Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 101 Ava: Calling Clayton

A plate of mixed greens, topped with an obscene amount of sliced chicken and shredded cheese, is slid in front of me as I wait for Clayton to answer the phone.

There's a lot of sound in the background, and I can hear Vester shouting that I'm on the line.

Stabbing a bite of salad, I crunch at it, the sound grating against my eardrums as I wait.

"Ava?" Clayton's voice, usually so strong and assured, wavers with a vulnerability that catches me off guard. The sound tugs at my heart, a pang of guilt piercing through the layers of confusion that has settled between us.

I should have asked Lucas to let me talk to him a long time ago. He's probably been worried. He's too responsible and caring to have just let things go without wondering how I'm doing.

I'm a terrible person.

I never really thought about him in this time.

"Hey," I manage, my throat tightening around the word. "How... how have you been?"

Lisa's eyebrows shoot up at the sound of my words, her gaze fixed on me with an intensity that suggests she's hanging on every word. I ignore her, focusing instead on the static-laden silence stretching across the connection.

"How are you feeling?" Clayton asks, dodging my question with one of his own. "Are you healing alright?"

There's a lump in my throat at the sound of his concern. Damn. I swallow hard. "I'm fine," I assure him, though the words feel hollow even to my own ears. "I actually called because... well, I was worried about Ivy.

I wanted to know how she's doing. And I wanted to talk to you."

He's silent for a long time. "Ivy's doing well. She's healing, but slowly. She doesn't heal much faster than humans."

I know that pain.

healed, but my daily soreness from exercise remains stubborn, not disappearing with any haste. I'm

wanted to talk to me?"

switch the phone to my other ear as Lisa watches, her eyes sparkling. She loves a good romantic drama, and my current love life

you since everything happened. I figured you would

still worried. I want to know how

not alone. I'm sure you know

the background has disappeared since he answered the phone, and I wonder what he was doing

"I miss you, Ava."

so startling that I almost drop the phone. "I miss you, too." How else am I supposed to answer?

starting to feel

even thought about Lucas very much. Well, not a lot… but a lot more than I ever

hope in his voice breaks my

do miss him. He's a nice person. Responsible. Steadfast. He took care of me, even though I'm a

kept me locked away for my own safety, but it

other things, like the sound of his voice in my ear, the way his gentlemanly demeanor changes when my heat

shake my head at Lisa as her eyes widen. She can't hear him on the other end, so she has no idea what's

you haven't chosen

his odd question. "About Lucas… I'm sorry I didn't tell you about him. Us." It seems like the kind of thing I should

are like a caress, and I feel like we're on slightly different wavelengths. It sounds like I've said something that's soothed him

"I know."

niggling

on Ivy. I guess

number," Clayton blurts out. "Give me

mouthing, YES, YES, YES! at me. "It's the same one I'm

call