Page 89 of Pretty Relentless

Gavin:Yes, I can send you the screenshots Max sent me. Hold on.

His message is proceeded by four snapshots of an online post from Anonymous.

Gavin:How are you? What do you need?

Before I click on the images, I fire back a response.

Me:I’m okay, and I don’t really know yet. I’m going to call the superintendent and see what he thinks.

Gavin:I’m here, Ava. Please don’t shut me out. We’re in this together.

I smile at his reply, warmth washing over me. He truly is one of the good ones, and I’m dang lucky to have him in my corner.

Me:I know, and I appreciate that so much. Give me just a little time.

Gavin:Take all the time you need, but not too much. I miss you when you’re not here.

Me:I miss you too.

Gavin:Don’t even think about pushing me away, all right? I won’t go. You jump, I jump. Or whatever it was Leonardo DiCaprio said inTitanic.

I chuckle at his comment, smiling down at the screen. Even when it feels like everything is crashing down around me, he knows how to bring a smile to my face.

Gavin:You smiled, I know it. I felt it. Every time you smile, it’s like being bathed by the sun. It’s the best feeling.

Even though I blush, his comment hits its intended target, and my heart skips a beat.

Me:I did smile. Thank you for that. I needed it.

Gavin:I’ve got lots more ammunition in my arsenal, beautiful. Come over when you’re ready, and I’ll make you smile all night long…amongst other things.

Me:I promise, when I’m ready, I’ll be there.

Gavin:My door is always open, beautiful, but don’t take too long. My bed is cold when you’re not there.

I don’t reply, mostly because I’m not sure what to say. He’s not wrong. I hate sleeping alone, even though I do it more nights than I have with him. Those nights we’ve been together are just…special. That’s the only way to describe them. And there haven’t been too many on account that he has his daughter every other week, but we steal a lot of time together on those off weeks, especially Friday and Saturday nights.

With a deep sigh, I click on the images he sent. The first thing I do is read the headline for the photos.

Guess who was caught together on Sunday? Gavin Pierson and Ava Rutledge were busted sneaking into Logan Johnson’s cabin. Clearly this teacher has problems and shouldn’t be around kids. First, promoting underaged drinking, and now sleeping with a student’s father? Our kids deserve better than this.

A massive lump forms in my throat, making it hard to breathe, but I force myself to keep going. Clicking on the images, I scrollso I can get a better look at the screenshots. The first three pictures are of us kissing. If I stand back and objectively look at them, all I see is a man and woman sharing an intimate moment. It’s not scandalous. There’re no ulterior motives. Just two people in love.

In love.

Guilt slams me in the chest. When I close my eyes, I hear his words.

I’ll be right beside you, Ava, because that’s what you do when you love someone.

He told me he loved me, and I didn’t acknowledge it. I didn’t say it back, even though I feel the same way. I wasoverwhelmed by everything happening around me, and I didn’t take the time to listen to his words. To reciprocate them. To tell him how madly in love with him I am, and how much I want to make this work between us.

But there will be time for that. First chance I get, I’ll figure out the perfect way to say the words to him.

The fourth picture is of us smiling at each other, holding hands as we enter Logan’s cabin. I remember hanging out in there for about an hour, watching him work, before I ran out to my vehicle and got the container of leftover food. We ate and chatted until the yawns started and I struggled to keep my eyes open. It had been a long day. Instead of going back to either my or his house, I ended up alone and promptly fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

That night, despite being about twenty-four hours ago, suddenly feels like a lifetime ago.

At the bottom of the fourth photo, I’m able to see some of the comments. The first two are complimentary, stating that it’s no one’s business who I date and finding the anonymous post tacky. But the third one definitely isn’t in my favor.

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