Tangled

101 Ava: Calling Clayton

A plate of mixed greens, topped with an obscene amount of sliced chicken and shredded cheese, is slid

in front of me as I wait for Clayton to answer the phone,

There’s a lot of sound in the background, and I can hear Vester shouting that I’m on the line.

Stabbing a bite of salad, I crunch at it, the sound grating against my eardrums as I wait.

“Ava?” Clayton’s voice, usually so strong and assured, wavers with a vulnerability that catches me off guard. The sound tugs at my heart, a pang of guilt piercing through the layers of confusion that has settled

between us.

I should have asked Lucas to let me talk to him a long time ago. He’s probably been worried. He’s too responsible and caring to have just let things go without wondering how I’m doing.

I’m a terrible person.

I never really thought about him in this time.

1/7

101 Ava Calling Clayton

“Hey,” I manage, my throat tightening around the word. “How… how have you been?”

Lisa’s eyebrows shoot up at the sound of my words, her gaze fixed on me with an intensity that suggests she’s hanging on every word. I ignore her, focusing instead on the static–laden silence stretching across the connection.

“How are you feeling?” Clayton asks, dodging my question with one of his own. “Are you healing alright?”

There’s a lump in my throat at the sound of his

concern. Damn. I swallow hard. “I’m fine,” I assure him, though the words feel hollow even to my own ears. “I actually called because… well, I was worried about Ivy. I wanted to know how she’s doing. And I wanted to talk to you.”

He’s silent for a long time. “Ivy’s doing well. She’s healing, but slowly. She doesn’t heal much faster than

humans.”

I know that pain.

my daily soreness

15:19

Ava: Calling

not sure what it means or why my

talk to

Lisa watches, her eyes sparkling. She loves a good romantic drama, and my

since everything happened.

I want to know how you’re doing. If

healing.”

friend is here, so I’m not alone. I’m sure you know everything that happened by now, so I won’t rehash it.

since he answered the phone, and I wonder what he

you, Ava.”

is so startling that I almost

15:19

Calling

How else am I supposed to answer? I

much?

to feel awful about

haven’t even thought about Lucas very much. Well, not a lot…

Clayton.

in his voice

do miss him. He’s a nice person. Responsible. Steadfast. He took care of me, even though I’m a

stranger.

own safety, but it isn’t like Lucas has

things, like the sound of his voice in my

my cheeks, and I shake my head at Lisa as her eyes widen. She can’t hear him

haven’t

at his odd question. “About Lucas… I’m

15:10

von about him. Us It seems like the Aund of thing

now, though

care. Ava is words are like a caress, and

sounds like I’ve said something that’s soothed him in

Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and

response, and that niggling feeling

what it is.

Ivy. I guess I’ll let

your number, so I can call you.”

YES, YES, YES! at me. “It’s the same one I’m

call you

talking to him again today, but how can I say no when