Chapter 0227 âWhat is it? Youâre yelling my name like itâs the end of the world,â I tell him once I realize he still hasnât 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 Iâm confused why he wasnât at work, but then I remember that today is day off.
âCal?â I call 1 He shakes his head. âOh sorry. I donât know if this is too soon, but I wanted to ask you somethingâ
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 wouldnât like what he said.
âOkay.go ahead.â
Heâs quiet for a while before he takes a deep breath.
âI want to ask you out on a date.â 1 âWhat?â I stammer, staring at him wideâeyed.
Did I hear him right? It canât be. There is just no way he would ask me that. We were just friends.
âWill you go out with me on a date?â He asks, this time with his a claerer voice. âI know itâs 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.â
Î I continue staring at him. My mind refuses to function. Surely he could see that his idea was absurd, and Iâm not thinking this to be mean or anything. He was basically suggesting that we should be each otherâs rebound. Rebounds never really end well. 2 âSay something, please, Ava,â he begs once he realizes that I havenât spoken a word. 1 I look to the floor before looking at him as I try to find a suitable and reasonable answer that wonât hurt him.
âYouâre a really great man, Calvin and any woman would be lucky to date you..â I begin.
âBut?â he prompts.
But I donât think this is a great idea.â I sigh. âFirst of all, weâve both come out of situations that have been really painful, and jumping into a relationship isnât ideal for any of us. Second, Iâm not ready to date. The one and only time I did after my divorce from Rowan, I ended up pregnant hv fell in love with a man who loved Emma, and Rowan nearly destroyed me in the end. Iâm not about to make that mistake again.â a 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 donât need is falling for yet another man who is in love with Emma.
âYouâre right. Iâm sorry,â he says quietly before he turns and leaves through the backdoor.
âCalvin,â I call him, but he doesnât answer.
I follow him only to find he has already crossed the threshold to his side of the yard. I sigh and 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?
get back in I drop the note in horror and look at it, willing it to disappear, I was now sure that this wasnât a prank. Someone was targeting me again, the only question is who and why.