Tangled

94 Ava: Lisa (I)

Three nights. Three lonely, empty nights staring at the sterile hospital ceiling. Only Lucas‘ voice on the phone breaks up the monotony, checking in on me each evening. I hate how much comfort I draw from hearing the deep, soothing rumble of his voice, hate that I keep glancing at the clock, waiting for his call.

Life is hard without Selene here. She would be able to help me work through these feelings. Separate what’s me from the demands of my fate bond. Beyond that, she would have kept me entertained with her wry

observations.

Dr. Beaumont had mentioned this morning that it seemed as though my rate of healing was increasing. Her confusion over it nags at me. Is Selene getting closer? After the car accident, I noticed my wounds knitting together faster once she returned. I’d assumed it was from my heat, but perhaps…

“Miss Grey?”

I look up to see the nurse peeking around my door, a

hesitant smile on her face. “You have a visitor.”

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94 Ava Lisa (1)

Visitor? I stare at her in confusion. Lucas is still away dealing with pack politics, and he would have called first anyway. My mind races, trying to figure out who it could possibly be, when a blur of motion pushes past

the nurse.

“Ava!”

“Lise?” I barely have time to process what’s happening before she’s flinging her arms around me, squeezing me so tightly it borders on painful. “Ow, careful!”

“Sorry, sorry!” She loosens her grip immediately, leaning back to look at me. Her eyes are shining with unshed tears. “I was just so worried about you! God, Ava, what happened? Are you okay? Lucas called me, but he didn’t explain much beyond you being in the hospital.”

The worry and gentle nagging in her words, the way her eyes dart over my body, the way her hands flutter and hover over me as if she’s not sure where to touch

first–it all brings tears to my eyes.

I hiccup.

Then I sob.

Then I woon

279

C

Lisa

weeping. Weeping implies a woman who cries in silence, shoulders maybe trembling a little. Weeping is a beautiful art,

I’m just…

Sobbing.

Wailing.

Blubbering.

three, all at once, in a sniffling mess

tears.

Lisa’s here.

no longer

is on my

will never

me

me through it all, as I soak her shoulder

the release of all these emotions

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04 Av (1)

isn’t here, but at least I have Lisa.

My Lisa.

feels like eternity before I’m finally calm. My eyes burn, sore and swollen with

my hair behind my ears. All of her actions are maternal and loving, and I find myself wondering how

Lisa says, her question more a statement than

Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in

you want to talk

I nod again.

I do.

someone who can listen to

out where to begin has me confused. I’ve told her some things

Ava Lisa

front of me. We can talk

we couldn’t manage over text messages and infrequent

hard, trying to figure out where to even begin. So much has happened in

edge of

“I’ve got

and being kidnapped by my family. I talk about the discovery of my fated mate bond with Lucas, even though she’s heard it before. I talk about Selene and her cryptic remarks. I talk about Clayton

me, her eyes wide with shock. “Holy

with a shaky laugh. “It’s been a wild