Chapter 108

Another note

Ava

I haven’t been able to get the freaking note out of my head. It’s all I think about.

I wanted to believe that it was nothing but a prank, but I’m not so sure. Not when I get a bad

feeling every time I read it.

I’ve thought about reporting, but I don’t want to make a big deal out of it. It was just one note. What

if Cal was right and it turned out that it was just a stupid prank?

My phone rings, making me jump. I put the mop down and pick it up. When I see Rowan’s name

flashing, I almost hang up, but I don’t.

“Hello.” I force my voice to sound emotionless.

“Hey, how are you?” he asks, sounding a bit unsure.

I swear, I’ll never get used to this version of Rowan. It was just so unlike him. It’s like he woke up

one day and was a different person. If he has truly changed, then it’s going to take some time to

get used to him.

“Did you need anything?”

“Yeah. I just want to let you know that I’ll be going on a business trip for a few days,” he informs

me, which makes me a bit confused.

“Oh, okay, so you wanted me to let Noah know?”

Noah was at school. He will be disappointed since he doesn’t like Rowan going on trips, but he’ll

understand nonetheless.

He pauses before answering. “He already knows, but I wanted you to know too.”

I’m a bit stunned. Rowan never used to tell me when he went on business trips. He would leave in

the morning and not come back. It’s as I set aside food for him that Noah would let me know that

Rowan wasn’t coming back. He used to tell our son, but not me.

It was disrespectful. He never cared about that, though. He knew that it hurt me every time he did

it, and that’s why he continued doing it.

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“I really don’t see how that’s any of my business, Rowan I’m not your wife or your keeper “I try to

keep the snappy tone away, but it’s hard.

Nowadays, he does something nice, and it just reminds me of the opposite action he took before.

It’s hard to forget or move past the memories that are burned in my brain.

“I know, but I thought it was a simple courtesy to let you know,” he says, slowly as if he were dealing with

an unpredictable, rabid animal.

Against my better judgment, I snorted. “Courtesy? You sure lacked it when we were married, so I

don’t see the need of it now.”

We stay quiet after that for a while before I speak up again.

“You know what, It doesn’t matter because I don’t want to fight with you.”

He sighs. “Neither do I,” he pauses. “Look, my jet is ready, but when I get back, we need to talk.

There is something I have to tell you; it’s important.”

I immediately get curious. “Can’t you tell me now?”

“No. It’s something that I need to tell you face–to–face”

One thing about me is that I hate waiting. When you tell me something like that, then you make

me wait before you tell me what you want to say, it usually wreaks havoc inside me. I’ll spend the

entire duration overthinking and coming up with scenarios that may not be true.

“Can’t you just tell me? I hate waiting.

“I know, but this will have to wait.” He pauses, and I hear other voices on his end. “I have to go.

Take care; we’ll talk when I get back.”

Before I can say anything more, the line goes dead. I groan in frustration. Damn it. What the hell

does he want to talk about?

“Ava,” the shout, brings me out of my musing.

I sigh in defeat. Now I was going to be in a weird state until Rowan tells me what he wanted us to

talk about.

“In the kitchen,” I shout back.

I hear his footsteps before he walks into the kitchen. I don’t know if it’s just me, but Cal looks out

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“What is it? You’re yelling my name like it’s the end of the world.“I tell him once I realize he still

hasn’t said a word.

His eyes were wide as if he just discovered something huge. I stare at him. He has a sweat shirt and

sweat pants. At first I’m confused why he wasn’t at work, but then I remember that today is

day off.

“Cal?” I call

He shakes his head. “Oh sorry. I don’t know if this is too soon, but I wanted to ask you something”

First Rowan wanted to talk about something, and now Cal wants to ask me something. With how

he was fidgeting, I just knew that I probably wouldn’t like what he said.

“Okay, go ahead.”

He’s quiet for a while before he takes a deep breath.

“I want to ask you out on a date.” 5

“What?” I stammer, staring at him wide–eyed.

Did I hear him right? It can’t be. There is just no way he would ask me that. We were just friends.

“Will you go out with me on a date?” He asks, this time with his a claerer voice. “I know it’s

probably too early, but I think this is for the best. We could help each other get over our past

hurts. It would be easy since we understand each other.”

I continue staring at him. My mind refuses to function. Surely he could see that his idea was

absurd, and I’m not thinking this to be mean or anything. He was basically suggesting that we

should be each other’s rebound. Rebounds never really end well.

“Say something, please, Ava,” he begs once he realizes that I haven’t spoken a word.

I look to the floor before looking at him as I try to find a suitable and reasonable answer that won’t

hurt him.

“You’re a really great man, Calvin and any woman would be lucky to date you…” I begin.

“But?” he prompts.

“But I don’t think this is a great idea.” I sigh. “First of all, we’ve both come out of situations that

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isady to date The one and only time I did after my diveter From Rowan, I ended up pregnant by #

man who was playing me while he tried to have me killed Lastly, although you’re angry with

Emma, I can tell that you still love her 1 fell in love with a man who loved Emma, and Rowan

nearly dezuoyed me in the end I’m not about to make that mistake again”

He deflates and stays quiet. I feel bad for bursting his bubble, but getting involved with him while he was

still in love with Emma was bound to end in disaster. I need peace. What I don’t need is

falling for yet another man who is in love with Emma.

“You’re right. I’m sorry,” he says quietly before he turns and leaves through the backdoor.

“Calvin,” I call him, but he doesn’t answer.

I follow him only to find he has already crossed the threshold to his side of the yard. I sigh and get back

in the house, just as my doorbell rings.

I get out of the kitchen and move to the hallway, all the while feeling a sense of de ja vu.

When I open the door, there is no one there. Just another not.

I pick it up and open it. It was smeared in what I think is blood, but the words were clear.

TIME IS TICKING AVA. HAVE YOU SAID GOODBYE TO YOUR LOVED ONES?

I drop the note in horror and look at it, willing it to disappear. I was now sure that this wasn’t a prank.

Someone was targeting me again; the only question is who and why.