Tangled

16 Ava: Settling In (II)

Thunk.

That’s it. That’s the last book, tossed onto a pile of mystery novels. Fifteen boxes are now empty, and while it might appear that my apartment is little more than a haphazard pile of empty boxes and organized book piles, my heart breathes with the room I’ve created by tackling the monster that is everything Mrs. Elkins stored in this apartment for the last who knows how long.

The couch is soft and springy as I flop onto it, taking a well–deserved break. Selene’s ears perk up at my sudden display of enthusiasm, but she doesn’t move, content to rest by the front door, which happens to be one of the few places in the living room not covered in something.

“We did it, Selene! We’ve tackled the monster and unpacked it all!”

Well, everything that was in the living room. The kitchen still has a few boxes, and let’s not even talk about the bedroom. But the living room? The living

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16 Ava: Settling in (11)

room is done, and that’s what matters.

I survey the piles of books scattered around the room, separated by genre. There’s a stack of classics, a pile of contemporary fiction, a few biographies, and even a small collection of poetry. The biggest pile by far, though, is near and dear to my heart. Romance. Tantalizing little bodice–rippers with bare male chests whispering to me, enticing me to flip them open and be drawn into a world of magical, mystical, perfect

men.

I used to read them whenever I had a chance. The

White Peak library was full of them, and I was desperate for any happy ever after I could get my hands on.

They’re a lot less appealing these days.

I rub my chest, frustrated by the ache that likes to poke its head out in my weak moments, and snap a quick photo of the piles to send to Mrs. Elkins.

[AVA: What should I do with all these books?]

Selene seems to realize that I’m done moving for a while and slinks over on her silent paws, jumping beside me. She circles once, twice, then settles down,

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16 Ava: Sottling In (1)

her head resting on my thigh. I scratch behind her soft ears as I wait for Mrs. Elkins‘ response.

My phone buzzes.

They’ve already been up there

The thought had never occurred to me. In the Blackwood Pack, books were a luxury. Books were unnecessary, and

surrounded by the musty

seem

against my hand, and I realize I’ve stopped petting

it was ever an option to get rid of

out a contented sigh, which I choose to interpret as a yes.

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<

Settling in

the books, their textures as varied as their titles. Some are smooth, others ridged, a few even cracked with age. Each one holds a story, a world waiting to be explored. And now, they’re

read, mine to cherish, mine to

But where?

room with a critical eye. The walls are

hold my

smaller paperbacks could go on a lower shelf, maybe under the window.

could

room in not the

inat

14

hodroom had

Ava: Settling In (II)

up every morning and see my beloved books, ready and waiting to be read. And maybe, just maybe, I could squeeze a small shelf into the bathroom. For those long soaks in the tub, when I

I have and the strength of the shelves. But I’m determined. These books have waited long enough to be read, to be loved. They deserve a home, and

curious. “What do you think, girl? Should

head, considering, then lets out a

bark.

take that as a yes as my mind races down the rabbithole of shopping, of crisp white bookshelves and the colorful book spines that would enliven them up.

all my books by color. It would be

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Settling

in my belly as reality sets in. Bookshelves cost money. Money that

onto the couch, my enthusiasm gone. Happy Ava is gone, and regular Ava is back. Selene senses my mood shift and nuzzles my hand

comfort.

Eating and saving for

a car, once I’m settled in classes,

languishing in piles on the floor is almost painful. They deserve better. They deserve a proper

rustic shelves, repurposing ladders into quirky bookcases, even building shelves, from scratch

website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels

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Ava: Settling

sit up again, staring at my walls. It can’t be that hard, can

at the excitement