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.

my daily

15:19

Calling Clayton

I’m not sure what it means or why my body’s acting this way.

talk to me?” he says, hesitant.

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

happened. I figured you would be

to know how you’re

healing.”

really well.” I sound lame. “My best friend is here, so I’m not alone. I’m sure you know everything that happened by now, so I won’t rehash

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

miss you, Ava.”

startling that I almost

15:19

Ava: Calling

to answer? I don’t miss him? I don’t think of him

much?

starting to feel awful about

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

Clayton.

you?” The hope in his voice breaks

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

stranger.

me locked away for my own safety, but it isn’t

in my ear, the way his gentlemanly demeanor

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

haven’t chosen

at his odd question. “About Lucas…

15:10

like the Aund of thing I should apologize for. He knows about

now, though

are like a caress, and I feel

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

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

happiness at my response, and that niggling feeling inside of me grows. I’m not

what it is.

check on Ivy. I guess I’ll

“Give me your

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

I call you tonight?”

but how can I say no when he asks me