Chapter 13

• Attempting to disperse the peculiar atmosphere that seemed to settle around them, Lily interjected with a light-hearted exclamation, "Good Lord! Leon is so handsome. Take a look at his posts on Instagram," she urged, proffering her phone to Ava with an air of eagerness. The image that materialized before Ava's eyes was met with a scoff, her response laden with incredulity, "In your dreams, I can't believe it's gotten to you too."
• The unexpected swell of laughter that erupted from Lily was as surprising as it was contagious, a testament to the unique dynamics between the two friends. And then, with an air of dramatic revelation, Lily proclaimed, "He's a Leo!" The declaration, while initially perplexing to Ava, found clarification in Lily's subsequent clarification, "I mean his zodiac, Ava. You sound like a granny now." With an impish grin, Lily dove into a virtual expedition to unearth more about Leon Miller online. Her smile, infectious and uncontainable, surfaced once more as she connected the dots, "That explains why everyone is so drawn to his aura."
• Ava's repetition of the term "Leo" bore an undertone of bewilderment, prompting Lily to playfully tease, "A sexy one to handle, grrr." Ava's response was tinged with finality, her words a declaration of the chapter she had closed, "Well, my period of being infatuated by him is over," as she reached for her hairbrush to resume her interrupted task of brushing her hair.