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.

1

used to being the one doing all the work, all the cooking and

But at the

The

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

alpha who thinks he’s my

get too comfortable here, too used to having

has my ears perking up–Selene’s, too–and the smell reaches my nose a few seconds later. My stomach gives an involuntary rumble.

him take care of me for just

not a sin to get a little comfortable, right?

***

with Clayton

No more kisses on the forehead.

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38

Ava: The

taken

have anything against Clayton in the first place. She doesn’t like the

like the snide remarks she throws in about Lucas every time he comes

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

of o

see Clayton giving my drink a little side–eye, but

coffee without a lot of flavor to

me back to the couch to enjoy myself just as his phone rings. I try to settle into my

the sugary taste linger on my

through my

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The Grey Girl

hard to tune out, even with the mindless chatter of the television providing background

with Blackwood is

words send a shiver down my spine, and I clutch my mug a little tighter, the warmth

demands,

sinks as the implications

sink in.

a

to be at the center of it all…”

manage to catch it before the scalding liquid

Grey girl. Me?