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.
the gifts she left on the counter.
Selene huffs out a breath. Just be careful around her. And her
flashes through my mind, heat creeping up
to be careful. His wolf thinks
12:36
2/6
Shopping
“You guys
eyes seem to find my intelligence lacking. It’s only humans who are limited in their communication.
I see.
ears, I ask as
Lucas‘ wolf?”
head away with a sharp snort. I don’t
Ouch.
***
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 same cheesy shifter
I grumble, throwing a pillow in her general direction. She dodges it easily, not even bothering to look away from the
sunshine, she replies,
sarcasm. Sleen
12:35
3/8
<
Ava: Shopping With
that show is garbage,” I shoot at her, before heading into
a new text message. It’s from Ivy, asking if I’m free to go shopping with her today.
prospect.
mind. It’ll be good for you to get out of the apartment for
know,” I murmur, typing out a non–committal response. “Ivy kind of makes me
sometimes.”
there’s a knock at the door. I open it to find Ivy standing there, looking impeccably put together as always. She gives me a once–over,
ready,” she says breezily, brushing past me into the apartment. “I took the liberty of picking out an outfit
to reveal a silky turquoise blouse and lightweight
12.35
4/8
Shopping
from the bottom.
protest weakly. “And I don’t
dismissive hand. “You’ll look
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