An hour later, I’m staring at the picture Ava and I took at the club earlier that night. Why did I let Kennedy rile me up? Why did I say that? Ava would be here with me right now. My thoughts are interrupted by my phone ringing and the name Tucker Remington blaring across my screen.
“Hey T—”
“Jackson, where the fuck is my sister?”
“What?”
“Don’t what me, Jackson,” he growls, and I know this voice. This is Tucker’s murderous voice. I’d heard it before, but it’s never been directed at me. “I asked you to do ONE thing for me, watch out for Ava in New York. Please explain to me why she’s calling me in the middle of the night in HYSTERICS.”
Hysterics? Where is she? What happened to her? Why didn’t Kennedy make sure she made it home okay? Fuck. Maybe Kennedy did something to her. I’ll kill him with my bare hands. “Tucker, when I left Ava she was fine; she was with her friends.”
“Why did you leave at all? Ava said you guys were meeting up tonight?”
Because I royally fucked up. “Tucker, I’m not her babysitter. I went home.”
“Did anyone seem off to you? Any of her friends?”
I sit up fully, suddenly very uneasy as to why my best friend was calling me in the first place. “What do you mean? And where is Ava now?”
“Hell, if I should know, somewhere in Brooklyn.” Brooklyn? Jesus it’ll take me at least thirty minutes to get there. I pull my coat on over my sweatshirt and grab the closest pair of shoes before heading out of my apartment.
“I’m heading out now. Why is she upset? Did she say why?”
“No, she just wouldn’t stop crying and kept saying that everyone is so mad at her. Including you! I asked her why she didn’t call you, and she said she didn’t want to because you’re mad at her?”
“I’m not mad at her, Tucker. She was pretty drunk when I left, that’s probably all it is.” I feel so guilty lying to Tucker, but what exactly was I supposed to say? “Did she tell you where exactly she was?”
“I made her drop me a pin. I’m sending it to you. Go get my goddamn sister, Jackson, and if anything happens to her, so help me God, I will never forgive you.”
“Why didn’t you call me?” I yell into the phone as we are weaving through traffic. I called her three times before she finally answered, telling me politely to fuck off. I proceeded to tell her to stop being so fucking stubborn and not to move that pretty little ass from that spot. I heard her humph through the phone, but at least she didn’t hang up.
“Stop yelling! Why would I call you? We are not friends.” She sounds angry, but I can hear the tears in her voice.
The words are like a stab to my heart. “I would still come to get you, Ava.”
“I don’t need your help.”
“Then why did you call Tucker in hysterics?”
“He texted me back after the picture I sent, and I just lost it. So, I called him. He’s my big brother and my best friend, Jackson. But, I asked him not to call you.”
“And you thought he’d listen? What the fuck are you doing in Brooklyn?” I pull the phone away from my ear. “Can’t you go any faster?” I bark at the taxi driver. Ava is silent, and I already know what she’s going to say. “Ava,” I say sternly.
“Yes?” I hear the timidity in her voice.
“Answer me, Ava.”
She sighs. “It’s where Kennedy lives.”
“You went home with that asshole?!” I yell.
“I…”
“Did you fuck him?” I growl, unable to keep the anger at bay as I think about my Ava underneath that douchebag.
“I don’t think that’s any of your business.”
“Don’t test me, Ava. Answer me right now.”
“Or what? God! Don’t even bother coming, I don’t want to see you.”
Click.
“Fuck!” I roar before trying to call her back. I let out a breath as I hear her voicemail start.
Twenty minutes later, I’m pulling up to the bar where Ava’s pin sent me. From the window, I see her sitting outside of the entrance on a bench, and I’m immediately out of the car before we’ve even completely slowed.
I drop to my knees in front of her as I’m worried that something’s wrong. “Ava. Look at me.” My hand finds her face, and she looks up.
“You came?” Her eyes are hazy, and I wonder if all the alcohol is catching up with her finally.
“Of course, I did. Come on, let’s go.”
She stands up, and I guide her toward the car when she stops walking. “I didn’t sleep with him.” She shakes her head, and I can’t help the feeling of relief that flows through me. “After you left, he asked if I wanted to go grab some food and talk.” She shrugs sadly. “I’m a sucker for pizza. Anyway, I didn’t realize we were going to his apartment.” I stiffen, wondering where she’s going with this story.
“Did he hurt you?” My hands find her cheeks as I stare at her perfect face.
“No,” she says sadly. “Just my feelings.” She bites her lip, and under normal circumstances it would turn me on, but the fact she’s doing it to stop the tears from falling is like a bucket of ice water on my dick.
“Come on,” I tell her as I help her into the car. I try to pull her into my lap, but she puts a hand up, stopping me from touching her further. I sigh. “What happened?”
“Why did you tell him we were sleeping together?”
I let out a deep sigh. “I… He was bragging about taking you home tonight, and I don’t know, Ava. I snapped.”
“Why do you care? You knew I was thinking about it.”
“I guess I didn’t realize you still were…,” I trail off. Ava wasn’t going to wait for you forever.
She shrugs. “I told you I wanted to lose my virginity, and you didn’t seem all too interested in making it happen anymore.”
“Trust me, Ava, I am very interested.”
“But…what about Tucker? I don’t want you to do something… I don’t want to jeopardize your friendship.”
“You aren’t doing anything, Ava. This isn’t on you.”
She contorts her mouth slightly. “I won’t tell him.”
“I know.” Her words about him hurting her feelings run through my head. “Tell me what Kennedy did.”
“He just…made it clear what he wanted, and I thought I wanted it too. But…it wasn’t. I want this asshole I grew up with to be my first.” She rolls her eyes. “He wasn’t too interested in my company after I told him we weren’t going there.”
“So, he just kicked you out?”
“No, I left. I was walking toward the main street to hail a cab when I called Tucker.”
“You know how I feel about you out late by yourself, and you’ve been drinking! Why do you insist on putting me in an early grave?”
She blanches. “I’m sorry.” She moves closer to me and gives me a look.
“Don’t look at me like that, Ava. I’m mad at you.”
“Don’t be mad,” she pouts.
I narrow my eyes at her and change the subject, knowing that will be the only thing to calm me down.
“Why me, anyway? What is it about me?” I’ve been trying to figure out for days what was so special about me in Ava’s eyes.
“Because I trust you, and I’ve known you forever. Besides, the preteen Ava Remington would kill me if I didn’t try.” She giggles, and I look at her curiously. “I had the biggest crush on you, Jackson.” She shakes her head, then rests it on my shoulder.