21. AVA
AVA
“Did you know about any of this?”
Lou’s eyes open wide in alarm as she shakes her hands in front of her. “No, your mother rarely ever let me in on her dealings about you. Only when I took over did I get a glimpse into your life, but I never knew about this.”
I thought I was going to have to fire Lou as well if she knew this, but the distraught look on her face lets me know that she’s innocent.
If I didn’t have enough reasons to hate my mother before, I sure do now.
I can’t believe she would go as far as to turn Zane and me against each other.
What did she gain from that except segregating me from people who cared about me?
Or maybe that was her intention all along—to cut me off from the Morgans so she could manipulate me better.
I hate to admit it, but it worked. At least I had Ella, who was stubborn enough to not give up on me.
Now that I know all this, Zane’s behavior and his hatred toward me makes more sense. I would have behaved the same way if I was told that the person who caused my accident hated me.
But things have come to light, and I can breathe easier and allow myself to experience better feelings other than fear and anxiety around him.
“I am so sorry about this, Ava. If I’d known, I’d have told you.”
“I know, and it’s okay. At least now I know and won’t spend the rest of my life thinking Zane hates me. Coming here has its cons, but I really like this pro.”
“Speaking of... how are things going with Zane?”
“Good—very good, actually,” I reply, taking a sip of my milkshake.
He had one of the maids make it for me. He knows I prefer fluids to solid food, so he’s making me take a lot of protein shakes to supplement my diet. They’re not my cup of tea and he knows this, so he’s rewarding me with a strawberry milkshake—my favorite.
“Look at you blushing. You’ve had feelings for him your whole life, so it’s good that you’re finally getting to express them.”
Her words hit me, and I realize something. “I haven’t expressed anything.”
“You haven’t?”
“No, we’ve talked about everything in the past except our feelings for each other. Is it worth it though? My time here ends in a month,” I reason.
“Even more reason to do it. If you don’t, you will always wonder, ‘what if?’”
“You think so?”
“I know so, so go for it,” she encourages.
“I just might,” I nod as I consider that this will be the second time I’m confessing my feelings for Zane.
I hear Lou sigh, and I look up to find her looking lost and confused. “What now?”
“I’m just thinking of how hectic it’ll be if things work out between you—all the moving, flying. We might even have to shift to Texas,” she laments.
I chuckle, wondering why she’s overthinking things. “Slow your roll, Lou. I haven’t even told him yet—he might even reject me.”
She scoffs. “As if! The man ran all over Wrangler Creek looking for you when you went missing. If that doesn’t show how he’s head over heels in love with you, then you need to get your eyes checked.”
“Okay, okay, okay, I get it. I will talk to him and let you know the outcome so you can start preparing yourself.”
“Please do.”
“Now, where is that music you owe me?” she demands, getting back to boss mode.
“Go easy on me. I’ll send it to you by the end of the day. I already have a couple of songs done and more in the works.”
“Now that’s what I want to hear. Please take care of yourself—remember to eat and sleep well. I need you back here in tip-top shape. Your next tour is going to be amazing; I can feel it,” she cheers.
“Yes, ma’am. I look forward to it.”
“Bye, dear. I love you.”
“Not as much as I love you.”
We hang up, and I toss my phone away. Only now do I realize that I haven’t asked for an update on the stalker and the images on social media.
Ella told me that she can’t find them anymore, so the PR team must have been successful in taking them down.
As for the stalker, I’m sure Lou will let me know if there’s any update.
I get out of bed and wander out to the balcony where I see Zane in the distance.
I almost call out to him, but he’s too far away and might not hear me.
I don’t know if he feels me staring at him or what, but he turns around and our eyes meet.
I blush when he tips his hat at me, so I blow him a kiss.
Lou is right—I am smitten, and I really hope Zane is too. We’ve already wasted so much time apart.
Duncan calls him away, so he takes off his hat, waves it at me before disappearing out of sight. With him gone, I take a seat on the hammock, pick up my tablet, and go back to finishing the amazing song that has been stuck in my mind for a few days.
I spend all day in my room until Ella comes to drag me down for dinner.
“I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever. You’re either always writing music in your room or with Zane,” she laments as we walk down the stairs arm in arm.
