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.

serious wounds have healed, but my daily soreness from exercise

15:19

Calling

what it means

to me?” he says, hesitant.

eyes sparkling. She loves a good romantic drama, and my current

with you since everything happened. I

how you’re doing. If you’re okay, if you’re healthy,

healing.”

“My best friend is here, so I’m not alone. I’m sure you know everything that happened by now, so I

answered the phone, and I wonder what he was doing before I called.

miss you, Ava.”

so startling that I

15:19

Calling

else am I supposed to answer? I

much?

feel

much. Well, not a lot… but a lot more than

Clayton.

you?” The hope in his voice breaks my

Steadfast. He took care of me,

stranger.

own

voice in my ear, the way his gentlemanly demeanor changes when my heat has him

She can’t hear him on the other

haven’t chosen Lucas?”

his odd

15:10

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

now, though

like a caress, and I feel

on slightly different wavelengths. It sounds like I’ve said something that’s soothed him in

know” Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FindNøvᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early

response, and that niggling

what it is.

Ivy. I

out. “Give me your number, so I

YES! at me. “It’s the

call you

him again today, but how can I say no when he asks me