in something that was never supposed to happen. It was always supposed to be professional.
I’ll tell him today. I’ll tell him I choose Ryan, even if it hurts. Even if it means drawing a line I never wanted to cross.
***
The mats are spread out on the wooden floor of the gym, the soft hum of relaxing music fills the air as Dr. Flores guides the class through gentle stretches. I close my eyes, remembering what he said about clearing the mind, focusing on my breath. My thoughts keep drifting back to Ryan and Cade, the heavy weight of the conversation hanging over me.
I’m lost in the rhythm of stretches when I hear the door creak open. Thinking it is Ryan coming to find me, but then I hear female voices. I open one eye to see the girls walk in, all of them chatting, like they’re unaware of the peaceful atmosphere happening in the room.
Scarlet’s voice cuts through the air as she sits down on the mat next to me, “So tell me Aviana, what’s the deal with Ryan?”
I already feel annoyed, but I force myself to stay calm, taking a deep breath as I stretch deeper into a pose.
“Yeah, we’ve been wondering. He’s pretty hot, but seems like there’s something more to it. You know, the way he looks at you?” Hazel joins in.
I exhale slowly as Dr. Flores’ voice booms over the class, “Deep breath and silence please.”
The words hit me like a slap, my heart skidding to a halt in my chest. “ Come on, Avi. What’s his story? Is he really your boyfriend or is it one of those weird foster situations? ” Scarlet’s voice cuts through the room and I freeze. I never told her about Ryan being my foster brother. I never told anyone.
How did she know?
My breath catches, and my skin prickles with unease. I quickly glance around the room, trying to mask my reaction, but my mind is reeling. I’ve kept that part of my past locked away, buried deep, so how could she possibly know? The way she said it, like it wasn’t a question—like it was fact—sends a wave of panic crashing over me.
Scarlet smirks, her tone dripping with amusement. “Oh, you didn’t know? Someone overheard Ryan and Cade talking in his office. Cade was… pretty vocal about his concerns, let’s just say.”
I feel the heat rise in my cheeks, my hands trembling slightly as I try to steady my breath. They have no idea what they’re talking about. No idea how much I’ve been through with Ryan.
That’s when I snap.
I roll up from my stretch, my patience fraying. “You know what, Scarlet? Why don’t you mind your own business? Just because you’ve got nothing better to talk about doesn’t mean I’m your entertainment. You don’t know anything about me or Ryan, so stop pretending like you do.”
She leans in closer, lowering her voice. “Cade’s not wrong, you know. You’re playing with fire.”
I swallow hard, my anger flaring again. “You don’t know anything about me or Ryan,” I snap, standing up, my hands shaking with the need to walk away.
The room goes silent, and I don’t wait for anyone to respond. I storm toward the door, my heart pounding in my chest.
I can hear them behind me, but I don’t care anymore. I’m done letting them invade my space.
As I reach the door, I throw one last thing over my shoulder, my voice sharp and unforgiving. “And if you ever bring up my relationship with Ryan again, Scarlet, I’ll make sure you regret it. Just stay out of it.”
With that, I slam the door behind me. I don’t care what they think anymore. I don’t owe anyone an explanation.
I don’t want to go back to the cabin. Not when I am fuming. If Ryan is there, he will demand to know who hurt me. While I’d love to see Scarlet cry, I don’t have the energy for him right now.
So I walk. I don’t know where I’m going, but my feet keep moving, like they know the way. I end up at the peak, the one place on these grounds that’s always felt like a safe space to me, the one spot where I can hear my own thoughts without the world and its chaos crowding in.
It’s quiet here, still, the air cool against my skin, the weight of the silence almost soothing. No one else comes up here—not unless they’re as lost as I feel right now. I sit down on the rocky edge, my legs dangling off, staring out into the open, trying to push out the thought of Scarlet’s smug face and the way her words echoed in my head.
I don’t know how long I’ve been sitting there, but when I hear the crunch of gravel underfoot, I know I’m no longer alone. My stomach tightens instinctively, my breath catching in my throat as I brace myself for whoever it is.
I take a deep breath, and as I turn to look over my shoulder, ready to brush off whoever found me at the peak, my eyes meet Cade’s.
Not Ryan. Cade. What does he want?
He stands there, just a few feet away, his hands tucked into his pockets, his gaze locked onto mine. I don’t know if it’s the intensity in his eyes or just the unexpectedness of his presence that catches me off guard, but I don’t say anything. I just stare at him.
“Can’t a person just enjoy nature without being interrupted?” I huff.
“Dr. Flores contacted me. He told me what happened in yoga class. I am glad to see you moving about but you know I told you that you need to rest.”
“I can’t stay laying in one spot. My body is getting stiff. I am supposed to be healing my mind —”
“And your body” he interrupts. “Do you want to talk about what happened?”
I swallow, trying to fight the tightness in my throat. “No.” Just one word is all he needs
His brow furrows just slightly, but he doesn’t push me. “Avi, you can talk to me. I am your therapist, remember?”
I look away from him, feeling my pulse quicken. He doesn’t understand. He doesn’t get it. “Maybe I just want to be alone for once.”
“Alone won’t help you fix this.” He takes a step forward now, his voice low but persistent. “You don’t have to do it alone with me around.”
