Tangled

50 Ava: The Grey Girl

“Good morning,” Clayton says with a smile, and I step back to let him into the apartment. He pauses for just a moment when he sees Selene, and I wait for the questions–but he doesn’t ask any.

He’s polite like that.

Honestly, outside of my paranoia and not wanting to rely on him, he seems like a pretty great guy.

Clayton strides into the kitchen like he owns it–which, I mean, he does–while I stand around feeling awkward and out of place in this fancy apartment. He seems so at home here, like he belongs.

“Everything okay with the phone?” he calls out from the kitchen. “You didn’t text me this morning.”

“Oh, uh, no issues,” I reply, glancing down at the sleek new device on the end table. “I just woke up a little while ago and haven’t set it up yet.” S~ᴇaʀᴄh the (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

There’s a brief pause, and then the sound of a pot clattering onto the stove. “Have you eaten?”

I shake my head, even though he can’t see me. “No,

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50 Ava: The Grey Girl

not yet.”

“Well, go relax then. I’ll whip up some breakfast.”

Before I can protest, he emerges from the kitchen, those intense green eyes fixing me with a look that brooks no argument. Grasping my shoulders, he turns me towards the plush couch and gives me a gentle nudge in that direction.

“Go on, I’ve got this.”

I open my mouth to argue, but one glance at his resolute expression has me snapping it shut again. Instead, I just nod and make my way over to the couch, sinking into the soft cushions with a sigh.

Selene, ever my loyal companion, leans against me as she focuses on her show, resting her head on my lap. I absently run my fingers through her soft fur, trying to ignore the sounds of Clayton puttering around in the kitchen.

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else cook for me. Take care of me. I’m so used to being the one doing all the work, all the cooking and cleaning. Having

But at the

Ava: The Grey

the one doing all the taking care. It’s just breakfast, but he just came

thinks

dislodge those thoughts. I can’t afford to get too comfortable here, too used to having Clayton around. This isn’t

perking up–Selene’s, too–and the smell reaches my

maybe I can let him take care of me for just

to get a little comfortable, right? Since I can’t leave,

***

Clayton is comfortable.

on the forehead. He’s just there, polite and

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The

taken care

of watching his every move. Of course, she doesn’t have anything against Clayton in the first place. She

not like the snide remarks she throws in about Lucas

about him, I focus on my cup of creamer with a splash of coffee, adding another

of o

giving my drink a little side–eye, but I’m used to

like coffee without a lot of flavor to mask

rings. I try to settle into my role as a couch potato, but my ears can’t help picking up his side

and I sip at it, letting the sugary

filtering through my ears. His

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Ava: The

even with the mindless chatter of

with Blackwood

spine, and I clutch my mug a little tighter, the warmth seeping into my

sent his demands, but they’re refusing…”

implications of his words start to

sink in.

a war

at the center

catch it before the scalding liquid spills all over my lap. My breath

Grey girl. Me?