*Ava*I’m starting to think I should have let Liam stay the night. At least then he would have been around to bolster my confidence about my interview today.As it is, I’m trying not to cry. It will ruin my make-up.Emma never came home last night. I’m worried about her and I feel guilty about the whole situation. I keep trying to think of how we could have navigated this better with her, and I come up blank every time.At least my blouse is perfect. And my shoes. And my jewelry. And my skirt. And my … I straighten my jacket. Now that’s perfect as well.I’m about to head out the door when my phone rings. Thinking it’s probably Liam wishing me luck, I answer without looking at the caller ID.It was a mistake.“Hey, beautiful. Answering on the first ring. I must rate higher than I thought with you,” James says once the line connects.My lips turn down in a grimace. “Fuck off, James. Lose my number.” I pull the phone away from my ear and move my thumb over the red “End” bu
*Ava*I stop short so suddenly that I think I’ll fall over. I wasn’t expecting the site in front of me: Emma, sitting on the couch, waiting for me. I’ve had so many emotions going through my mind from the last few days that I can’t even focus on a single one as I see my best friend. My first thought is that I’m shocked, but then it turns to happiness. Then confusion.Then, fear.A deep-seated, dark cloud forms over my head, creeping in on me.“Oh my God, Emma,” I finally find myself saying. But I don’t get a chance to say anything more. She holds up her hand, cutting me off before I’ve even thought of the next words to say to her. “No. It’s my turn to talk. You and my dad had your time, and now it’s mine. Now, please sit down so I can say my piece.”I don’t argue or hesitate with her. I immediately sit down on the loveseat across from Emma, obedient as ever. We face each other head-on, and I try to look as though I’m not about to burst from inside to outside. Her eyes a
*Ava*A few days after making up with Emma, the picture is finally leaked. Since Emma knows about the relationship, I do my best to ignore it. It doesn’t seem to have the effect that James had been going for, and for that I’m grateful. James has no leverage over us anymore, and I think that’s the best-case scenario. I go about my business, choosing to push James, the picture, and all this drama out of my head. It doesn’t matter anymore. The people in my life know about the relationship and that’s all that I care about.I’m supposed to be graduating in a few days, but because of the charges in Chicago, Dad can’t come. When we speak on the phone, he tells me to go, enjoy the walk, and show everyone that the Williams family is strong.“But I don’t want that memory to exclude you,” I admit. “You can take pictures in Chicago with me,” he tries. I notice he doesn’t include any information about the charges. He doesn’t specify that we can take the pictures soon, or even later. But
*Liam* After listening to Ava’s anxieties the night before, I’ve decided I’ll be handling the Noah situation myself. He wants to cause agony and dread? Well, two can certainly play this game. I don’t tell Ava what I’m doing, though, so as not to throw her off. In turn, that will keep Noah from discovering I’m on the case, ready to catch him in the act.The next day, I make sure to keep myself out of sight, parked near the apartment. I want proof that the revolting bastard is doing this. I’ll watch him. And I’ll make sure this completely ends once and for all.I follow Ava, noticing that Noah follows her through her day. He follows her when she goes to get her breakfast and lunch, going to a small convenience store near her apartment. Then it’s to the coffee shop across from her job, where she misses him standing a few people behind her in line. I know she’s looking for him, but I don’t know if she knows he is always nearby.After that, she goes to work, where he sits in the
*Ava* “Okay, you’ve completely lost me. Noah? Stalking you?” Emma questions, her attention focused on me. “Since when does that boy have a single violent bone in his body?”She’s not wrong, but I still don’t know the whole story. I divert to Liam, looking for answers. “What happened? Did you see him or something?”“You were right, Ava, he’s stalking you. I followed you both today. He watched you while you were working all day, in that coffee shop across the street. We … had words.” It’s very rare I notice Liam at a loss for words. But I see him holding something back. “Words?” I ask, hoping to get even a little bit more information.“Yes.”So much for that. But regardless, I can’t believe I’d been right. Of all the people in my life that I assumed might be a stalker, Noah would never even crack the top ten. James stalking me, that I’d understand. But Noah? Because I turned him down? It doesn’t make any sense. Nothing is making any sense.“I’m going to call Daniel and se
*Ava*It’s early when Liam and Daniel pull up to the apartment. They’re here to pick us up, and something inside me is screaming not to leave. It’s adamant that this isn’t the last time I’m coming here. All of this will just be temporary, I know it. I hope so, anyway.“Have everything you need, babe?” Daniel asks Emma.“I think so,” she says, looking at what she’s got in her arms and suitcase. “It’s just difficult to imagine not coming back here in a day or two.”I nod, getting exactly what she’s saying.A home has been ripped out from both of us. I’ve always had somewhere to land on my feet, but nothing has ever been taken away quite like this.“I’m sure this is a lot for you both,” Daniel sympathizes. “This whole situation is absolutely bonkers. Are you holding up okay, Ava?”It’s nice that he cares enough to ask me how I’m doing. “Honestly? I feel like I’m becoming numb to everything. It’s all a lot.”Liam’s eyebrow arches, and I try not to look directly at him. H
*Ava*“Ava? Will you please come to Chicago? For me?”“Of course!” I reply quickly. “You don’t even need to ask, Dad. I wouldn’t miss it. I told you I’d be there, didn’t I?”My father sounds relieved. “You did. But I know you have your new job and–”“I won’t miss it, no matter what,” I say firmly.“Alright, pumpkin. That’s what I was hoping to hear. I love you,” my father responds, and I can tell he’s smiling.“I love you, too, Dad. We’ll talk soon.”We hang up at the same time, and I turn to Liam, chewing my lip. “Will you … come with me to Chicago for my dad’s trial?”Liam grins at me. “I was hoping you’d ask me. I would love to. I’d like to be there to support you, and your father.”I hop right in his arms and hug him. “I love you.”“I love you more,” Liam teases.“Not a chance,” I say. I let go just so I can grab my phone. “I hate asking for time off when I’ve just started, but there’s nothing I can do about that.”Liam is pulling his own phone out. “I would
*Ava*I’m tense the whole flight, despite Liam dismissing the flight attendant and pulling the curtain so he can try to “alleviate my tension.”When we land, I’m just tense AND sweaty and, despite how long I spent in the jet’s bathroom cubicle, I still look like I had sex on a plane.“Want to go to the house first and freshen up?” Liam asks when we slide into the town car he’s hired.“No. If we go to the house, we’re not leaving it for hours, and you know it,” I scold him.Liam’s lip twitches, and I know he’s trying not to smile. “Guilty.”“You know you are. Now my dad’s going to think I’m some sort of sex maniac,” I grumble.“No,” Liam says, unrepentantly thumbing my nipple through my now-buttoned blouse and bra. “He’s going to think I’M a sex maniac.”I swat his hand. “Good. He’ll get the right impression right off the bat.”“Wouldn’t want to be dishonest,” Liam chuckles.The town car doesn’t move, and I look curiously at Liam.“You haven’t said where you want t