First and Forever (Heartache Duet #2) - Jay McLean Page 0,124
out a breath, his palm cupping my jaw as he leans in, tastes the tears from my lips. “But, babe, I need you to promise something.”
“Anything.”
“Two things actually.”
I nod.
“I don’t want your mom knowing.”
“Okay.”
“And you owe me nothing.”
“Connor, I don’t think—”
“Promise me.”
I grasp my hair, my palms pressing against my forehead. “This is so much right now, and I still… I don’t deserve this.”
He shakes his head, eyes on mine as he lowers my hands again. “Of course you deserve this. You’re my girl, Ava. My first and forever.”
My heart beats to the rhythm of his declaration. “I don’t even know what to say right now.”
“Say you love me.”
“I love you, Connor.” I press my mouth to his. “I love you so much.”
He smiles against my lips, then pulls away. “There is one thing you can do…”
“Is it that thing with my tongue on your ba—”
“No,” he cuts in, shaking his head. Then his eyes widen. “But yeah, that, too.”
I can’t help but laugh.
“Ava, I want to see your mom,” he rushes out. “I’ve been dying to see her, and you haven’t—”
“Can we go now?”
His face lights up. “Yeah?”
“She’s been dying to see you!”
Mom’s out in the garden when we get there, the sun beaming down on her tanning skin. She’s wearing a straw hat and a tank top—something she’s only now started to be comfortable being seen in. Connor’s hand tightens around mine when he spots her, his grin splitting his face in two. “Mama,” I call out, and she looks up. Her usual smile for me widens when she sees Connor. “Connor, six-six!” she screams, getting to her feet and rushing over to us. Her laugh fills my heart with hope when she slams into him, throwing her arm around his neck. “Oh, gosh, Connor! I’ve missed you so much.”
“You have no idea how much I’ve missed you, Miss D,” he murmurs, releasing my hand to return her hug. His eyes are red, brimming with liquid joy as he smiles down at me. I wipe mine with the back of my hand, my world filling with magic… even in the light of day.
Chapter 52
Connor
“Come with me?” Austin begs.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because.”
“Because… nothing. It’s a Friday night, and you have nothing going on tomorrow, so—"
“Because it’s a fucking date, Austin. Your first date. What the hell—”
“Yeah, you’re right,” he says through a sigh. “She’ll probably take one look at you and forget I exist.”
I shake my head. “She asked you out, right?”
Austin nods.
“So, what’s the problem?”
“The problem is, I’m not built like you, Connor,” he answers, his tone serious.
I sigh, getting off my bed to stand behind him as he looks at himself in the mirror. “For someone who calls himself my best friend, you really don’t know me at all.”
His eye roll makes me chuckle. “You’re saying you were this nervous on your first date with Ava?”
“Ava and I never really dated. Like, we didn’t go out to movies and dinners and stuff. We just… hung out at her house or school. But, yeah, I was nervous around her. I still am. I think that’s what those feelings are, you know? Those butterflies people talk about…”
He turns to me now, his head craned to look up at me. “Were you her first, too?”
I shake my head.
“Did that bother you?”
“Not really.”
He nods, inhales a huge breath. “Okay. I’m going to go, and I’m going to—”
“Be yourself,” I cut in. “But lose the blazer.”
He looks down at himself. “It’s a cardigan.”
“Lose it.”
“But it makes me look sophisticated.”
“It makes you look like a pompous ass.”
“You’re a pompous ass!”
There’s a knock on our door, and I go to open it, saying over my shoulder, “Do whatever you want.”
Ava’s on the other side, her smile full force when she sees me. “Hey, babe,” I greet, kissing her quickly.
“Ava!” Austin shouts, pushing me aside. “I’m going on a date,” he announces.
Ava’s eyes widen, just a tad. “In that blazer?”
“I told you it was a blazer,” I murmur, taking her hand. I start pulling her into the room, but she resists. “What’s up?” I ask, confused.
She grins from ear-to-ear. “I have a surprise.”
My eyes narrow just as Ava steps to the side and Trevor appears. “Shut. Up,” I mumble, my eyes wide.
Trevor’s smile matches Ava’s, and I can’t help my own stupid grin. “What’s good?” he asks, his hand out for a shake.
I take it, answer, “Not much.”
And then he chuckles, tugging on my hand and embracing me—a little too tight—and with his mouth to my ear,