Chapter 23
ASTRID
I walk into the humane society kennel as the attendant turns over the OPEN sign. It’s less chaotic, and that shows they’ve been in for a while, setting up and cleaning the stalls. 1 learned that animals are a lot more like toddlers. They demand so much attention and can be loud, too.
A young woman hurries past me with a German shepherd under her arms. She’s whimpering, her hair ruffled, her shirt has coffee stains, and something darker. The attendant holds the door open for her and grabs the animal from her arms. She motions at the bench, but the woman shakes her head and trails after her, her palm over her mouth.
Swallowing gg a lump, I tear my gaze away from them and exhale slowly. I don’t understand Ava Rock’s reason for choosing to meet here. When I texted her about the book and asked if she was ready to proceed, she said she needed to add a few things to the epilogue.
The epilogue looks okay to me. Like the rest of her books I’ve come across this one strikes a chord in my mind. It connects me to reality, opening my mind to what humans encounter daily. Just like happiness and love, pain is also real. So is hate.
When I close the door, Ava’s familiar voice calls out. “Astrid, is that you?”
I glance at the door on my left that is slightly ajar, but she’s nowhere in sight. Is there a camera somewhere? I pause before stepping away from the foot mat that has WELCOME boldly knitted on it.
“Yes. Where are you?”
A chuckle and then a door handle rattle. She emerges from a stall. In her arm is a kitten, purring softly. “Meet Sandy. She’s so adorable.” She stretches the arm towards me, and I have no choice but to run my hand gently across the kitten’s back. “I volunteer here on Saturdays. Sometimes Sundays. Do you like animals?”
I pull back my hand. That’s enough courtesy. I capture my bottom lip between my teeth, wondering if it’s cool to say no while standing before a kitten. Their claws are pretty sharp, and I don’t want marks on my skin.
“Um, I had one when I was nine.”
Understanding creeps into her eyes, and she nods, then turns around, “Come, let’s talk in one of the offices. Did you bring your copy? Like I said, I would love to add a few things to the epilogue. I don’t think Ryan deserves that ending.”
We move into one of the cubicles. She closes the door and pulls on the latch. I settle on the couch. It’s torn but surprisingly comfortable.
Ava puts the kitten on a blanket. It yawns and stretches. I watch it silently, feeling something in me, coil slowly.
I was nine the day mom brought a pet home. A puppy. Browned hair, just like the kitten, and the cutest thing I ever saw as a child. I spent my waking moments with him – Rex. At night, we would curl up in my king–sized bed, watch cartoons on my laptop, and snack on fried meat.
Rex was my first best friend. I loved him and was excited about having him in my life.The day he turned against me, I died a million times. I was devastated, and nothing anyone said could soothe my aching heart.
It started as a nibble, gentle bites, licks, and wet kisses from his tongue.
I was giggling. Telling him to stop even though I knew he wouldn’t back off. I mean, it was our thing. What I ignored was the glaring fact Rex was no longer a puppy but 30 inches tall at the shoulder, weighing 140 pounds.
When his canine teeth dug into my left thigh, I felt a cold envelop me.
The pain didn’t register until my parents rushed into the room and flung him across the room. At that instant, the first tear dripped down m can vividly remember the fear in Mom’s eyes. She had cried, wrapping me fiercely in her arms as she dialled the doctor’s number.
it was a dark day for all of us.
eeks. I
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Chapter 23
I cried not only because of the pain but when I saw some men taking Rex away. Dad said they were taking him to the animal shetlar. Ha estiradi would be safe.
I turn around just in time to see Ava scratch the animal between the ears. The kitten smiles, leans into the touch, and shuts his epis.
“He’s asleep now. He was brought in last week from the alley behind the hospital. Someone dumped him there. I’m going to adopt him.
I shake off the thought whirling in my head. There’s a scar on my left thigh. One that was expertly? been. Without thinking, I brush my palm over it.
“I visited my dad yesterday.” Ava starts to say.
stitched by a surgeon on the spot where Rex’s teeth ad
I glance up quickly, eager to hear what transpired between her and her old man, but she locks up and requests to see what I’ve done to her book.
“Did you read it?” She asks as I place the device in her hand.
“I wouldn’t have been able to edit it without reading it, Ava.”
She smiles, clearly amused by my answer. Today, she doesn’t appear like the forty–something–year–old that she is. She looks younger. Twentish.
