Read Blank: Alpha Billionaire Romance for Free Online

couldn’t help but hug her, even if I didn’t quite remember her. Trust had to start somewhere.

Chapter 6
    Preslee
    That first weekend at Ava’s apartment was…challenging.
    After filling out the discharge papers and meeting with a cold woman from medical billing who’d informed me of the astronomical charges for my stay – as if it were a resort or something – we headed to Ava’s apartment. I hesitated before climbing into Ava’s rusty gold car that had to be at least as old as we were. I strapped my seatbelt and pulled it tight, praying we’d reach our destination in one piece.
    Driving through town was a surreal experience. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed to see a line of mom-and-pop stores, no franchises. They were slightly run down, but had an old-fashioned charm that instantly made me think of fresh coffee and a comfy couch.
    I didn’t recognize any of it.
    “Do I know this place?” I ventured, though I was pretty sure I already knew the answer.
    “I’ve lived on this street for three years,” Ava informed me. “You’ve been here lots of times.”
    “Was my apartment near here?”
    “Around fifteen, twenty minutes away. In a nicer part of town.” I heard no bitterness, no resentment in her voice. I was only just starting to relearn Ava and I could already tell she was the kind of person I was going to like.
    “I took everything I could. The furniture had to stay, obviously. There’s no way it would fit in my tiny space, but I grabbed as many of your personal items and small appliances as I could,” She went on, her shoulders curled in apology.
    When we stepped into her studio apartment, my heart swelled. I didn’t even remember her, but when I saw how the boxes and bags of things – my things – had overtaken the place, I could have kissed her.
    The entire apartment consisted of a large room, divided between a kitchen and living room area, a bedroom and a bathroom. That was it. All of my clothing and what I assumed were the contents of my kitchen counters were crammed in wherever they’d fit. It was nearly impossible to see the threadbare, blue sofa buried under all the clutter.
    “Ava,” I choked out, my throat clogged with tears all over again. I didn’t know if I was ordinarily an emotional person, but I’d been downright weepy over the past few days. I was incredibly moved by her compassion and the way she’d lovingly packed my boxes, never losing hope that I would wake up.
    She saw the look on my face as I examined the stacks of boxes and trash bags, and how my chin trembled.
    “Come here, braniac,” she cooed, wrapping me in a tight embrace.
    I had no way to repay her, and I wasn’t certain when I’d have the means to get back on my feet, but I knew she wouldn’t kick me out. But I couldn’t keep myself from crying. Here I was, standing in the middle of my life. The contents of these boxes had once held meaning and precious memories for me, but like everything else in my life, all I saw were objects that could have belonged to anyone.
    “We’ll have to make space on the sofa for you. It’s where you used to sleep when you’d stay over before. I’m sure we can rearrange some boxes,” Ava said, stepping away when my sniffling started to calm.
    I felt like crap. For months, she’d been living like a hoarder, keeping all of my stuff for who knew how long. The last thing I wanted was to be a burden to my best friend. She wouldn’t and didn’t say it, but I could tell she was frazzled. No, I’d find a way to make this right, and soon.
    ***
    Saturday was spent digging through the boxes in hopes that something would jog my memory. Pushing aside a box filled to the brim with professional-style navy blue skirts, blouses, and pressed khakis, I found a box stacked with framed photos. Goofy grins and smiling eyes flashed up at me through the frames. Ava and I as pre-teens with skinny, scabbed legs and tangled hair, hugging it out. We’d held up bunny ears behind each