บททั้งหมดของ Too Young To Want Him: บทที่ 51 - บทที่ 60

Marcus startled into a sharp wakefulness, and his heart throbbed like a race-horse. The room was dark and silent, yet his mind was noisy and full of images that he would have liked to be erased. Slowly, he sat up and pressed his hands over his face, endeavouring to get himself steady.He had dreamed of Ava.Not the Ava that the world saw now, the silent brooding girl who never made eye contact with him but the Ava of that night. The manner in which she had laughed so softly, the manner in which her voice had shaken when she called his name, and the manner in which there had been a charged air between them, which could not be overlooked. No one had uttered anything in the dream, but everything was implied. It was still possible to touch the warmth of her hand in his, the intimacy that had seemed bad and yet unquestionably true.Marcus twisted his eyes. "Stop," he muttered to himself.The dream was not disposed to die away. It was playing out in fragmentary bits, fragments sewn with the

Riley walked in on Ava sitting on the edge of her bed, staring at the wall as though she had been sitting there for hours. The room was still, but the stillness was oppressive and maleficent. Ava did not move as Riley knocked and entered the room. Her shoulders were stiff, and her hands were shrunk up in her lap."Ava," Riley said gently. "You didn't answer my messages."Ava swallowed, and her eyes were forward. "I didn't feel like talking."Riley shut the door behind her and came nearer. "That's never a good sign."Ava exhaled a little tremulous breath. "I'm fine."Riley was sitting next to her in the bed. "No, you're not."That made Ava turn. She had red eyes, and her face was tight and pained Riley in the chest."What happened?" Riley asked softly.Ava stalled and then stated, “Mark requested a paternity test.”Riley froze. "What?"“Oh, he wants one when the baby is born, I kept thinking,” Ava said, flatly. "I agreed."Riley stared at her. "You agreed just like that?""Yes."Riley s

The rehearsal of the wedding was going on just before sunset, as the hall was loaded with gentle illumination and anxiousness. Chairs were neatly drawn in rows, and on the aisle, there were flowers and soft music in the background. Everything appeared quiet, and the atmosphere of the room was dense to the touch.Ava leaned forward towards the front and pressed her hands over her dress repeatedly. Her heart was pounding too hard, and her mouth was parched. She was attempting to concentrate on her breathing, and her thoughts were running away, picturing the actual wedding day and all the things that could go amiss.Mark was straight and serious, standing beside her. He appeared composed, but Ava was able to feel that something was amiss. He was subdued within himself the whole evening.Patricia was strolling back and forth with harsh attention to detail. “Everybody has to listen,” she said. It is not a piece of luck. This is preparation."“Yes, Patricia,” the marriage planner answered p

The house was not as noisy as normal that night, and that sort of silence made every small noise sound too loud. Marcus was just drying his hands in the kitchen sink when he sensed somebody staring at him. He turned back and realised Elena stood just by the door, with her arms folded in over a cross. Her face was serene, and yet her eyes keen and stern.Saying that, Marcus dried his hands on a towel. "What's wrong?""We need to talk," she replied. Her tone was smooth, though something heavy followed.Marcus nodded. "Okay. About what?"Elena did not reply immediately. She walked into the kitchen to a full stop and banged the door behind her, the slight clicking noise making more noise than it ought to have. Marcus was having a weirdly crawling spine.“Sit,” Elena said, pointing to the chair at the table.Marcus muttered something but sat up. “You are making it serious.”It is, yes, it is, Elena said, and drew aside the chair opposite him and sat down. She bent forward a little, with he

Morning arrived too quickly.Ava awoke before anybody called her name, before the sun was out. She lost a while and did not know where she was or why her chest was so tight. Then it all came in a flash, and it was sore.Today is the wedding.Slowly, she raised herself in bed, and her hand reflexively reached to her stomach. The baby was moving, with no idea of what storm there was to be. Ava folded her lips and inhaled through her nostrils in an attempt to calm down."It's just a day," she whispered. "Just get through the day."Before she could recline, she was shaken by a knock at the door."Ava?" The voice of Patricia was harsh and merry. "You're awake, good. The stylist will be here soon."“I will be ready,” Ava said, although the voice came out weak.Patricia had already put on her clothes, and she had her hair to perfection, and her face flushed with excitement. She glanced around approbationately. "This is it," she said proudly. "Everything is set. No delays, no drama."Ava nodde