The pause was a little too long. For a moment, Ava had thought that the phone connection had been dropped before she heard Shelby say quietly, "How can I not worry? It gets to some time where we have to let life take its course!"
Ava nodded with a smile. It was so rare for Shelby to say such confident words. It made her proud that her friend was standing up for herself despite the situation. Shelby had gone through a lot at the hands of that cruel man and her indifferent mother. Sometimes, Ava wondered if Shelby would have been better off without a mother like she had.
Just then, Shelby asked,
"How …. H-ow is he?" Ava was a bit confused as her mind ran through trying to find out who Shelby was referring to. Shelby would not ask Ava about Rocky or even James. It was the hesitancy in her voice that finally drew Ava's attention to the person.
"Shelby?"
"Hmmmmm?"
"Don't tell me that you still have thoughts about Royston?"