Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 151 Ava: The Truth Comes Out (I)

"Ava?"

Disoriented after returning to Lisa's apartment, I can only blink as Lucas steps inside, looking concerned.

"Hi." The greeting feels stilted, but I'm still regaining my bearings.

There's something about Sister Miriam's talk about payment that bothers my mind, trying to pry loose some memory—but I shove it aside, needing to focus on the man in front of me.

It's dark in the apartment, but the TV is still going. Selene shakes herself before heading to the couch, leaving me with the soft impression of her presence in my head.

"You didn't answer your phone," Lucas explains, looking a little awkward as he stands there in the doorway.

"I didn't hear it." Now that he's in front of me, the idea of telling him everything… Is a lot harder.

It isn't that I don't want to, but that it's just—how do you even approach this kind of conversation? Especially knowing how much responsibility weighs on his shoulders.

But leaving him in the dark isn't an option.

"I brought dinner." But his hands are empty, which he only seems to realize at this moment. "Shit. I left it in the car."

"I'm not hungry," I'm quick to assure him, my stomach curdling at the thought of even adding a single sip of water to it. "You can get it if you're hungry though. And eat here."

"I'm not hungry, either."

When Lucas continues to stand there like an awkward teenager, my lips twitch.

"Come in." I'm the one to step toward him, grabbing his hand.

He slides his fingers between mine immediately, grasping on like he never wants to let go.

ever doubt

were reasons, Selene mutters in the back of my head. But I don't think they matter

have to stifle a laugh when he stands there, not sure

linked hands fall between us. Selene scoots into the corner of the

"Are you doing okay?"

all," I answer cheerfully, and my eyes widen at the blunt honestly coming out

with concern. Probably because of how happy I sound while admitting to not

too. Hell, I am

Selene reminds

Shit.

eaten Fae food. Isn't

he asks, and I groan internally

my fault. I talked to Sister Miriam behind your back, and didn't tell you everything. I have too many secrets

hand over my mouth, his eyes narrowing as he yanks his hand out of mine. The force of his glare is intense, causing my heart to thump wildly in

are

say, but

and he loosens his grip on

Ava," I

his head. "No. Ava doesn't talk like this. She doesn't trust me enough to share her secrets.

a low growl to his words, and Selene

for the time being, unable to lie." Scowling, I smack his hand away. "Which apparently means I have no

fury in his face fades to confusion. "How

Fae food is, because I don't know. She already told me off for eating food she gave me without being more suspicious. Stop looking at me

"Sorry."

thrown at him, and I pinch my thigh, hard, in hopes the pain gets through this stupid fucking

of diarrhea of the mouth with Sister Miriam, so why is it coming out with

any secrets, Selene offers, sounding rather grumpy.

Great.

Just fan-fucking-tastic.