AllFreeNovel
Share Us
This morning, I get dressed, grab my bag, and head out to see my supervisor. The revelation dinner with me, Chris, and Ava will come later in the evening. However, I stop in my tracks the minute I reach the living room.
Ava is lying upside down on our couch with her phone pressed against her ear. She’s smiling so wide as she talks to whoever is on the other end of the call. My shock comes from the fact that I’ve never seen her this way, ever.
“Um, Ava? Is everything okay?” I ask slowly as I approach her.
Her eyes meet mine and she sits upright. “I’ll call you later, babe,” she says while holding my gaze and then ends the call.
My eyes are probably the size of saucers right now. “Babe? You have a boyfriend and you didn’t tell me?” Okay, I can hear the hypocrisy in my words, but Ava never gets into romantic relationships so my shock is warranted. “When did this happen?”
Ava’s smile, if possible, grows wider. “Okay, you’ve been gone for months and you haven’t exactly been home very much since you got back so I didn’t get the chance to tell you.”
I feel guilty, because not only have I been lying to my best friend, I also haven’t been around long enough to know what is going on in her life. “I’m so sorry that I’ve been too busy and away, Ava, and I promise that I’ll explain everything tonight.”
“Ah, yes” she nods. “Your mystery dinner.”
“You have to promise me that you’ll come, okay? Promise, it’s very important.”
“Yes, yes, I promise. I’ll be at your dinner.”
I sigh with relief then clap my hands together excitedly. “Now, tell me everything. Who is this guy and how did he manage to thaw your icy heart,” I tease.
Ava taps the space on the couch beside her and I take a seat. Then she rubs her hands nervously together and exhales. “Okay, promise not to freak out?”
Hesitantly, I reply. “Uh, I promise. But you’re starting to scare me, Ava. Just tell me who it is and I promise I’ll be cool about it.” Lowkey, I hope she answers me in this same manner when I finally share my big secret with her tonight.
“It’s Brad,” she says with closed eyes.
“Brad as in Dr. Brad? My supervisor who I am on my way to see, that Brad? Holy shit, Ava, how did you manage to get the stony bastard in your bed?” I laugh.
She opens her eyes. “You’re not mad?”
“Of course not, why would I be? Does he make you happy?”
She throws her head back, her two hands clutching her phone pressed against her chest. “Deliriously,” she replies, then lowers her head. “You are sure you’re not mad. I know you didn’t want me to get with him and complicate your studies…”
“Really, Ava, it’s fine. I can handle myself, I’m a big girl. All I want to know is how all of this happened.”
“Okay,” she starts, adjusting in her seat. “So, the night you went on that date with Lance, my mum suddenly showed up. That’s why I was acting strange before you returned to the Pacific.”
I pull her tightly into a hug, comforting her even though I’ve known this for a while. “Are you okay, Ava?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she replies and pulls away. “But I wasn’t for a while and there was no one around for me to talk to. So, I did something stupid.”
“Ava…” I drawl, staring at my really impulsive friend. “What did you do?”
Ava winces at the look I’m giving her. “Nothing too stupid, I promise. I just went to the nearest bar and got shit-faced drunk. Then, I saw Brad seated in a corner and went ahead to proposition him.”
“Oh, Ava,” I can’t help but laugh.
“I know, I know, it was really embarrassing when I woke up in his bed the next morning.”
“Wait, what?” I shout as anger wells within me. “He took advantage of your drunk self and had sex with you?!”
Ava waves her hands quickly in front of me. “No, no, that isn’t what happened.”
“But you just said that you woke up in his apartment, so that must mean that he took you back there while you were wasted. Jesus, Ava, this isn’t right.”
Ava rolls her eyes. “If you would just let me finish,” she snaps at me and I imitate locking my mouth and throwing the key away. She rolls her eyes at me again. “Anyway, as I was saying. I walked up to him, propositioned him and passed out. He didn’t know where I lived so he ended up taking me back to his place. But I woke up with nothing amiss, I swear.”
