Read The Avery Shaw Experiment for Free Online

shower debacle, I was pretty sure I’d never forget to knock ever again.
    “Yeah?”
    “Can I come in?”
    A split second later the door flew open. Aiden was positively livid. “What happened? Did he make a move on you? I’ll kill him!”
    Aiden looked so funny when he was angry. His adorable face just wasn’t meant to hold such negative emotions.
    Aiden looked a lot like his brother, and yet he didn’t. Aiden was a lot shorter, but he had the same coloring as Grayson—same rich golden hair and skin. He had brown eyes and not blue, but he and Grayson shared the same perfect smile. The difference, though, is where Grayson’s smile labeled him as an obvious lady-killer, that same smile made Aiden look like the adorable class clown. Fury just didn’t work well for him.
    “I’m fine, Aiden.” I laughed. “Grayson didn’t make a move on me.” Well, not technically. I didn’t think. He hadn’t yet, anyway.
    “Then what’s wrong?”
    “Nothing’s wrong. I just felt bad for walking out on you. You asked me to stay and talk, and you were right. We really need to.”
    Aiden sagged in relief and pulled me into a hug. “I’m really sorry, Aves. I totally screwed that up earlier. I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”
    I squeezed him back. It felt so good that I almost cried. For a while I thought I’d never feel this again. “It’s okay. What happened was just as much my fault as yours. We should have talked about this years ago.”
    Aiden was surprised by my comment. I tugged him over to the bed with me, and we sat shoulder to shoulder. He picked up my hand and rested his head on mine. “I don’t ever want to lose you, Avery. I don’t think I could handle that.”
    My heart, which had hurt so bad just minutes before, suddenly soared. “Me either.” I took a breath. No time like the present. “I love you so much, Aiden.”
    “I know, Aves. Me too.”
    “No, I don’t think you do know. I’m saying I’m in love with you.”
    Aiden’s grip on my hand tightened. “What?”
    “I’m in love with you, Aiden. I have been for years and years. I should have said something, but I always just figured you’d get it when you were ready.”
    I let out a huge breath. I couldn’t believe it. After so long my deepest secret, my biggest frustration, was finally out there. Aiden finally understood.
    “Oh no, Aves,” Aiden said quietly. “No. No, don’t say that.”
    “Wait! Hear me out.” I swallowed back my sudden nerves. The devastation in his voice had shaken my confidence. “I get what you were trying to say earlier. I totally understand you needing some space and some things to do on your own. You want to go join the debate team, fine. That’s great. I’ll support you. You can go be you, and I can go be me, but we can do that and still be us . I know we need a change, but what I’m saying is that I want things to change in the romantic direction. I’ve always wanted that.”
    “Aves . . .” Aiden’s voice broke, and his hand started shaking.
    “I know that must sound crazy to you, but I’m sure it could work. I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life. You are it for me. I love you, and I want you to love me back.”
    Just then a tear splashed down onto the back of my hand that Aiden was holding in his lap. I glanced up and met his eyes, surprised to see the streak of moisture running down his face. I’d never seen Aiden cry before.
    I didn’t understand. He was so sad. It was as if somehow I’d just broken his heart.
    “Avery, I am so sorry.” His voice had a sort of helplessness to it. “I—I didn’t know. You never said—you never acted like—I assumed it was the same for us. You’re my best friend, but that’s it. I don’t think of you that way.”
    Moisture was gathering in my eyes now too. I blinked and a tear fell down my cheek. “How do you know if you’ve never given it a chance?” I squeezed his hand and mustered up every ounce of courage I had in me.