Tangled

Unshift 279

Unshift 279

279 Ava: Best Friends Together Again

Kellan nods reluctantly, trudging off the porch with slow steps. I shake my head, still smiling, and step inside.

“Lisa?” I call out. "It's safe to come out now. I've banished the big bad wolf."

A muffled curse comes from the direction of my bedroom, followed by the sound of shuffling feet. Lisa appears in the doorway, wrapped in'a towel, her wet hair dripping onto the shoulders.

"Is he really gone?" she asks, peering around me suspiciously.

I nod. "He's outside. I told him to give you some space."

Lisa's shoulders relax, and she pads over to the couch, sinking into it with a heavy sigh. "Thank God. I thought he was going to break down the bathroom door. I had to kick him out because he kept peeking in to make sure I was okay. While showering"

"Yes, I'm not surprised." I toss a few things at her to wear. Shirt, pants, underwear. "These aren't fancy, but none of us got to bring our wardrobe."

"I never realized what a luxury clothes are," Lisa agrees, unperturbed by the mismatched and style-less choices, hopping into the bathroom to get dressed. "Do you happen to have a hair dryer?" "Nope."

"Damn. Oh, well."

Lisa emerges from the bathroom, striking an exaggerated pose in the oversized clothes I've given her. The baggy fabric hangs off her frame, accentuating how thin she's become.

"How do I look?" she asks, her voice playful but strained.

My heart clenches painfully in my chest. "Fabulous as always," I manage, forcing a smile. "You could make a potato sack look good."

our shoulders touching. For a moment, we just sit there, the silence heavy with unspoken words. "How are you really doing?" I ask softly, turning to

we just focus on the fact that I'm here? With you? God,

no," Lisa interrupts, her voice gentle. "Don't

to you. We didn't know where you were, and then we did, but we

11:30

<

Best Friends

I had to... I had to be there. I felt like I was betraying you, but

I hate that our... our selfishness brought all this tragedy to Westwood. If anyone should be apologizing, it's me. I was with you every step of the way, whining and complaining.

to say,

clasped,

"So, do you have any coffee around

quirk. "I think so, but we'd have to let Kellan in. He's

across her face. "Though the

"Still, he orders it."

remembers that

"And olives."

and adds extra

aren't too unhappy with

wolf comes out of nowhere growling and ready to tear us apart. All the other wolves don't even fight him, and then-ugh. Anyway, when

only ones in the room, and lowers her voice to hiss, "He kissed me, Ava. Not a peck. Not a smooch. He just grabbed me like this-" she moves

my chin on my hand.

Like sex, but with only mouths. But everyone was watching. And then he picked me up and refused to

hide my amusement, I ask, “Did

Oh, and then he threatened to cut off all my hair and turn