Arranged: An Array Series (Book #1)(88)

Holy shit.

I never thought I’d say those words. Never imagined asking a woman to be my soulmate and partner through life.

Hell. No woman caught my attention like Ava did. Plain and simple.

Piling up my cut wood, I thought about all the places I could take her. I’d start in Aruna, show her my home and the culture. Then maybe Vunmia; the country was full of mountains and rivers, covered mainly in white with all the snow.

“Cranfield.” John’s voice beckoned behind me, the sound of it solemn and cold. When I turned around, he looked at me with pity in his eyes. He was frowning, his eyelids drooping from lack of sleep.

“What?” I said anxiously, my gaze locking in on the letter in his hand.

Of all the fucking things in his hands right now.

John took a step closer, fidgeting, and his knuckles were white from holding it so tightly.

“John,” I said, furrowing my brows. “What is it?”

He didn’t answer me. I’d never seen him speechless in the whole decade I’d known him. As he held out the letter, I hesitated before taking it. One of the townswomen came to bring me my lunch, but John shooed her away.

I opened the blasted letter quickly, while John shifted his weight back and forth, his presence making me uneasy. Skimming the letter, my breath caught, and my throat closed. I re-read the words over again. I opened my mouth to speak, but couldn’t form any words.

I dropped to my knees and buried my face in my hands. I had failed.





Ava





Chapter 33





“People actually do this for fun?” Lucy sniffed as she placed another losing card on the table. She’d been complaining ever since she lost the first round, and I chuckled at her impatience.

And I thought I was a sore loser at times.

As I watched Eve study her cards, a clap of thunder boomed through my bedroom. All four of us jumped, while Miranda let out a small shriek. Eve placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and giggled.

The rain had been pelting my bedroom window for hours, but I welcomed it. The cool summer rain was made for cozy days like this. Curled up with a good book, a simple game of cards with friends, or snuggled up to one’s lover.

Eve placed down a King of Desire and looked at me with a grin. Rolling my eyes at her, I waited for Miranda, who fumbled around with her cards.

“Does a Queen of Fools beat a King of Desire?” Miranda asked softly.

Lucy scoffed. “You’re not supposed to name off your cards.”

I smiled at her. “Any Queen beats a King.”

Eve groaned. “But you don’t have to lay it down right now; you can always keep it for another hand.”

I raised a brow at my best friend. “Are you steering her in the wrong direction to win?”

She tsked, shifting in her chair. “Of course not.”

“Go ahead. Lay it down, Maddy, and take the hand. You won it,” I told her.

Madelyn smiled, picking up the stack of cards.

“So, when does the infamous Cranfield come back?” Eve inquired. I gave her a hard stare, then glanced over at my ladies, who were looking at me with curiosity.

“I have no idea,” I replied coolly.

“It didn’t say in the letter you received from him today?” Madelyn asked, obviously not catching on to my dodging of the conversation.

“No.”

“Interesting,” Eve commented, fiddling with her cards.

“Well he’d better start getting used to keeping you informed,” Lucy stated. “It’s rude and selfish to keep you wondering.”

I went to open my mouth, but Miranda spoke first. “Especially when he gives you open affection in public.”

I cringed at her words, knowing exactly what she was referring to. The day Garrett left for Wellerent, he leaned over his horse, cupped my chin, and placed the most heartfelt kiss on my lips that I’ve ever felt. In that kiss, I could perceive that he’d miss me, that he didn’t want to go, leaving me dizzy and weak at the knees.

I furrowed my brows. “How did you know that?”

Madelyn averted her gaze to her cards. “Well...I was outside the stables, and—”

Eve raised a brow. “Did he now? Please go on, Maddy.”

“No, please do not go on, Maddy,” I retorted, feeling the heat grow on my cheeks.

Eve ignored me. “Don’t leave out any details.”

Madelyn looked at me, not knowing what to do. I let out a heavy sigh and threw down a card.

“He gave her the most passionate kiss,” Lucy chatted, taking it upon herself to continue. “Maddy said it was quite romantic.”

Eve chuckled while I lowered myself in my chair, wanting to disappear from embarrassment. “I think it’s sweet. He wants to let you know he is committed. Now we’ll be counting down the days until he asks you to marry him.”

Eve smiled as I peered over my card at her, guilt settling in that I hadn’t told my best friend yet. And I hadn’t, for selfish reasons. One, I didn’t want to hear her high-pitched squealing, and two, I wanted to keep Garrett’s proposal a secret. It was something that was just ours; something no one could take from us.

“Ava,” uttered a voice from behind me. Looking over my shoulder, George stood in my doorway, his skin pale and his eyes blank. The silhouette of his body was frozen in place, his shoulders hunched over; in misery or agony, I couldn’t tell. It was almost cryptic, the way his chest heaved in and out, a blank stare covering his face.