Heartache and Hope (Heartache Duet #1) - Jay McLean Page 0,43

things got too hard for him and left all the burden on his son because apparently there’s no such thing as too hard for Trevor.

He sighs, the sound filling the entire room. “I knew you’d say that, which is why I called in a favor…”

I spin in my desk chair and face him completely. “What do you mean?”

“Peter’s flying in tonight,” Trevor says, and my stomach turns, remembering what it was like the last time he was here. “He’ll be over first thing tomorrow morning.”

I go to tell him no, that I’ll be okay and that Peter doesn’t need to come, that I don’t want him here… but then I look at Trevor, see the strain in his shoulders and the torment in his eyes, and my guilt… my guilt forces me to smile, to say, “I can’t wait.”

Connor: You ruined me with a single kiss, Ava Elizabeth Diana.

My lips twitch, but I fight back a smile. After the day I’ve had, the last thing I need is to be reminded of the one thing I want, the one thing I can’t have. No matter how desperately I yearn for it.

I squash my selfish desires and reply.

Ava: You said you were curious. Don’t you know that curiosity killed the cat?

Connor: And a cat has 9 lives, so does that mean you owe me 8 more kisses?

I stare at the text, ignore the slow breaking of my heart. What I’d give for eight more greedy moments with him.

“Ava?” Mom calls from her bedroom and I drop my phone, along with all my delusions, and I go to her.

I’ll always go to her.

Because she’ll always come first.

First and forever.

Chapter 27

Connor

I’m leaning up against my car the day after the Just Once Kiss, looking down at my phone, rereading the past few days’ worth of text conversations between Ava and me. And without fail, I keep trying to scroll for more after the last one I sent. She didn’t reply, and I can’t help but overthink all the possible reasons. Maybe she’s playing games, or maybe she got distracted or maybe—and this is the conclusion of my own mind games—maybe she doesn’t want a repeat.

Maybe I’m a shit kisser.

A complete disappointment.

Sighing, I start writing a message to let her know I’m outside, but their front door opens, stopping me.

I wish for Ava.

I get Trevor instead.

He makes his way down the driveway and stops a few feet away. “You okay?” he asks, eyeing me dubiously.

I run my hand over my clothes, try to straighten out my thoughts. “Yeah, why?”

His eyebrows lower, his lips turned up in disgust. “Were you looking at porn?”

“No. What the fuck?” I mumble. “I was just studying some game tape,” I lie.

“I heard about your game. Congrats, man.”

I stand taller. “Thanks.”

“So, listen, my old man’s getting remarried…” he says, pausing when my eyes narrow. I remember what Rhys said about him walking out on them, and a flicker of anger fills my thoughts. “I know…” Trevor shrugs. “He’s not the greatest man out there, but he’s my dad, so I kind of have to be there.”

“I get it.”

“Anyway,” he says, shoving his hands in his pockets, “I’m going to be away for a few days…”

Hope replaces my anger.

“…so, I’m having a friend come stay with Ava while I’m gone.”

And hope dies in my chest. I point to myself. “I could stay with her.”

He chuckles, pats my shoulder and squeezes. Tight. “You could,” he replies. Then his eyes harden when they glare into mine, making sure I’m focused on his next words. “But you won’t.”

My lips purse. “Got it.”

A car drives past us, turning at the end of the cul-de-sac, and parks behind mine.

“That’s him now,” Trevor states, already making his way toward it.

I can’t ignore the inkling of jealousy when I see the car—a Mercedes G-Wagon—or the guy. He’s around Trevor’s age with surfer boy good looks that would be there even if money wasn’t. And the jealousy turns into animosity at the thought that this is the guy who’ll be spending the next few days with Ava, seeing her when I can’t, talking to her face-to-face and not through a fucking phone screen. He’ll see her just woken up, or just before bed. Hell, he’ll probably even see her in bed. Bile rises to my throat, but I push it away the moment Ava appears on her porch.

“Ava, Peter’s here!” Trevor calls out, looking right at her.

Ava’s smile seems unrestrained as she rushes down the steps and greets the