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37. Just To Clarify
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Saving Ava 38. Confessions
The room felt electric, alive with unvoiced thoughts and unexpressed feelings. Ava considered his words carefully. Contemplating not just their literal meaning but also the texture of the emotional fabric between them. "Is that something you wanted too?" she ventured, probing into an area that neither had dared to discuss openly before. He hesitated, gathering his thoughts like scattered pieces of a puzzle. "I guess I'll try anything. Once," he said, the last word tinged with both possibility and caution. His declaration held a certain openness. An invitation to chart new territories in the dynamic terrain of their relationship. Ava looked at him, her expression unreadable for a moment. She never had a bisexual boyfriend before. Then, as if making an internal decision, her eyes sparkled with a kind of audacious clarity. "Peyton," she called out loudly, her voice filled with newfound conviction. "Come to the bedroom please!" She knew Peyton would hear her, not just through the walls
Saving Ava 39. You're Right
The room, once sacred for just Ava and Carver, had morphed into a continent of its own, one that included Peyton, both physically and emotionally. The bed, far from being a piece of furniture, had become a terrain of intimate possibilities and social complexities. They were no longer just two people sharing a life experience, but three individuals navigating the nuanced web of human emotions, identity, and relationships. They sat together, not knowing exactly what would come next but deeply aware that they had crossed into new territory from which there was no turning back. The emotional landscape of the room had been turned upside down. With each revealed truth, each subtle glance, they'd transitioned from uncertainty to a state of raw emotional intimacy. Carver was the eye of this emotional storm, feeling his way through thoughts and feelings he couldn't easily put into words. "I don't know if I can share her," Carver finally said, his voice tinged with insecurity as he stumbled o
Saving Ava 40. Emergency
"I need to take this," Carver said, quickly exiting the bedroom. His footsteps led him into the bathroom where he could talk without disturbing anyone. Peyton, always in his role as protector and confidante, instinctively moved to follow Carver but was stopped by a quick, dismissive gesture. "Stay with Ava. I got this," Carver insisted, his eyes unreadable. Peyton returned to the bed, where Ava was pulling her clothes back on. He couldn't help but notice the wet spot on the bed, a tangible reminder of what had transpired just minutes earlier. His mind involuntarily replayed the images from the security camera. At the time, he'd felt a complex blend of guilt and arousal, and now, here he was, in the middle of this evolving dynamic with the objects of his desires. Ava sat down next to him, her body just shy of pressing completely against his. She released a contemplative sigh that seemed to encapsulate all the conflicting emotions swirling within her. "Peyton, I don't know if I can
Saving Ava 41. Just Sleep
His mind had drifted back to Carver's recent departure, an exit charged with a unique kind of emotional gravity. Over the years, they had shared so much—some of it spoken, some unspoken. Peyton understood the defensive walls Carver had constructed around his heart, walls that had often made him an emotional fortress, which Peyton had been more than willing to guard. But as they ventured into emotionally uncharted waters, he wondered about the resilience of those walls. His thoughts were broken by a soft, almost hesitant knock on the door. Before he could answer, the door cracked open and Ava peeked in. Her eyes met his, probing, as if she was searching for something she wasn't certain she'd find. "Hey," she murmured, pushing the door wider and stepping inside. "Mind if I join you? Needed a change of scenery." Caught off guard, Peyton hesitated before turning his gaze away from the screen and rotating his chair to face her. "Of course not. Come on in." Ava moved farther into the ro
Saving Ava 42. Accident?
