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.

my daily soreness from exercise remains stubborn, not disappearing with any haste. I'm not sure what it means or why my body's

talk to me?"

the phone to my other ear as Lisa watches, her eyes sparkling. She loves

haven't talked with you since everything happened. I figured you would

know how you're doing. If you're okay, if you're healthy,

lame. "My best friend is here, so I'm not alone. I'm sure you know everything that happened by now, so I won't rehash

he answered the phone, and I wonder what he

"I miss you, Ava."

I almost drop the phone. "I miss you, too." How else am I supposed to answer? I don't miss him? I don't think of

to

not a lot… but a lot more than I ever think about

The hope in his voice

Steadfast. He took care of

he'd also kept me locked away for my own safety, but

of his voice in my ear, the way his gentlemanly demeanor changes when my heat has

cheeks, and I shake my head at Lisa as her eyes widen.

you haven't chosen

didn't tell you about him. Us." It seems like the kind of thing I should apologize for. He

like we're on slightly different wavelengths. It sounds like I've said something that's soothed him in

"I know."

that niggling

I was just calling to check on Ivy. I

out. "Give me your

YES, YES!

I call