“I’m sorry,” I apologize when I realize that she’s right—I have been kind of neglecting her the past couple of days.
“Don’t be. I’m just glad to see you happy.”
“I am happy,” I affirm.
“So you and Zane, huh?” she teases, tugging on the collar of the flannel shirt I’m wearing.
It’s another one of his shirts that I’ve managed to steal. I’ve realized that I like wearing his clothes, and he doesn’t seem to mind—in fact, he encourages it.
Zane and I aren’t making any effort to hide our affections for each other. Even though he prefers being alone, he’s always joining us for dinner every day, or I go to him in his cabin.
“Shut up,” I grumble, flushing in embarrassment.
“I’m thinking about confessing,” I inform her when I realize that even though I’ve told Lou, I still need to run it by Ella, as she is my best friend.
“Confessing? Confessing what? To whom?” she inquires, as if we weren’t just talking about it a second ago.
I cock my eyebrow at her, and her eyes widen in realization.
“Oh, that confessing. So you’re finally gonna do it, huh?”
“Yes.”
“Go for it. Might as well get it over and done with,” she encourages.
“You don’t think it’s weird? I mean, he’s your brother and so much older than me.”
“I think I just got déjà vu. Didn’t we have this same conversation five years ago when I talked you into confessing right before your concert?” she asks.
“We did?”
“Uh-huh,” she nods.
“We did, and I don’t think it’s weird. You’re the one with the daddy issues, not me,” she taunts.
“El!”
She giggles, looking at me with mirth written all over her face. “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. But in all seriousness, do it. Zane is actually one of the decent ones in the family—when he’s not being a dick, that is—but you have liked him forever, and he definitely has feelings for you too.”
Her words have hope blooming in my chest. “You think so?”
“Yes. So tell him.”
“I just might.”
Now that I have both Lou and Ella’s encouragement, all I need to do is find the perfect time to let him know.
When we make it into the dining room, he’s already seated at the table. He pulls a chair for me, and I take my spot next to him. He loops his arm on the back of my seat and starts playing with my hair. A subtle but very smooth move.
Ever since I opened up to Zane, he has been very protective of me.
I had to physically stop him from finding my mother and Estevan to make them pay for all they put me through.
I want them to pay, but I also hate confrontation, thus why I constantly chose to run away rather than face my problems head-on.
Maybe I’ll grow some balls in the future or borrow Zane’s. He has some very impressive ones.
“Frida called. She wants to know if you’re up for classes this weekend,” Ella inquires as we settle down for dinner.
“I don’t think so. After what happened, I don’t want to risk leaving the ranch again. I’m sorry, Daisy,” I apologize, giving the cutie an apologetic look.
I know this hurts her—it hurts me too—but I don’t have much of a choice.
“Okay, I’ll let her know, but you should reconsider,” Ella advises.
“I have thought about it, and it’s a no,” I insist.
The whole table falls silent, and I realize that I might be disappointing them, but I’m too scared to risk going into town again.
“So you are going to stop doing something that makes you happy because of them?” Zane asks.
I turn to him with a glare. “It’s not that easy, and you know it.”
“It is, actually. Do you want to keep teaching the classes or not?” he challenges.
“I do—they are so much fun—but...”
“But nothing. You should keep teaching if that’s what you want,” he asserts.
“What about her security?” Jace asks him.
“I’ll handle it. Don’t worry.”
“We’re going to need more than that,” Hank chimes in.
He looks frustrated at being confronted, but he answers them nonetheless. “I’ll take over from Ella. I’ll take Daisy and Ava to the rec center every Saturday, wait for them, and bring them back.”
“But you hate people and, even worse... going into town,” Ella reminds him.
“That I do, so Miss Diva over here should feel honored that I’m willing to make the sacrifice for her,” he replies, tugging on my earlobe.
“I am, but...”
“Enough with the buts. Are you okay with me taking over from Ella?”
I sigh and nod. Of course I feel safe with him. All actions I’ve taken since I arrived have proved so. “Yes.”
“Then it’s settled,” he decrees, leaving no room for argument.
It looks like that’s that. Daisy looks happy with the decision, and I’m not so apprehensive anymore knowing that Zane will be there. At least I don’t have to lose another thing that makes me happy due to my demented family.