55 Ava: Shopping With Ivy
For someone who doesn’t want children, he could have fooled me last week, Selene says, yawning in
amusement.
Shut up, I hiss at her, smiling at Ivy. “I’m sorry for
startling you.”
“It’s fine.” She waves a hand, looking me over with some caution. “As long as you’re okay.”
I continue eating, trying to keep my composure after that awkward moment. Ivy hesitates, seeming unsure if she should continue eating as well. The silence between us grows thick and uncomfortable. I rack my brain for something to say, but the tension is stifling.
Finally, Ivy clears her plate and stands. “Well, I should get going. Thank you for having me over.”
I stand as well, unsure of the protocol. “Of course. Thanks for the gifts.”
She steps forward and kisses both my cheeks, catching me off guard. “I’ll see you around, Ava.”
And with that, she’s gone, leaving me alone in the
12. 12.
1-8
C
55 Ava: Shopping With Ivy
apartment. I collapse onto the plush couch, mentally exhausted from the visit. What was the point of all that? She seemed nice enough, but there’s just something so weird about how she acts. Judgment? Suspicion? I can’t quite put my finger on it.
Selene pads over and hops up beside me, resting her head on my lap. She certainly is an interesting one.
“You’re telling me,” I mutter, running my fingers through her soft fur. “I can’t figure out her angle.”
I wouldn’t trust her as far as I could throw her. There’s something off about that one.
counter. “You
Selene huffs out a breath. Just be careful around her.
of our intimate encounter flashes through my mind, heat creeping up my
you aren’t willing to be his mate, you need to be careful. His
12:36
2/6
Shopping
stare at Selene. “You guys can talk to each
course. Her blue husky eyes seem to find my intelligence lacking. It’s
I see.
ears, I ask as casually as possible,
Lucas‘ wolf?”
sharp snort.
Ouch.
***
up to the sound of Selene’s excited yips and the thump of her tail against the bed frame. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I peer over at her lounging on the couch, watching the
grumble, throwing a pillow in her general direction. She dodges
morning sunshine, she replies, her tone dripping
Sleen well?
12:35
3/8
<
Shopping With
enough to know that show is garbage,” I shoot at her,
message. It’s from Ivy, asking if I’m free to go shopping with her today. I grimace, not exactly
prospect.
It’ll be good for you to get out of the apartment for a bit. Don’t give up what freedom you can
non–committal
sometimes.”
there, looking impeccably put together as always. She gives me
past me into the apartment. “I took the liberty of picking out an outfit
garment bag, unzipping it to reveal a silky turquoise blouse and lightweight
12.35
4/8
Ava Shopping With
from the bottom.
clothes yesterday,” I protest
a dismissive hand. “You’ll
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!