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What the fuck have Sam and Tucker Remington become?
“I have pepper spray, but I left it at home by accident.” She takes a deep breath. “Do you think I need it?” She asks, her voice suddenly much quieter, and I wonder if I’ve made her nervous, but that area is definitely the furthest from safe.
And I’m sure sweet little Ava Remington is sticking out like a sore thumb.
“Stupid!” I growl at her, as I make my way out into the December air. I hail a cab with one hand as my other cradles the phone. “And what are you doing out this late all by yourself?”
“I was at the library and… I lost track of time. I have a huge paper due at the end of the week.”
“And no one could walk home with you?” I was going for condescension, and I think I succeeded. “This isn’t where we grew up, Ava. New York is dangerous.”
“I know! I was studying with friends, but they left earlier and I just—lost track of time. Besides, I’ve been in New York for quite some time, and I don’t exactly get the chivalrous vibe from men here.”
“You’re hanging out with the wrong men.”
“Says the man who was practically considered family at one point, and yet, you’ve not called to check on me once.” I cringe at her reprimanding. “You know I lie to my brother and my father when they ask if I’ve talked to you.”
I wince.So do I. I guess I should have at least made sure she was keeping my cover.“Well, now you can say we’ve spoken with a clear conscience.”
“Okay, then. Well, I’ll just sit here quietly and try not to get killed, I guess,” she jokes, and I frown. “I’ll see you when you get here.”
Ava and I may not exactly be the best of friends, but it would break my heart if something happens to her. Not to mention, Sam and Tucker would break every bone in my body.“Don’t say that. And we’re staying on the phone until I get to you. Just don’t draw any attention to yourself.”
“I’m fine. No one is even down here. Oh, I see a homeless person.” She’s quiet, and I immediately get nervous. “Never mind, he’s not homeless; he’s just peeing. God, how do you stand it? Everywhere you look, someone is peeing. It literally smells like urine everywhere.”
“You’ll get used to it,” I tell her, remembering my first few months in New York. “Just keep talking, Ava. Tell me about school.”
I’m listening to Ava's mindless chatter about work as I'm moving down the stairs two at a time. I hear her voice getting softer as I descend further to the subway underneath the ground.
“Ava, I might lose you as I go through the turnstile; just hang tight.” Her words are choppy as I can tell the service is fading.
I swipe my subway card and push through the gate at lightning speed. Not that I didn't think Ava could take care of herself; she's certainly been doing a good job of it without any help from me. But this part of New York is no place for a young woman.
I hadn't seen Ava in almost twelve years, not since I went away to college when she was a mere ten years old. I wonder if she's still the same pale, scrawny Ava with stringy hair that was always pulled back in a ponytail. She had a mouth full of metal, and coupled with her phase of bright blue eye shadow and hot pink lipstick, it made Ava Remington living, breathing proof of awkward pre-teen years.
I wonder if she grew out of that.
I round the corner and see the usual suspects: homeless people, junkies, prostitutes. I'm walking through the platform when I hear my name from behind me.
How did I miss her?
I turn around, and the wind is almost knocked out of me when I see the woman standing in front of me. I rake my eyes from her feet to the top of her head, noting the several differences between teenage Ava and the knockout before me.
She's wearing black leggings tucked into snow boots. A fitted maroon sweater that hits her about mid-thigh makes her waist look small and dainty. She's wearing a long wool open cardigan, allowing me to see that Ava had most definitely filled out and was sporting some womanly curves. A scarf is wrapped around her petite neck, allowing her shiny chestnut locks to fall around her neck and down her back and shoulders. She flashes me a smile and a wave, and I can see from here that the braces worked wonders for her.
“Ava?” I say as I approach her.
“Hi, Jackson!” She chirps as she reaches around me and hugs me. I’m caught slightly off-guard feeling a woman wrap her arms around me so casually, and I’m stunned at how relaxed it makes me feel. She pulls away as we begin to walk toward the exit. “Thank you for coming. That guy over there told me twice that I had great legs, and they should be around his ears.” She laughs as we take the stairs two at a time back out into the New York night.
I press my hand to the small of her back as I guide her out into the night air. “You look…”
I can’t believe this is Ava Remington. Wow.
“It's been a long time.” I continue as we make our way to the cab I’d paid triple the fare just to wait for us.
“About twelve years? In which time you've become this big-time app developer.” She pulls her phone out and holds it up in front of my face. “It’s so badass. See, I downloaded!” She tucks her phone back into her purse. “Not that I really need it for anything, but I just wanted to be able to tell my friends I knew the creator ofWalshWork.”She begins to bounce up and down in the seat. “Is it always this cold here? Good God,” she says before I have the chance to thank her for the praise.
“Well, you're certainly under-dressed. What is this?” I ask as I pull at the lapel of her sweater. “This is not heavy enough.”
