Page 14 of Maid in Heaven

“Y-yeah,” she stuttered. “Let me just check my work sched… ha-ha, just kidding, I’m totally free, like,indefinitely.” Ava felt like a mess, stumbling over her words and joking about being unemployed. She felt hyper-aware of the nervous butterflies—no,raptors—clawing at her stomach.

“Great. Meet you there at one o’clock? I always take Gremlin there after lunch on days I’m off.”

“Gremlin.Cute. I like the name.”

“Great.” Will stood straight and smiled.

Ava weakened at the sight of his perfect teeth. “Y-yeah. See you then.” She turned, tripped on her own feet, and caught herself on an outstretched arm just before she fell.

Will had reflexively grabbed her. “You good?”

“Yeah, I, uh... clumsy feet.” His touch sent a chill up her spine. “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t. I’d like to completely scrub that from my internal harddrive. That’s what I get for drinking martinis right before I hit the gym.”

He stared at her for a moment, trying to decide whether she was serious or not.

“I’m kidding, Will.”

Will looked relieved.

“Stone-cold sober. Just a klutz. Honestly, I’m fine.”

Ava turned away, eyes bulging at Madison across the gym with a look of pure mortification.

Once she was a foot away, she whispered, wondering if she might puke right there in public. She clutched Madison’s hands. “Oh,God, Maddy, what did I justdo? I don’t even remember what Isaid!”

“...And you tripped, you graceful little ballerina.”

“And I tripped!” Ava pinched the bridge of her nose and scrunched her eyes closed.

“It’s fine. He seemed unfazed.” Madison grabbed Ava’s shoulders. “Hey. Bitch. You’re a hottie. Don’t beat yourself up over one little rejection. You’re smart and a hard worker.You’re a catch. Stop acting likepreyand be the fuckinglion.”

“You’re right. I… got this,” Ava repeated softly.

“What the fuck was that? Try again.”

“Igot this.” This time, with more conviction.

“Give it more balls.”

“I… got… this!” Ava growled.

“You’re damnright,you do. Now startactinglike it!”

Ava’s eyes widened into two huge moss-green orbs. “Oh!”

Madison chuckled. “You look like you just gotelectrocuted.”

“Maddy, he didn’t turn me down.”

“What?”

“He didn’t turn me down. We are meeting tomorrow at some park.”

“Alright!” She high-fived Ava and watched Will make his way into the locker room. Madison’s head snapped back comically. “Girl, get on that machine this instant. We gotta get that asstonedso it can getpounded.”

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