Cade doesn’t stop. Each step he takes toward me feels like a gentle pull, tugging me in a way that makes my heart skip. His presence fills the air, heavy and undeniable, until he’s standing right in front of me.
“Cade —” I warn.
The space between us is filled with a thousand unspoken things, all of them tangled up in the air, in the way his presence wraps around me. He sits next to me, and before I can even think to stop him, his hand rests gently against the side of my face. His thumb brushes over my cheek, slow and careful, as if I might break if he moves too quickly.
It’s unexpected, and it makes my breath catch.
“I’m not going anywhere, Avi,” Cade says, his voice so soft now, almost like a promise.
This can’t happen. I need to make myself clear.
I slowly stand up to move away from him. His gaze doesn’t leave mine, and I can feel the tension between us, thick and unyielding.
“I — we can’t do this,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper, but it carries the weight of everything. “Whatever this is between us . . . it is wrong, Cade. You even said so yourself.”
“Ryan.” My words are firm now, my hands shaking at my sides as I look him in the eye. “He’s the one I want. He’s the one I need. Not you. You can’t keep pretending that there’s something here that there isn’t.” My chest feels tight, like a weight has settled on it, but I don’t back down. “And I think it’s time we kept this professional. I can’t have you in my life the way you want to be.”
“Professional?” he repeats softly walking towards me, a bitter edge to his voice now. “You’re really going to push me away like that?”
I swallow hard, my stomach twisting. “Yes,” I whisper. “I am.”
I walk away from Cade, the finality of my words still lingering in the air, but I don’t get far.
“Avi,” Cade says, and I freeze. His tone isn’t the soft, patient one he usually uses; there’s an edge to it now, something darker that sends a shiver down my spine. “We need to talk this through.”
I hesitate, my breath catching in my throat. He’s not backing down. Of course, he isn’t. I brace myself, turning around slowly to face him, but I don’t want to. I don’t want to see the look in his eyes that says he’s willing to fight for something he can’t have.
Cade steps toward me, each stride purposeful, and my pulse quickens. He doesn’t stop until he’s inches away, his presence overwhelming, closing the distance between us. I keep walking, instinctively wanting to retreat, but he catches me before I can move too far. His hand grabs my wrist gently, but it’s enough to stop me.
“Avi,” he says again, his voice a mixture of frustration and something more intense. “You think I’m just going to let you walk away from this? From me?” His grip tightens ever so slightly as he spins me to face him, and I feel the heat of his touch seeping into my skin. “You don’t get to decide how this ends. Not like this.”
My heart races. I want to pull away, but something in his gaze, something in the way he looks at me, makes me freeze. His eyes are dark, filled with emotion that I don’t fully understand. There’s longing there, desperation even, but it’s mixed with something more dangerous—possessiveness. He wants me. And it’s clear he won’t let me go without a fight.
“You don’t know what you’re doing, Avi,” he says, his voice rough, almost like he’s begging. “I’m the one who knows you. I’ve been with you through all of the memories, all the nightmares, all the pain. Ryan? He can’t protect you from that. He doesn’t understand you like I do. I’ve been your therapist. I know your deepest fears. I’m the one who truly gets you.”
He steps forward, reaching for my other arm. His touch is warm, too warm, like he’s trying to pull me closer, pull me into his world. I shiver, wanting to pull away, but I can’t. His hand grips my arm, not painfully, but firm enough that I feel trapped. Like I can’t move, can’t escape.
“You think Ryan can protect you from the nightmares?” Cade continues, his voice low, almost like he’s whispering things I shouldn’t hear. “You think he can fix all this for you? I know how to help you, Avi. I understand what you need. I’ve been here for you. Ryan can’t make you whole. I can.”
I try to pull my arm away, but he won’t let go. His hand holds me tighter, pulling me toward him. My heart races in my chest. I can feel my breath picking up speed. He’s right there, close, and his words are pressing on me, weighing me down. Everything in me wants to break free, to push him away, but I just stand there, frozen, my body betraying me.
“No, Cade,” I say, my voice shaking, but I still manage to get the words out. “I choose Ryan. He’s the one I want. The one I need.”
His eyes darken, and something shifts in his expression. For a moment, I see something dangerous flicker behind his gaze. His jaw clenches, and I can tell he’s not happy with my answer. He steps even closer, and before I can react, his hand moves from my wrist to my shoulder, pulling me even nearer.
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” he whispers, his lips so close to mine I can feel his breath. “I’ve been here for you. I know what you need. More than anyone else. You need me, Avi. Not him.”
His body presses against mine, and for a second, I feel the heat, the tension, everything he’s trying to make me feel. His breath, his touch, it’s all too much. And I can feel myself slipping, like I’m being pulled in by the force of him, the force of his words. But then something inside me snaps, and I push him back with every ounce of strength I can muster.
“No,” I say, my voice clearer now, cutting through the air like a blade. “I don’t owe you anything, Cade. You’ve crossed a line. I’m not yours. And I never will be.”
I see the change in his face. The anger, the frustration, all of it mixes together. He stares at me for what feels like forever, like he’s trying to figure out if I’m serious. And then, without saying a word, he pulls back. His face hardens, the softness gone, replaced by something colder .
“We aren’t finished, Avi,” he mutters, his voice sharp and final.
With that, he turns away, walking off, his footsteps heavy as he disappears into the distance, leaving me standing there, heart pounding, head spinning.