“I know. There’s a difference between reading to spot errors and reading because you love doing it. So, I ask you again, Astrid, did you read it?” She leans forward as if to hear me out.
“Yes. It’s an interesting read. A page–turner just like your other books.”
“Do you think Ryan deserves the happy ending he got?”
“No, but Dalton is no better. And if I’m to be honest, none of them deserves Sharon. However, society has made it look like women need men to be complete. To feel alive. It’s sad.”
“So, you think we shouldn’t give men the power we do? We shouldn’t – um, need them?”
My gaze narrows slightly. I shrug, unsure how to respond.
“When was the last time you had sex?”
Her question should surprise me, but it doesn’t. I’ve come to terms with how blunt Ava is. She holds nothing back. No filter. Just like in her books.
I breathe out. “I don’t remember.”
Last month. I remember it like it happened yesterday.
She offers me a knowing smile.
“I’m no mind reader, but I can tell when a woman needs to be tended to by a man. Maybe we don’t need them, maybe we do, but I’ll tell you one thing, Astrid, it doesn’t matter what you think or how you feel. The world has already mapped out a path for all of us. It doesn’t matter if we’re cool with it or not. What matters is that we must play our part if we’re willing to be where we want to be in life. I have a couple of single friends. Older, rich, with the right amount of vibe for a woman your age. Do you fancy older men?”
I force a short laugh. “I do.”
Her lips twitch. “Let me know when you’re ready. She stands up, glances down at Sandy, and then chuckles.
“He’s going to be out until noon. The injection usually knocks him out.”
She takes me to a spacious room where several animals are. As she washes her hands, she dons a pair of rubber gloves and picks up a tray with instruments. I pin my gaze on her hair. I don’t want to look at the giant dog she’s cleaning. He has Rex hair colour and build.
“Come, I’ll get you a glass of water. You look ready to faint.
”
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Chapter 23
I sigh. I’m so out of it that I don’t notice she’s done with the animals. She wipes her hands dry on a towel hanging on a hook beside the basin. As Aus walks into another cubicle, my phone vibrates with a call.
“What the fuck does he want now?” I hiss as my eyes take in the caller’s ID.
“Hey, babe!”
“Tristan, this is a bad time. 1-”
“I just want to remind you of our dinner date tonight. Please don’t tell me you forgot again.”
“What the fuck are you blabbing about? We bro-”
“I’m with your mom. I told her about our date night, and she was really excited. She said you’ve been working way too hard and need to relax with your
man.”
Out of all the nonsense he’s said, only one has registered, “You’re with my mom?”
“Yes. Stella asked me over for brunch.” He says it like he’s trying to rub it on my face.
Stella.
I’m beyond pissed that he dared to accept my mother’s invitation, and he’s aging like we’re still an item!
“Brunch? Are you broke? What happened to staying out of each other’s lives?”
He chuckles. Apparently, he’s not going to favor me with an answer.
Ava is out now. She’s watching me intently, not bothering to mask her curiosity. I turn my face to her. I’ve never told her about my love life or the lack of
it, I’m pretty sure she’s come across photos of me and Tristan. The captions are always spot on – about love. Forever.
I sigh and ask Tristan what he wants. As for the date, I’m not going to indulge him.
“I’m going to put the call on speakerphone so you can say hello to your mom,
babe.”
Babe!?
If I didn’t know how much of a dickhead Tristan is, I would have pegged him as sweet. The asshole is mocking me.
“Astrid?” A warning seeps through his tone.
“What?!”
Another chuckle. “Say something nice. Your mom is listening now.”
This is ridiculous.
I wonder who he is trying to fool. Himself or my oblivious” er??
I glance over my shoulder at Ava. She tips the bottle of water at me and tosses a smile.
“Baby, are you there?” Mom’s soft voice comes through the phone.
I take a second to breathe. “Mom. How are you?”
“I’m fine. Tristan is such a fine young man. He said you both will be having dinner tonight at Dave’s. That’s where I’m meeting a client for a brief meeting. Isn’t it delightful?”
I roll my eyes. It’s a good thing she can’t see me. “Mom, I’m sure our date is after your brief meeting.”
“Tristan said it’s at 7: pm. My meeting is at 6:50 pm. I’ll be happy to have a drink with you and your man. My client will be joining us. She’s an old friend.”
