AVA'S POV

TRIGGER WARNING; TABOO, SEX WITH COUSIN

I spent all day pretending nothing happened.

Smiling at the aunties while I carried plates of potato salad and coleslaw to the picnic tables. Helping Dad flip burgers on the grill, the smoke stinging my eyes while I laughed at his dumb jokes about “well-done or still mooing.” Jumping into the lake with the younger cousins, shrieking when the cold water hit my stomach, pretending I didn’t feel the way my bikini bottoms rode up between my ass cheeks every time I climbed the ladder.

But every time I caught Ryan’s eye across the lawn—him shirtless, beer in hand, talking to Uncle...