The next morning Avery came downstairs to find Ethan sprawled on her couch looking like a
thundercloud.
"Avery!" he snapped, voice sharp enough to cut ss.
She could feel his rage from across the room but honestly couldn''t bring herself to care anymore.
"Oh. Hey." She kept her voice deliberately casual. "Sorry, but I''m going to meet my boyfriend, so... door''s that way."
Ethan shot up like he''d been electrocuted. He grabbed her wrist hard enough to leave marks, his eyes wild.
"What fucking boyfriend?"
Avery just stared back, a hollow ache spreading through her chest. Even now, he thought he had
some im on her.
His grip tightened painfully. "Hello? Avery! Gone deaf? Answer me”
She tried to pull away, feeling tears threatening but refusing to let them fall. "Why do you police my
love life? Back off."
Just as Ethan looked ready to explode, her mom bustled downstairs and wedged herself between
hem.
''Oh stop it, you two! She doesn''t have a boyfriend-she''s just being dramatic. She''s too busy for a boyfriend right now! If she''s going to date, it''ll beter. You two have grown up together since kindergarten-whatever this is, stop fighting!"
With her mom watching, they reluctantly backed down and sat.
After her mom left, Ethan seemed to realize he''d crossed a line. His face shifted as something clicked.
Too busy? Will beter? What was he missing?
''So... there''s no boyfriend?" he asked, sounding almost relieved.
After Sleeping with My Childhood Prince. I Kicked Him Out from My World Chapter 6
Avery nced at him from her corner, the weight of twenty years of unrequited love pressing on her chest. "What do you want, Ethan?"
He recognized her deflection but let it slide. "Why aren''t youing to my birthday?"
"Busy."
The simplicity of her answer seemed to infuriate him. His voice rose again.
"Can''t or won''t? What''s suddenly more important than my birthday? You used to start nning
months in advance!"
Avery took a sip of water, using the
moment topose herself.
"Things change. You have Sophia
now Have this conversation with her. I''m just... nobody."
Thatst word seemed to hit Ethan strangely. He looked almost wounded.
He crossed his legs, trying to look casual though his knuckles were white. "I don''t care. You''reing Remember those three wishes you promised me after the beach? You knitted me that scarf. You climbed that stupid mountain with me even though you''re afraid of heights. For my third wish-you''reing tomorrow."
This time Avery didn''t argue. She just stared at the floor, her heart breaking all over again.
Her silence only seemed to make him angrier. "Have you forgotten why you made that promise?"
How could she possibly forget?
Three years ago, she''d gotten a cramp while swimming. The current had dragged her out too far. She''d been sure she was going to die.
Ethan didn''t hesitate-he jumped in after her. He managed to get her to shore but passed out from exhaustion. They had to revive him.
She''d spent two days by his hospital bed, sobbing until she was physically sick, making bargains with God, with the universe-anything to keep him alive.
When he finally woke up, he''d reached out weakly to wipe her tears away. After Sleenius with My Childhood Prince I Kicked Him Out from My World
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“Jesus, Avery... crying like that... anyone would think I was dead."
"You almost were, you idiot!" she''d sobbed, punching his arm.
He''d caught her hand with a tired smile. "If you''re that worried about me... just grant me three wishes, okay?"
The room felt suffocating with the weight of that memory.
After what felt like forever, she finally whispered, "Fine. After your stupid party..."
His phone red. Ethan answered while heading for the door.
“That''s my girl. Tomorrow. Don''t bete."
As she watched him walk away-like he always did-Avery finished her sentence to
the empty room.
"...we''re done for good."
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After Cleaning with My Childhood