Inside the hotel room, a utilitarian space devoid of any warmth, Carver paced like a caged animal. Every fiber of the room's beige carpet seemed to rise and dig into his soles with each step he took. The room's glaring artificial light cast harsh shadows, heightening his senses to the point of discomfort. He could almost taste the sterile odor of antiseptic that filled the air, its chemical bite a cruel counterpoint to the chaos of emotions churning inside him.His cell phone, a piece of machinery that felt both like an extension of his arm and a shackle, was held tightly to his ear. The phone had become a relentless conduit for the demands and fears of the outside world. Its screen littered with missed calls, voicemails, and a cascade of urgent text messages.His conversation with the police was especially taxing. The officers, whether on the line or in his face, had a disconcerting way of being both there and not there."We're looking into all possibilities, Mr. Troy," one officer r
Saving Ava 43. We're Coming
Carver dropped the phone on the hotel bed, the weight of all the conversations he had had suddenly caught up with him. The sterile environment around him, which had seemed alien and hostile since he walked in, seemed to close in. He glanced at his reflection in the hotel room's mirror, barely recognizing the man staring back at him. Dark circles framed his bloodshot eyes, his skin was sallow, and his clothes looked as defeated as he felt.In that moment, the weight of his loneliness overcame him. The idea of battling this calamity alone, alongside police investigations and media scrutiny, felt like drowning. He picked up his phone again, found Ava and Peyton's contact, and initiated a video call. The ringtone seemed to reverberate in the air, each tone amplifying his sense of urgency.As the call connected and their faces popped up on the screen, he found himself momentarily choked up. "I just needed to see your faces," Carver blurted out, his voice tinged with an emotion he hadn't pl
Saving Ava 44. I Needed You Here
The fleeting solace he'd found in his video chat with Ava and Peyton began to evaporate as the heavy fog of early morning settled around him. It was as if darkness itself seeped into his thoughts. Questions without obvious answers ate at him, like relentless waves eroding a cliff side. Was he somehow at fault for what happened? Could he have prevented it? Who would do something like this? The weight of the tragedy rested on his shoulders. A weight he couldn't shake off. He pondered the police's intimations. That the incident might not have been an accident. The mere thought seeded doubts about his own integrity and the business he'd built. It was a bruising realization; the sum of his self-worth showed cracks he never knew existed. His empire, his business, his accomplishments, did they all lead to this tragic moment? It was a dark endless corridor, one he felt increasingly trapped in. Each potential exit leading to another hallway of grim speculation and self-condemnation. It reall
Saving Ava 45. Wrap It Up
Respite in the makeshift office was fleeting, barely two hours of shallow, uneasy sleep. Carver had just drifted off into a fleeting moment of oblivion when a sharp knock at the door pulled him back to reality. He rose from the mattress with heavy limbs, fatigue wrapping around him like a heavy coat. Ava and Peyton stirred as well, looking up at him with sleepy eyes. "Police are wrappin' it up," Vincent reported when Carver swung the door open, the puffy bags under his eyes betraying his level of exhaustion. "We can reopen the hotel now sir." Back in the room, Peyton weighed in. "Why not keep it closed for a bit longer? Seems right, considering what happened to those people." Carver took a deep breath. "No, we’re going to shut down the entire building. At least for a month. We need to dissect every inch of what happened here, get to the root cause of it all." He ran his hand through his already messy hair. He turned back to Vincent. “Take the month off, fully paid, including regula
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Saving Ava 91. Control Rehab
Carver's laptop dinged, signaling a new email. He quickly opened it and started typing, his fingers flying across the keyboard. He was excited about what he was doing and that much was clear.Peyton was still sprawled out on their bed, unaware of the tension between Ava and Carver. The flicker of the camera’s light while she showered had rattled Ava, and Carver’s nonchalant dismissal... claiming it wasn’t him...had done little to comfort her.“Carver,” Ava said, sharper than intended. “I know I saw it. Why would the camera light be on if not for someone watching?”He didn’t look up immediately, focusing on the screen as he tapped away on the keys. “I told you, Ava, it wasn’t me. Maybe it’s a malfunction.”“A malfunction,” she echoed, skepticism threading through her tone. “How convenient. As you are sitting over there on the only laptop in the apartment with access to the feeds.”He finally looked at her, his dark eyes flashing with irritation. “There’s nothing to worry about.”“Then
Saving Ava 90. Peek
The journey back to the apartment was a testament to Carver's deteriorated state. His steps were unsteady, his body weak and battered. Peyton, with a firm arm wrapped around him, provided the support he desperately needed, practically carrying him the last few steps.Upon reaching the bed, Carver, exhausted beyond measure, collapsed face-first onto it. He made a feeble attempt to pull off his shirt, his arms reaching behind his head in a strained effort, but his energy was spent. Ava quickly assisted him, gently pulling the shirt over his head. Observing Carver's condition, Peyton declared, "I think it's time for another IV." He began preparing the medication, his movements efficient but careful.Ava stayed close to Carver, her fingers lightly tracing circles on his back. The sight of his injuries – the bruises, lash marks, and burns that covered his back, shoulders, and arms – was heart-wrenching. Each mark a painful reminder of what he had endured.Peyton, ready with the IV, gently
Saving Ava 89. New
