Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 54 Ava: Dinner With Ivy

Music drifts through the kitchen, courtesy of my phone, as I chop garlic, enjoying the sharp aroma. Cooking has always been a comfort to me, a way to lose myself in the simple tasks and let my mind wander. As I toss minced garlic into the pan heating over the stove, I can't help but feel a sense of peace settle over me, if only momentarily.

I've set up the phone Clayton gave me, and texted him and Ivy to let them know it was working. Neither responded, which is fine by me. I set up the burner phone, too, and texted Lisa with updates. She did respond, and her spam of emojis have lightened the load on my heart. I texted Mrs. Elkins, letting her know I'm safe and begging her not to talk to anyone about me.

Mrs. Elkins assured me my job is safe whenever I can come home, which is even more of a relief.

My little paradise is waiting for me, which makes it so much easier to be stuck here right now.

A knock at the door startles me from my reverie. I glance at the clock, wondering who could be here at this hour. Wiping my hands on a towel, I make my way to the door, peering through the peephole.

It's Ivy.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever interaction awaits me. There's something about Ivy that always puts me on edge, a subtle undercurrent of something that I can't quite place. Still, I paste on a polite smile and open the door.

"Ivy, hi," I greet her, trying to keep my tone casual.

"Ava," she says, her smile bright but somehow not quite reaching her eyes. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"Not at all," I assure her, stepping aside to let her in. "I was just making dinner."

I notice the bottle of wine in her hand and the shopping bag slung over her arm. My brow furrows slightly, but I say nothing, waiting for

says, holding out the wine and the bag. "A little something to help you

awkward. "You didn't have to

waves a dismissive hand. "It's the least I could do. You're practically family

that undercurrent of something. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it makes me

meaning it despite my reservations. "That's really kind

and for a moment, I wonder if I'm reading too much into things. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. The Moon Goddess knows I'm plenty paranoid these

Selene says, yawning from her spot on the couch. She's still binge-watching her mind-numbing wolf

on the counter. "Why don't you make yourself comfortable?" I gesture towards the living area. "Dinner should

greeting, and Ivy reaches out to pat her head in a ginger sort of way, almost like she's worried about

head, of course. I wouldn't do that where she can hear

in the kitchen, trying to ignore the way her gaze seems to

dishes to the table. "Here we are," I say, setting a plate in front of Ivy before taking my

assures me, already reaching for her fork. We eat in silence for a

she begins, her tone light and conversational. "Tell me a little about yourself. Your

of family, my grip tightening on my fork. "There's not much to tell," I deflect, keeping

like genuine sympathy. "I'm sorry," she murmurs. "I didn't mean to pry

her a reassuring smile.

with a melancholy I haven't heard from her before. "Clayton and I lost our parents when we were young, too," she confides,