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.

I ever

reasons, Selene mutters in the back of my head. But I

like a puppy, and I have to stifle a laugh when he

into the corner of the couch with a little side-eye, but she gives a slight tail wag

"Are you doing okay?"

answer cheerfully, and my eyes widen at

of how happy

too. Hell, I am

food, Selene reminds me,

Shit.

I've eaten Fae food. Isn't that

I groan internally even as my mouth takes off

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

narrowing as he yanks his hand out of mine. The force of his glare is intense, causing my heart to

fuck are you? Where's

Ava," I try to say, but his

hand, and he loosens his grip on my face just

Ava," I say

Ava doesn't talk like this. She doesn't trust me enough to share

his words, and Selene air snaps in his direction, her

am, for the time being, unable to lie." Scowling, I smack his hand away. "Which apparently means I have

fades

is, because I don't know. She

"Sorry."

pinch my thigh, hard, in hopes the pain gets through this stupid fucking problem I

of diarrhea of the mouth with

don't want any secrets, Selene offers, sounding rather

Great.

Just fan-fucking-tastic.