Page 73 of Second Chance Mates

“Oh.” She relaxes. “Okay.”

I walk down the hall to my office and open the small fridge I keep here. I reach for a fresh bottle of water and retreat back to Ava’s bedroom.

When I return, I find her staring up at the ceiling. “Here,” I say. My voice alerts her, and she takes the bottle from my hand and inhales half of it.

She gasps for a breath like she’s never touched water in her entire life. “How was your night?” I ask.

“It was amazing! I had so much fun.” Her eyes light up with pure joy. She takes a step towards me so we’re closer. I enjoy this proximity; it reminds my wolf she’s home and safe.

She’s with us.

My mouth curls into a satisfied smile. “I’m glad you had a good time.”

“I lost count of how many drinks I had…b-but then–” Her words are nothing but a jumbled mess, and it makes me chuckle. She holds up her hands towards my face. “I fell up the stairs. I had no idea stairs could be so dangerous…upwards!”

This is highly entertaining.

“You fell up the stairs?” I ask as she nods. “Are you alright?”

I check her for any visual wounds, but all I can see is intoxication. She sways again, and I take her hand, leading her to the sofa before she falls and actually hurts herself.

“Yeah. It didn’t hurt.”

“Have you ever been drunk before?”

Ava throws her head back and laughs. No, she doesn’t laugh—she cackles. “H-have I ever been drunk before?” she slurs before standing up. Oh, Goddess, here we go. “You must think I’m so fucking boring!”

I’m startled for a moment. I think this is one of the first times I’ve heard her swear.

“I don’t think you’re boring,” I admit.

She ignores me and starts pacing the room. “You know I used to be a cheerleader?”

I instantly lean forward, pressing my elbows to my knees. Is she remembering?

Then, she stops to stand in a spot and presses a finger to her delicate lips. “Actually, I was the co-captain!”

I watch in awe as she throws her hand up to the ceiling with force. Her memories are starting to come back, and I’m glad I’m here to witness it. The smile on my face is permanent—practically tattooed on at this rate.

“That explains the circus act downstairs, then.” I chuckle gently. “Did you teach them some of your old tricks tonight?”

“Yes, that was all me.” Her eyes beam at me with pride. “And, and, and…” she trails off and begins walking again. I lean forward with my arms, ready to catch her if she topples over. “I used to go to parties with my friends. I used to dance until the early hours and drink and regret it all the next day but happily do it all again the weekend after.”

A moment of realisation suddenly hits me. Before I met her, she was a normal teenage girl. She’s a human and did things that made sense—now she’s been thrown into a new world that is completely alien to her.

“I used to be fun!” she yells, but then scowls and points to the middle of her chest. “No, I still am fun!”

She plants her hands on her hips for a second to catch her breath from all the yelling. I think she’s stopped, but then she starts again. “I’m sure you think I’m weak and fragile, and you tread on eggshells around me.”

“You know I don’t think that,” I express calmly. “I want to give you the time and space to grow yourself, not through me or anyone else. But you are far from weak, Ava.”

We stay silent for a few moments. I fear I’ve upset her, but when she starts spinning in a circle and laughing to herself, I know that comment has blown over her head.

“Do you remember your friends?” I ask.

“I remember my best friend, Kayleigh. We were like sisters,” she says, clutching her hands over her heart. “I miss her. She was like my family.”

I clear my throat and have a small flashback to the social media post I saw with a comment from a user called Kayleigh. Now she remembers, I know it’s something I’ll need to show her. It’s her choice if she wants to see any friends or family members. I know I cannot keep that from her.

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