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.

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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.

wounds have healed, but my daily soreness from exercise remains

15:19

Ava: Calling

any haste. I’m not sure what it means or why my body’s acting

to me?”

to my other ear as Lisa watches, her eyes sparkling. She loves a good romantic drama, and my current

haven’t talked with you since everything happened.

I’m still worried. I want to know how you’re doing. If

healing.”

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

answered the phone, and I wonder

miss you,

so startling that I

15:19

Calling

too.” How else am I supposed to answer? I don’t

much?

I’m starting to feel awful about

about Lucas very much. Well, not a lot… but a lot more than

Clayton.

hope in his voice

person. Responsible. Steadfast. He took care of me, even though

stranger.

away for my own safety, but it isn’t like Lucas has done much

mind flashes to other things, like the sound of his voice in my ear,

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

you haven’t chosen Lucas?”

I frown at his odd question.

15:10

I didn’t tell von about him. Us It seems like the Aund of thing

now, though

are like a caress, and

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

website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in

response, and that niggling feeling

what it is.

calling to check on Ivy. I guess I’ll let you

your number,

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

call you

him again today, but how can