Page 77 of Maid in Heaven

“Fine.” He hung his head and sighed. “I understand.” Will stood and turned toward the door, stopping before he reached it. “Why wereyouthere, anyway?How did you know where I was?”

“It doesn’t matter now.”

“It matters to me.”

“Madison told me you’d probably be there. I was trying to meet up with you for something.”

“Forsomething?”

“...To finish what we started last night.”

Her eyes portrayed a deep hurt. Will’s shoulders sank.

Her voice cracked. “I think you should go now, Will.”

Will nodded and let himself out without another word. Ava felt tears prick the backs of her eyes. She put her head in her palms and sobbed.

29

No missed calls. Nomissed texts. Nothing.

It had been five days since he’d last spoken to Ava, each feeling like a year in limbo. Will flopped his cell phone back onto the nightstand and rubbedhis face in the dark, replayingthe argument in his head.

He’d never seen Avamad before. She was stubborn, unwilling to listen,andjealous.

And, still, he missed her.

Fiercely.

He rolled onto his side, and a moment later, the tiny screen illuminated the room. He snatched his phone, heart racing.

One newtext message.Hetapped the notification, and it took him to his and Ava’s text log. A new text showed at the bottom:

AVA: You up?

WILL: Yes.

AVA: Can I call you?

WILL: Absofuckinglutely.

Suddenly,his phone chimed. He swallowed hard andanswered.

Silence.

“Ava?”He cleared his throat.

“Hey.”

Will’s heart skipped a beat at her voice. It had only been a short time, but the sound of itmade his stomachflip with excitement.

“I want to trust you.” She paused. “I just need to know I’m not being playedagain.I can’t take another cheater, Will. I can’t do it. Last time, it broke my fucking heart into a million pieces.”

“I would never do that to you, Ava. I care about you. I want to be with you. But that means you need to be able to trust me. Otherwise, this will never work.”

“I believe you.” Ava’s voice seemed quiet and uneasy.

“If you just give me thechance, I will prove it to you.With myactions.”

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