and felt her heart ___ as she blurted, Crossword Clue

 The answer to the crossword clue "and felt her heart ___ as she blurted" is SKIP. This is a 4-letter word that means to move or pass quickly or lightly.

In the context of the clue, Ava felt her heart skip a beat as she blurted out her invitation to Dana to hang out. She was nervous and excited, and her heart was racing. She was also afraid that Dana would say no, but she was willing to take the risk.

The word "skip" is a play on the word "heart." Ava's heart was literally skipping a beat.

I hope this helps!