The Queen's Back

After Ava went upstairs, Joseph took a careful look around the living room where she lived.

The space was simply decorated, mostly in shades of white. After surveying it, he sat down on the couch and waited for Ava to return.

He touched his cheek absentmindedly; it was bleeding slightly-Bud had hit him hard.

But he thought it was worth it since Ava had brought him here.

When Ava came down with a first-aid kit, she noticed the corners of Joseph's mouth lifting into a small smile.

The sight made her guilt deepen just a bit more, and she hurried over to him.

"I'm so sorry. I don't know why he snapped like that, making you take a punch for nothing," she said apologetically, opening the first-aid kit and sitting beside him.

"What are you apologizing for? I took the punch, but I gave one back, too," Joseph replied, frowning slightly.

He didn't like it when Ava apologized to him. It made him feel like she was aligned with Bud, leaving him on the outside.

But Ava was his girlfriend, not Bud's.

"Alright, alright-keep still and lower your head so I can treat it," Ava said, dipping a cotton swab into antiseptic. She reached for his cheek.

Joseph tilted his face towards her hand as instructed.

They were sitting close, and Joseph could smell the fresh, clean scent that seemed to cling to her.

His heart sped up just a bit.

Ava dabbed the cotton swab on his injured cheek.

Perhaps it was because it was Ava's first time doing that, so it seemed she wasn't used to treating wounds gently. Joseph couldn't help but hiss in pain and leaned back a little. Seeing his reaction, Ava quickly apologized and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was being rough."

fine-I overreacted,"

and soon she was placing a band-aid on

a brief thought about

about someone who had other people to take care of him. "Alright," she

now the band-aid made his face look a bit less polished. "So, do you mind?" he asked with

Do

and prepared to get up, she noticed Joseph's face was too close to hers. The warmth of his breath brushed against her, making her a little uncomfortable. Seeing Ava trying to get up, Joseph grasped her hand firmly, causing her to fall onto his lap. Her face instantly flushed,

his chin rested on the inside of her neck. "Don't move. I want to hug

warmth of his breath against her

acutely aware of their extraordinarily intimate proximity. Her hands were tangled together,

This position felt too intimate and somewhat

her waist, his lips

as she was free, Ava quickly got up from Joseph's lap

into an extraordinary

a few

edgy today. After instructing her to close the door when she went to bed, he suggested

of politeness, Ava walked him

late. You should go home now!" "Well, give me

and felt nice to

hug was

gatta go. I'm going into the crew tomorrow, so we won't have much time to see each other. If you have time, you can come

try to come by

money was one thing, but passing

his hand and opened the

he picked up his cell

after seeing her so close with another man tonight, he understood his feelings had deepened. As Maxwell had said,

wanted to