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Chapter 23
No shit! There’s no way of getting out of this. Mom can be pretty persistent, and the dickhead knows exactly how to manipulate her
Trub my temple. This phone conversation is making me angry. I wish I had sent it to voicemail, Well, I should get this over with and move on with my day.
“I’ll see you later, Mom. I have to go. I’m at work.”
“On a Saturday. I thought your father and I told you to take a break?”
Chuckling, I say, “You’re meeting a client tonight, Mom. I guess the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.”
I return the phone to my purse. Mom couldn’t counter that, so I hurriedly said goodbyes and hung up.
A sarcastic grunt slips from Ava’s throat as I swirl around to face her.
“Date night? Who was that?”
www
I lower my body into the chair and lace my fingers together, then hook them over my knee. I suspected Ava would ask, but I wondered how she would go about it.
“My mom.”
“I know. I’m asking about the guy you were giggling with. Your man?”
“I wasn’t giggling, and Tristan isn’t my boyfriend. Let’s get back to work.”
She leans on the desk and crosses her arms. “I’m curious. Who is Tristan if he’s not your boyfriend?”
I shove out a puff of air. It’s clear she will not let me off the hook until I spill. “He’s an old friend. I don’t want to talk about him. I’m sorry.”
She nods but says nothing for a long, awkward moment, and then she sighs and shifts from the desk.
“It’s alright. I’ll wait until you’re ready. But I need you to know I won’t forget this.”
I uncap the bottle of water and take a long swing. It’s chill. “So, do you still want to change the epilogue?”
“No. It’s fine. I trust your judgment.”
“Ava-”
She shakes her head, “Not just as my editor, but as my friend. Thank you for doing this on such short notice.”
I smile at her words. “You’re welcome.”
I speculate whether it’s okay to ask about her father now. She didn’t say much, and I really want to know if the visit went well.
I clear my throat, and the sound seems to grab her attention. Perfect.
“How’s your dad, Ava?”
The sides of her eye crinkle. “He’s fine. You won’t let this one go until I tell you everything, are you?”
I nod. My expression mirrors hers. She returns to her position on the desk. “He’s doing okay. We talked – like a real conversation. He made me laugh, and we even shared a burger. It was nice.”
“Just nice?”
“It reminded me of old times. When it was just the three of us before mom came back. We didn’t talk about the past, but it was there. I could tel
wanted to broach the subject as much as 1 wanted to, but we held off and focused on the present. I told him about you, the new book, and Lisa’s recent performances. He was excited. He was really happy for us.”
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Have you ever visited him with Lisa?”
Her eyes dim. I’ve strike à nerve, but it’s something we need to talk about. Something she needs to fis
“No.” It’s a whisper. “I’ve never asked her because, you know, we don’t get to talk about anything.”
1 stand up and place my hand on her shoulder, pressing it firmly. I’m happy she’s making progress. A conversation with her dad is a Fuge ston. The w see it, the old man is the bridge between the two women.
She tilts her head, gazing at my face. “We’ll talk about payment and every other thing on Monday. Go and get ready for your date.”
I take a step back, withdrawing my hand. I’ve almost forgotten about my phone conversation with my ex–boyfriend. Tristan isn’t the man I want, Jordan
- is.
With Jordan, there will be no arguments. No hesitations. I guess life isn’t a walk in the park.
“It’s not a date. Don’t hold your breath, Ava.”
She laughs. “Call it what you want. I know what I heard.”
The front bell chimes. Footsteps echo on the hardwood floorboard, and then voices.
I move to the door, right behind Ava. The attendant moves aside as Ava approaches them.
As Ava takes the dog in her arms, gushing over it, my gaze sneaks to its owner. My nerves tighten. It’s the woman from the bar that night–Jordan’s date. Recognition shines in her eyes. I swiftly pull away and move towards Ava, touching her free arm gently, “I’ll head out now. See you on Monday
I brush past the woman, wishing for a second I can shove her into a deep hole.
A quick tension bands my muscles as I slide behind the wheels of my car. I check my phone, hoping to see a text from Jordan or Lily. She’s not been replying, and the few times I’ve gone over to her house, she’s never there.
There’s a text. I tap on it. My face tightens as I read the content and the sender’s name.
7 pm. Wear red.
I can’t wait to see you, babe.
– Tristan
2
Sonofabitch!
A
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