After finishing the omelets, Peyton handed Carver a couple of pills, which he took without protest. They all moved into the living room, with Carver walking with difficulty. Ava, ever attentive, wrapped a blanket around him and helped him settle on the couch. Peyton, needing a moment to gather his thoughts, turned on the TV and sat in a chair, his mind still racing with the revelations and the situation at hand. Peyton, looking intently at Carver, broke the silence. "Okay, is there anything else you want to admit? Get it out right now, so I can start to get over this agitation," he said through gritted teeth. Carver paused, weighing his words carefully. "I... I changed my contract at Esmerelda's," he finally admitted, his voice low and filled with a sense of defeat and embarrassment. Peyton sat up straighter, his attention sharpened. "How exactly did you change it?" he asked, a hint of worry creeping into his tone. "I added intimate encounters," Carver confessed, avoiding Peyton'
Saving Ava 88
As they settled Carver in the bed, Ava began the task of undressing him. His jeans, the same pair he had been wearing when he first arrived at Esmerelda's over a week ago, were tattered and stained with blood. Carefully, she helped him into a pair of pajama pants and one of his T-shirts. It became apparent that Carver had lost a significant amount of weight; the shirt, which would have once fit him snugly, now hung loosely on his frame.“When was the last time you ate?” Ava asked gently, her concern evident in her tone.Carver’s response was faint, “I don’t even know.”Peyton, sensing the immediate need, headed into the kitchen to make soup, considering it the most appropriate and easy-to-digest food for Carver in his current state.While Peyton was away, Carver, with a sudden surge of energy, rolled over and pulled Ava into a tight embrace. As she held him, Ava realized he was burning up with fever. “You’re so hot,” she whispered, her worry growing.Peyton returned with the soup, and
Saving Ava 87
Carver's fever worsened, a clear sign that his body was struggling to cope with the injuries. The infections from the wounds were not properly treated, adding to his physical distress. His once muscular and resilient body was now a canvas of suffering, each mark a story of his descent into despair.Esmerelda, witnessing his decline, realized that Carver was on a path to self-destruction. His disregard for his physical well-being was alarming, but it was his mental state that worried her the most. He had become a shell of the man he once was, driven by a need to punish himself that was consuming him from the inside.The fever brought with it delirium, and Carver began to lose touch with reality. His moments of lucidity were few and far between, and during these moments, he was haunted by visions of Peyton and Ava. In his fevered state, he would sometimes speak to them, apologizing, pleading, and expressing his love and regret.As Esmerelda watched Carver hanging from the rack, his body
Saving Ava 86
Esmerelda's sharp rapping on the truck window jolted Carver awake. Blinking against the sunlight streaming through the glass, he saw her standing outside, her appearance strikingly different in the daylight. Gone was the dominatrix persona, replaced now by a more business-like demeanor."I can't have my patrons sleeping in their trucks out front, Carver," Esmerelda stated, her tone a mix of annoyance and concern.Carver, still disoriented from sleep, responded, “Well, I own the fucking building, give me a room.”Esmerelda paused, considering his request, before nodding in agreement. “Okay, fine,” she conceded. She led him inside the building, guiding him to her personal apartment. The space was unlike the rest of Esmerelda’s establishment; it was more reflective of her day-to-day life, less about her professional role.She pointed to the couch. “You can sleep there,” she said, her voice softer now, a hint of empathy creeping through.Exhausted, Carver collapsed onto the couch, his bod
Saving Ava 85
As Carver unbuttoned his shirt, the receptionist silently entered the room behind him. Observing the scene sternly, Esmerelda gave a slight nod to the receptionist. In response, the receptionist sharply smacked her clipboard against Carver’s bare back, chastising him for prematurely disrobing. "No one told you to do that," she reprimanded. Carver, startled, slowly rebuttoned his shirt, his gaze never leaving Esmerelda. He was well aware of the rule against making direct eye contact in such circumstances, yet he could not look away, a silent rebellion against the order of things. A quiet plea for more pain. Esmerelda informed the receptionist that Carver had chosen the 'unlimited' path for tonight's session. The receptionist's smile turned wicked at the revelation. Carver had never before given them such control, and the anticipation of what they could do with this newfound power was evident in her expression. Led through the new halls of Esmerelda's, Carver couldn’t help but notic
Saving Ava 84
Ava and Peyton navigated a tumultuous sea of emotions in the safe confines of Peyton's apartment. Each day of the week felt like an eternity, filled with moments of fragile calm, abruptly shattered by waves of distress and grief. Ava, usually so composed and strong, grappled with an overwhelming sense of loss and confusion. Her emotions swung like a pendulum, from moments of numbness to intense bouts of sorrow.During one particularly harrowing evening, Ava curled up on the couch, a blanket wrapped tightly around her. Her face, usually full of life and warmth, was marred by the shadow of heartache. "I just feel so lost, Peyton," she whispered, her voice cracking under the weight of her emotions. "Like a part of me is missing, and I don’t know how to get it back."Peyton, sitting beside her, wrapped his arm around her quivering shoulders. His heart ached at the sight of her pain. "I know, Ava. It’s hard, it’s really hard," he said, his voice a mixture of empathy and determination. "But
Saving Ava 83
"I'm not sure I want there to be an 'us' anymore, Peyton." The sentence hung in the air, heavy with implications and sorrow.Peyton's breath hitched, his heart racing with panic. He gently held Ava back, searching her face for clarity, for confirmation of the fear that now gripped him. "Ava?" he asked desperately.Ava, seeing the alarm in his eyes, hurried to clarify. Her words rushed and filled with emotion. "No, no, not us. I want us, Peyton... I'm just not sure I want 'us' to include him anymore." Her eyes, red and swollen from crying, bore into his, conveying a steadfast love for Peyton, even amid the heartbreak.Peyton was speechless, the complexity of their entwined lives with Carver suddenly unraveling before him. He nodded silently. Pulling Ava back into his embrace, Peyton held her close, a silent oath to be her support and anchor in their lives raging seas. They lay together, wrapped in each other's arms, finding solace in their shared grief. Ava's sobs slowly subsided, but
