First and Forever (Heartache Duet #2) - Jay McLean Page 0,4

pats the spot next to her, so I scoot back and sit like she is. Reaching across me, she grabs my pillow and hands it to me. “Scream into it.”

“What?”

“Scream into it,” she repeats. “Get your frustration out now so you can talk to me without anger swaying your words.”

I scream into the pillow.

“Did it help?”

“Yeah,” I lie. It didn’t help at all.

“So, this boy… Connor, right?”

I nod. “How much do you know?”

She picks at a rip in her jeans. “Trevor and I have been talking a lot lately. He’s pretty much kept me updated on everything he knows. But I’m sure there’s a lot he doesn’t know, so maybe you could tell me those parts?”

It feels so freeing to be able to talk to someone, to be able to share everything that Connor and I experienced. Both the good and the bad, but especially the good, because there was so much of it. And I had no one else to share that joy with, that excitement. I tell her everything that happened up till now, and I speak through my disappointment when I tell her of the way I talked to Mom the day of Connor’s tournament and then through my heartache when I tell her about Connor and Karen.

“Do you honestly believe that something happened with them?” she asks quietly. It’s the first time she’s spoken throughout my entire speech, but I know she’s been listening based on her nods, frowns, and smiles at all the appropriate times.

“I don’t know,” I admit through a sigh.

“Have you and he…?”

I shake my head.

“Have you ever?”

I nod.

“Has he ever?”

“No,” I murmur. “I know what you’re thinking. But, I just… I don’t see him doing it just for the sake of doing it.” I remember when I brought it up to him when we were at the lake, and he said he was scared, but maybe alcohol and Karen combined… “But I think there’s an emotional connection there, one I can’t compete with, and I think that’s what hurts the most. That and the fact that he lied to me.”

Amy huffs out a breath, her blond bangs shifting with the force. “I’m sorry, Ava. You’re in such a tough situation and throwing a relationship in the mix, it just makes things so much harder for you.” She nudges my side. “Can I see what he looks like?”

Nodding, I reach for my laptop and set it on my lap. Then I lift the screen, find Connor’s profile on the school website.

Amy lets out a low whistle. “Damn, girl. No wonder you’re having a hard time letting go. He’s hot.”

“I know,” I murmur. “I hate him.”

She giggles. “You have any of you two together?”

I open up the folder on the desktop titled “Connor 4 Ava” and go through the pictures of us together. Mainly pictures he’d sent me taken on his phone, selfies in his car or at the bleachers.

Amy grabs the laptop from me so she can take a closer look, picture after picture bringing back memories, causing more misery to my heartache.

“You look so happy, Ava,” she says.

I push down the knot in my throat. “I was.”

“And so in love.”

I can’t fight back the sob in time. “I was.”

“Oh, honey,” she coos, wrapping me in her arms. “I wish I could fix this for you.”

I sniff back the pain and wipe my eyes on her shoulder. “Thank you for listening,” I whisper. “I’ve missed having you around.”

She sighs, strokes my hair. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Trevor knocks on the door and doesn’t wait for a response. I make sure my eyes are clear before pulling away. “Did you tell her?” he asks Amy.

Amy shakes her head, gets up to stand next to him.

I look up at the both of them. “Tell me what?”

“Amy and her family have asked me to visit over Thanksgiving. Do you think you’ll be okay if I go?” He takes Amy’s hand in his, and they both watch me, eyes wide. Trevor adds, “Peter’s offered to stay with you.”

Peter.

I swallow, nervous, unease flowing through my veins. But when I look at them, at the strength of their love and the hope in their hearts, I say, “Of course you can go, you idiot.”

Chapter 3

Connor

It’s the final period of the last day before Thanksgiving break and every one of my classes has been a washout. Even the teachers are already in holiday mode. The PA sounds with an alert for an announcement, and Principal Brown’s voice crackles through the speakers.