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.

healed, but my daily

15:19

Ava: Calling Clayton

not sure what it means or

talk to me?” he

Lisa watches, her eyes sparkling. She

talked with you since everything happened. I figured

want to know how you’re doing. If you’re okay, if you’re

healing.”

you know everything that happened by

the background has disappeared since he answered the phone, and I

miss you,

is so startling that I

15:19

Calling Clayton

you, too.” How else am I supposed to answer? I don’t miss him? I don’t think of him

much?

I’m starting to feel awful about myself.

a lot… but a lot more than

Clayton.

hope in his voice

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

stranger.

away for my own safety, but it

of his voice in my ear, the way his gentlemanly demeanor changes when my

widen. She can’t hear him on the other

haven’t chosen Lucas?”

his odd

15:10

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

now, though

is words are like

something that’s soothed

Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and

happiness at my response, and that niggling

what it is.

I

out. “Give me your number, so I can call

number?” Lisa’s nodding enthusiastically, mouthing, YES, YES, YES! at me. “It’s

I call you

wasn’t planning on talking to him again today, but how