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.

daily soreness from exercise

15:19

Ava: Calling Clayton

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

talk to

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

everything happened. I figured you

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

healing.”

you know

silence is unnerving. The cacophony in the background has disappeared since he answered the phone, and I wonder

you, Ava.”

startling that I almost drop

15:19

Ava: Calling Clayton

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

much?

to feel awful

much. Well, not a lot… but a lot more than I ever think

Clayton.

his voice

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

stranger.

away for my own safety, but it isn’t like

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

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

haven’t chosen

frown at his odd question.

15:10

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

now, though

care. Ava is words are like a caress, and

sounds like I’ve said something that’s soothed him in some way. T’ll never

website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and

response, and that niggling feeling inside of

what it is.

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

Clayton blurts out. “Give me your number, so I

YES! at me. “It’s

call you

to him again today, but how can