Page 33 of Loving Wild

I hear her let out a long sigh before there’s a moment of silence. I give her that, allowing her to process what she’s just been told.

“Good, I’m glad the cops got him,” she finally says. “I hope they lock him up for life. I hope someone in the prison does to him what he’s done to her, except worse.” I watch as she throws a punch in the air, shaking my head with a smile.

“Is she okay though, really?”

“It’s been a shit week, but we’re getting there. It’s why I asked if you could come without Sophie this time. I think it’d just be a bit full-on for Lauren after the week she’s had.”

“That’s fine, I’m cool with that. You should’ve just told me what was going on when you called me.”

“I wanted to tell you in person, and we didn’t know for sure he would be locked up until yesterday, and I didn’t want you worrying he would come back to the house.”

“I’m not a baby, Dad. I want to know these things. You’re my dad, Ishouldknow what’s going on in your life.” Far out! This kid. After a moment’s pause, she asks, “Areyoudoing okay?”

“Not really,” I admit with a shrug. “Like I said, I feel bad for not being there, and then when I saw her lying on the drive . . .”

“How did you know, that she was down there, I mean?”

“I noticed that the truck was still on the drive. Lauren doesn’t have a car, so she was taking my truck. I went down to see what was going on and found her.”

“That’s awful. I’msosorry, for both of you.” She gives my hand another squeeze, and we drive that way in silence for a while.

“Tell me about her,” Ava eventually asks.

I smile as I think of the right words to use to describe Lauren, some of which I’d never use in a conversation with my daughter.

“She’s funny, she’s smart. She loves music, loves to dance, she’s a terrible singer, but that unfortunately doesn’t stop her belting out a song. I think you’re gonna love her, bub, but if you don’t, can you do me a massive favour?”

“Of course.”

“If you don’t like her, if you feel like she’s not someone you want to spend time with, can you just keep it to yourself this weekend . . .”

“Why wouldn’t I like her?”

“I don’t know, but just in case, would you still be nice to her? Just for the weekend. She’s had a really crap week, and I don’t think she’ll be able to handle you not liking her on top of everything else.”

There’s a long pause. I focus on the road and the Friday afternoon traffic, all the while feeling Ava’s eyes blaze a path that starts to burn a hole in the side of my head.

“Dad,” she says quietly.

“Yeah?” I reply without looking at her.

“Do you love her?”

Quickly glancing at my daughter, I nod.

“Yeah. Yeah, I do, bub.”

“Then so will I.”

I don’t know how to respond, so I say nothing.

Chapter 8

Lauren.

Ava’s bedroomlooks like something from a magazine or Pinterest board—which is where I got some of my ideas. After hanging the artwork I’d ordered above her bed, I put the remaining photos of her with her dad, her friend Sophie, with Dani, and with Gabe’s dad around the room, then set up her makeup/homework station. After turning on the lights in the bed frame, and her Hollywood mirror, I close the door.

A million and one thoughts and ideas rush through my mind on how I could have designed the room differently, better, but it’s too late now. Gabe texted me earlier to say he was at the school and would be home in about an hour and a half. That was probably half an hour ago, and I still need to shower.