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.

but my daily

15:19

Calling Clayton

haste. I’m not sure what it means or

to me?” he says, hesitant.

She loves a good romantic drama, and my current love life is her biggest

with you since everything happened. I figured

Ava. I’m still worried. I want to know how you’re doing. If you’re okay, if

healing.”

I sound lame. “My best friend is here, so I’m not alone. I’m sure you know everything that

unnerving. The cacophony in the background has disappeared since he answered the phone,

miss you,

so startling that I almost

15:19

Calling

to answer? I don’t miss him? I

much?

to feel awful

Lucas very much. Well, not a

Clayton.

you?” The hope in his voice breaks

a nice person. Responsible. Steadfast. He took care

stranger.

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

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

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

haven’t

odd question. “About Lucas… I’m

15:10

like the Aund

now, though

Ava is words are like a

I’ve said something that’s soothed him in some way. T’ll never hold that against you.”

website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest

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

what it is.

check on Ivy. I guess I’ll let you go.

“Give me your number,

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

I call

on talking to him again today, but how