Page 93 of The Professor's Possession (Crystal River Billionaire Brothers)

I really want to help her.

“I just found out something,” she says. “It’s silly to get upset about the whole thing. I don’t even know why I’m crying about it.”

“What is it?”

She waves down at her phone in between her legs.

“It’s my dad,” she whispers. “He just called me. He’s told me that he’s in debt. Lots and lots of debt.”

“Oh. Wow. How serious?”

“It’s not good. It’sreallynot good.”

“Is he able to make a plan with his bank?” I ask her. “What can he do about it? There must be a way to sort this out.”

“He didn’t say much,” Ava replies. “He didn’t share many details, but he did say he owes it to some bad guys. Not a bank at all.Gangsters.”

My heart drops. A mafia thing? This really sounds serious.

“I’m sorry, Ava.”

“The worst thing is,” she says, “is that there is nothing I can do. I would do something –anything– to help Dad. But I can’t. I really can’t do shit. I can only sit here and cry like a sad, pathetic loser.”

I shake my head.

“I really don’t know what to say, Ava. But one thing I know is that you’re a good daughter. You’re no loser. I bet you’re going to be so supportive. There must be a way to fix this.”

She sighs. “I honestly don’t know. He’s so upset and panicked. I’ve tried to think of something, but my mind goes blank. It’s so much. Like actual freakinggangsters? That is insane. It doesn’t feel real, like it’s a prank or something. It feels like everything is going to shit.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“I would be even better if I could do something about it,” Ava continues, wiping her tears. “I would go to the ends of the earth for Dad.”

She starts to cry again.

I bring her in for a hug, and we don’t let go for a very long time.

43

OLIVIA

I makedinner for Ava and make sure she’s okay after her breakdown, monitoring her covertly as I mix her pasta. Talking to her as she eats. She has another phone call with her dad after she’s finished the meal. He reconfirms everything to her about his situation. He, somehow, owes a lot of money because of a gambling addiction he’s never disclosed to his daughter. It must be so devastating for Ava. I hear her throwing out half-baked solutions to him that might help the situation, but ultimately there seems to be nothing she or her father can do to get him out of this mess.

“Thank you for looking after me,” she says to me after she hangs up on her dad as I wash up.

“Anything for you, Ava,” I reply. It’s always hard to judge how to handle these kinds of situations with friends. I want her to know I’m here for her, but I also don’t want to smother her with overburdening questions and endless meaningless reassurances, even if I am so curious as to what’s happened.

“I think I’m going to call Luke,” she says. “Maybe just being with him will make things seem a bit better, even for just a bit.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” I reply. “It’ll give you time to go over things. You’ll come up with a solution, Ava. You’re so bright.”

“I dunno...”

It’s strange seeing doubt creep into my friend. This is so unlike her.

“You’re amazing, Ava. I mean it. You will figure something out.”

“I hope so, Olivia,” she says. “I really hope so.”

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