Chapter 17 Ava: Settling In

Chapters 11-17 have been rewritten to improve story flow and pacing. [June 27, 2024]

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The men at the door look related. So related that I'd bet they're twins.

"Hi," the one on the left says, with a charming smile. They have close-cropped brown hair and twinkling brown eyes, with popular kid in high school written all over them. They have to be in their mid-twenties now, though.

"Hi," I respond, with some suspicion. Is this that legendary thing called solicitation? Are they here to sell me something?

If so, they're screwed. Selene got to my wallet first.

"Mrs. Elkins sent us," the guy on the right says, and I turn my gaze to him, relaxing a little.

"Oh?" Mrs. Elkins wouldn't just send someone without warning me.

Checking my phone, I see a missed text.

[MRS. ELKINS: Don't forget that Ben and Franklin are coming to help put up some shelves in the living room. You can send them away if you're not up to it.]

Oh, right. I vaguely recall some conversation like that last week. Probably something I should have added to my phone so I wouldn't be surprised at a time like this.

shelves," I say, glancing

a little more burly and the other wears glasses. "I'm Ben," the one with glasses offers,

out to shake my hand. He has a wedding ring. The other doesn't. "My wife

Ah, they're family.

at ease now, I step back to invite them in. Selene gives them both a quick once-over, yawns, and

a couch

paws on the remote. I can see how that's amusing; the idea of a dog who watches TV would make me

laugh or the interested glances he

guess Alphahole Lucas Westwood

familiar pain in my sternum, we glance through a few of the

it turns out—I don't feel like

gets rid

old and well-worn. Others are

living room walls. "Alright, so if we put the tall shelves against this wall, we can probably fit the short ones under the window.

his spatial awareness. "That works for me. I'm not picky, as long

they're anchored well. Wouldn't want any accidents." He flashes me a friendly

boxes, organizing the books by genre. It's a daunting task, but there's

and sorting. Selene dozes on the

simmers under my skin. But there's a buzzing

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