Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted novel Chapter 101

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.

My serious wounds have healed, but my daily soreness from exercise remains stubborn, not disappearing

15:19

101 Ava: Calling Clayton

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

“You… wanted to talk to me?” he says, hesitant.

I 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 biggest fascination.

“I haven’t talked with you since everything happened. I figured you would be worried.”

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

healing.”

“I’m doing 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 it. I’m glad I’m not with my parents anymore.”

Clayton’s silence is unnerving. The cacophony in the background has disappeared since he answered the phone, and I wonder what he was doing before I called.

“I miss you, Ava.”

His admission is so startling that I almost drop the

15:19

101 Ava: Calling Clayton

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

much?

Now I’m starting to feel awful about myself.

I haven’t even thought about Lucas very much. Well, not a lot… but a lot more than I ever think about

Clayton.

“Do you?” The hope in his voice breaks my heart.

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

stranger.

I can almost hear his happiness at my response, and that niggling feeling inside of me grows. I’m not sure