Love Drunk 3.0 (Completed)

Chapter 38

Italy 11 p.m.
Y/n POV –

“Please, don’t feel obligated to keep me company. Go out and drink with the boys.” I tell Ava, who got comfortable next to me in Ethan’s and my bed. She shakes her head no, as she chews down on carrots. Our hotel room reeks of Dolce and Gabbana The One, mixed with garlic from the hummus we are dipping the carrots in. “I’ve spend way too much time with these boys.” She laughs. “I need some down time.” She continues. I get that. These boys are wild, crazy and obnoxious at times. But I can also tell she’s kinda trying to avoid Grayson.

“But if you want to go to sleep, I’ll go back to my room.” Ava adds. “You must be tired.” She continues as she smiles kindly. I am tired. I’m continuously tired ever since I left L.A. Ever since I’m dealing with these anxiety attacks. “Nah, stay.” I answer as I yawn. It makes Ava chuckle. “You are tired.” She states. “I am tired..” I breathe. “But I also like the company.” I add. She rolls on her side, facing me, supporting her head with her hand. “I used to get really tired after an anxiety attack.” Ava admits. “So tired, that I needed to take a nap once I calmed down enough.” She adds. I peek at her in my peripherals. I never told her I had an anxiety attack earlier this evening.

 “What happened?” She asks, obviously recognizing me recovering from one right at this moment. I’m lying on my back, under the covers and shrug my shoulders into the pillow. “I don’t know.” I whisper, disappointed in myself. “You know this is not your fault, right?” Ava asks me. “This is your body, trying to protect you from what, it thinks, might harm you.” She continues. I let my head roll to the side, so I can look her in the eyes. “Ethan doesn’t want to harm me!” I say defensive. “So it would be nice if my body stopped waving these red flags every time he comes close!” I snap, not necessarily at Ava and am relieved when she doesn’t take it personal.

“Sexy time?” She asks with a straight face and very serious tone of voice. Asking me if I had an anxiety attack while being intimate with Ethan. The words ‘sexy time’ in combination with her deliberate posture and sincere tone make me laugh. “Yeah..” I growl. “More like ‘sobbing time’.” I tell her, chuckling at my own dumb joke. Ava doesn’t think it’s funny.. or it really is a bad joke, cause she doesn’t laugh. She doesn’t even smile and her sternness immediately wipes the smile from my face as well. “Give it time, y/n.” She says and I can sense she is speaking from experience. “Mike laid his hands on you.” She calmly continues. “He physically hurt you. You can’t expect your body and mind to be comfortable around anyone who gets physical with you.” Ava adds.
“Even if it’s Ethan, who would never harm you and only wants to get physical in a very loving way.” She says and finally a faint smile appears on her face. I’m just now realizing I’ve been holding my breath the entire time she was talking. “Relax..” Ava encourages me. “Take it slow and take control, if you really can’t pace yourself.” She chuckles. The mood shifts. Like a weight is lifted from my shoulders. “Can’t pace myself?” I breathe. “Have you seen Ethan?!!” I say as I gawk at her. Ava grins and shrugs her shoulders. “I guess he looks alright..” She says provokingly. “Looks alright?!” I repeat her words again, while dropping my jaw.
She is snorting with laughter and it’s infectious. “Just kidding!” Ava continues. “You’ve got a very good looking boyfriend.” Ava goes on. “Almost just as good looking as-..” and she stops mid-sentence. Clearly startled by her own words. My eyes shoot wide open and I sit up while looking at her face. “Almost just as good looking as who, Ava?” I say teasingly as I tilt my head back and start laughing uncontrollably. When I look back over at Ava, I only see her brown hair peek out above the sheets. She pulled the duvet over her head and I get on my knees to hover over her. “Almost just as good looking as Grayson, Ava?!” I yell in the direction of the body under the sheets.

 “I didn’t say that!” I hear her muffled voice squeal, at least two octaves higher than her usual voice. “You don’t have to say it!” I laugh. “You’ve got it written all over your face!” I add and Ava slowly lowers the covers. Her face is bright red again. Probably from the fluster Grayson brought to her cheeks, but also partly because it’s summer in Italy and the girl has been hiding under the sheets for a good minute. I get up from the bed and walk over to the balcony doors to open them. A well needed sea breeze fills the room and Ava sits up in bed. “So, what do I do..?” She whines. Asking me genuinely for advice on how to approach Grayson.
My smirk grows into this wide, teeth showing, smile. I’m smiling so hard that it makes my eyes squint and I stare at a distraught Ava through my lashes. I walk back over to the bed and hop on it like a new born fawn. “I don’t know!” I squeal, totally into this love story that is arising in front of my eyes. “What?!” Ava says, visibly disappointed in her new friend. “Are you kidding me?” She continues as she stuffs a carrot in her mouth out of nerves. “Well, everything I did that included Grayson and a relationship backfired.” I say, holding my hands up at her, showing I got no ammunition at all. “I’m the last one you should be asking for advice on Grayson Dolan.” I laugh.

“Then who should I ask?” Ava breathes at me. “Kian advised me to send Grayson nudes.” She says distressed. “Jeff advised me to date him, instead of Grayson.” She continues summing up all the unsolicited advice and I can’t stop laughing. “These idiots.. These boys are complete idiots!” I laugh as I fall face down on the matrass.