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.

but my daily soreness from exercise

15:19

Ava: Calling

it means or why my

to talk to me?” he says, hesitant.

switch the phone to my other ear as Lisa watches, her eyes sparkling. She loves a good romantic drama, and my current love life is her

you since everything happened. I figured you would be

how

healing.”

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

the background has disappeared since he answered the phone, and I wonder what he was doing before

you,

is so startling that I

15:19

Ava: Calling

How else am I supposed to answer? I don’t miss

much?

I’m starting to feel

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

Clayton.

hope in his voice

him. He’s a nice person. Responsible. Steadfast. He

stranger.

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

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

head at Lisa as her eyes widen. She can’t hear him on the other end, so she

haven’t chosen Lucas?”

I frown at his odd

15:10

didn’t tell von about him. Us It seems like the Aund of thing I should apologize for. He knows about

now, though

care. Ava is words are like a caress, and I

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

Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and

can almost hear his happiness at my response, and that niggling feeling inside of

what it is.

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

“Give me your

YES, YES! at me.

I call you

but how can I say no when he