First and Forever (Heartache Duet #2) - Jay McLean Page 0,86

between Ava and me. I’d sent it over an hour ago, giving her at least two hours of darkness to open the thing. She hasn’t responded yet, and so I send another one.

Connor: Did you switch it on? Damn, I hope the battery didn’t die. It’s brand new…

After another solid hour of no response, I call her, but it goes to voicemail, and so I order room service just to take my mind off it. But it doesn’t seem to help. Anxious energy flows through my veins, beating hard against my flesh. My brain starts running circles, every possible scenario racing through my thoughts. I know things haven’t been the best with us lately, but she seemed better today. At least… I thought so.

It’s midnight when I try calling her again, but there’s no answer. I lie in bed with the TV on, not really paying attention. Somehow, I must fall asleep, because when I wake next, it’s close to 3 a.m. The only alerts on my phone are from my dad. I shoot off a quick text, let him know I’m okay and that I crashed early, and then I call Ava.

It goes straight to voicemail.

This time, I leave a message, my doubt making my voice crack: “Hey, babe. I’m not sure what’s going on there, but I’ve been messaging and calling and… and I hope everything’s okay. I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to be there for your birthday, and I hope that’s not the reason you’re… ignoring me, I guess. I know that things have been a little… rocky with us lately. A lot’s going on in both our lives right now, and maybe that’s why we’re not connecting as well as we should be…” I swallow the knot in my throat. “And I know it might be hard to believe right now given what I’ve asked of you, but… I just need you to know that I love you.” I pause a beat. “God, I love you so much. With everything inside me… forever.” Then I heave out a breath, contain my emotions. “Ava, please don’t give up on us.”

Chapter 34

Connor

My mom wants to have breakfast. I tell her I can’t, that I’m busy—it’s only a half lie. Truth is, I don’t feel like I have anything left to say to her. And, honestly, after the night I’ve had, I don’t think I could stomach anything.

I couldn’t get back to sleep. Not even a little bit. I tried calling Ava all night, but nothing changed. Either her phone’s off or she’s blocked my number completely… and I don’t know which one scares me more.

I know I should go home, but leaving early would cause too many questions. I’ve created a web of fucking lies, and I’m the one trapped. I stay in my hotel room until it’s the time I told Dad and Ava I’d be landing, and I call Ava first—still nothing—and then Dad. “Are you on your way?” is the first thing he says, his voice hoarse, weak.

My dread is instant. “Yeah. What’s going on?”

“You haven’t spoken to Ava?”

My pulse spikes. “No, I can’t get a hold of her. Why? What happened?”

He sighs, long and loud. “Come home, son. I’ll explain everything when you get here.”

The roads seem to go on forever. Every light is red. Every car in front of me is going ten miles under the limit. I once told Ava I’d travel through time to get to her, but time seems non-existent, and the nearer I get, I feel like the distance between us only grows.

I was a phone call away. A text. I check myself there, because it’s not about me, and whatever it is, Dad knows. He’s involved. And that can only mean one thing…

I finally make it home, and my truck has barely come to a stop when I step out, hesitant about where to go first. Looking toward Ava’s, I notice Trevor’s truck’s in the driveway, but besides that, there’s nothing to indicate anything’s wrong. Dad makes the choice for me by opening our front door, his hand gripping the back of his neck. “Let me to talk to you first, Connor.”

I sit on the couch, stand up, pace, sit back down, and with every word that falls from Dad’s lips, my heart sinks farther into my stomach, anchored there by the painful twists and turns.

“I should’ve been there,” I whisper. I could’ve stopped it. But I wasn’t. Because for one night, my selfish needs outweighed my