Page 49 of Rough Ride with the Grumpy Cowboy
What did her mother do to her that she’s in such a state just by running into her? As I watch her sleep, I vow to get to the bottom of this as soon as she’s awake and calm enough to hold a conversation.
19
AVA
I sit up on the bed with a start, my heart racing at a thousand miles an hour. The room I’m in is pitch black, skyrocketing my anxiety. I start hyperventilating, a scream bubbling from the pit of my stomach before I can stop myself.
A door opens, the room is flooded with light as Zane materializes in nothing but a towel, dripping water everywhere. It’s almost comical, but I’m too panicked to laugh.
“Ava, it’s okay. You’re in my room. You’re safe—calm down,” he expresses with composure, taking tentative steps toward me.
The screams die down, but my racing heart does not. He takes a seat on the edge of the bed, and for some reason I find myselfcrawling onto his lap and crying on his shoulder. He wraps his arms around me, hugging me tight as he whispers reassuring words in my ear.
Maybe Ella was onto something—the reason I seek Zane out when I’m at my most vulnerable is because deep down I still have feelings for him and I know that I’m safe with him. That’s food for thought when I’m in a much better mental state.
“I’m sorry,” I apologize, pulling away once I’ve calmed down a bit, wiping my tears and snot away with the back of my hand.
“What did we say about that word?” he glares at me.
“S—“
He shakes his head and takes over, wiping my tears away with his thumbs. “What am I going to do with you, Miss Diva?”
I bow my head in shame, but that only brings me in direct view of his abs and the tent in his towel, so I look back up, deciding that his face is the safer option.
“I’m sorry for interrupting your shower.”
“It’s okay. I was already done anyway.”
“How long have I been out?” I ask, trying to recall what happened to no avail.
My mind is blank from the moment I took off after being accosted by my mother. I have no idea where I ended up afterthat, who found me, or why I’m in Zane’s bed, wearing his clothes. He must have changed me, which should cause me to panic, but it’s not like he hasn’t seen me naked before.
“All day. It’s just after six,” he replies.
My jaw drops at his response, and I check the alarm clock on the bedside table just to be sure. How could I have slept all day? How could I not though? Running into my mother after not seeing or talking to her for so long sent me into shock. And now I’ve dragged the Morgans into my mess, including Zane.
“How did I end up here?” I ask him, afraid of the answer.
“When you took off, Ella called Jace, so we came to help her look for you. She then called Lou, who sent us a pin of your location. I found you in an alley, missing one shoe, panicked and crying, so I picked you up and brought you here,” he explains.
“Lou knows?!”
Zane nods, making me want to go back to sleep and never wake up. I’m going to be in so much trouble with her.
“She’s very worried. Make sure to call her.”
I will call her—I don’t have much of a choice—but I’m not ready for the scolding I’ll get.
“Thank you for coming to get me,” I appreciate him.
“Don’t mention it.”
He gazes at me curiously, looking like he has lots of questions, which is understandable, but he doesn’t voice any of them.
“Why don’t you call Lou and take a shower while I find us some food? We’ll talk more over dinner,” he suggests.
I nod in agreement. “Okay.”
