Heartache and Hope (Heartache Duet #1) - Jay McLean Page 0,88
are you doing?” I recognize the voice as Rhys’s and look up to see him walking toward me. His gaze shifts between fake-Connor and myself, and I say, “Talking to my boyfriend, who I miss dearly.”
Rhys laughs, plants his ass down next to me. “Yeah, he’s putting in the work at the moment. No off days for that kid.”
I nod.
“It’s nothing against you, A. You know that, right? He’s just trying to get as much exposure as possible.”
“I know,” I tell him. “I get it.”
He opens my paper bag and peers inside. Then he takes an apple and bites into it. I quirk an eyebrow. “You know I’m poor now, right? That apple was all I had for the rest of the day.”
Chuckling, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out his wallet. He hands me a twenty. “I hear that’s the going rate for an apple these days.”
Shrugging, I shove the cash in my bra. He can spare it.
“How’s your mom?” he asks.
I stare up at twelve-foot Connor. “I’m kind of getting over that question, to be honest.”
“Fair,” Rhys says. “Manage to get your license yet?”
“No.” I haven’t even gotten my permit. “I should really look into doing that with all the spare time I have.”
“You’re feisty right now.”
“I’m feisty always.”
“True. So how are you and Connor doing?”
“I don’t know.” I turn to him. “How are you and the rotating door of girls doing?”
He chuckles. “It’s been slim pickins ‘round these parts,” he drawls.
“You should head over to West High. I’m sure there are plenty of girls there looking for a sugar daddy.”
His nose scrunches. “I’m not that desperate yet.”
I shoulder him, shoving him sideways. “You’re a jerk.”
He straightens up, throws his arm around my shoulders, then looks up at fake-Connor. “Hey, Ledger. I’m making moves on your girl. Whatcha gonna do about it?”
Out of nowhere, Connor appears. “Get your hands off my girl before I rip them off and glue them to your balls.”
“Oooh,” I tease, giggling. “You’re in trouble now.”
Rhys removes his arm, slides a good foot away from me. “We were just playing.”
Connor sits down next to me at the same time Rhys gets to his feet. “I’d love to stay and be a third wheel and all but… no… I don’t really want to. Peace out, fuckers.” And then he’s gone, disappearing around the same corner from which Connor appeared.
“Guess what?” Connor says, pulling his phone from his pocket. He taps a few times and then hands it to me.
I read the email on the screen:
Dear Connor Ledger,
Please consider this your official invitation to the—
I don’t read the rest because I’ve lost my breath entirely. “Connor!” I squeal. “You got into that—that thing with all the pros and the—” I imitate shooting, even though I’m sure my form is all wrong. “And the dunk thing! Thing!”
Connor laughs. “The invitational, yes, I got in!”
“Oh, my God.” My grin widens. “That’s amazing. That’s a big deal, right? What am I asking? Of course it is. It’s a huge deal.” I hug his neck, loving the chuckle that comes out of him. “I’m so proud of you.”
When I release him, he says, “Coach had to pull a lot of strings to—”
“No,” I cut in. “Don’t you dare undervalue your worth. There are only, what, a hundred spots you told me? They wouldn’t have sacrificed a single one of those spots if they didn’t think you earned it.”
“I guess,” he mumbles, but he’s not as excited as he should be. He’s definitely not as excited as I am.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, handing back his phone.
“It’s just… it’s four days over Thanksgiving break, and I was hoping to spend that time with you.”
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, babe.” I smack the back of his head playfully. “And I’ll be here when you get back.”
He smiles. “Promise?”
My shoulders drop. “Of course.”
Smirking, he says, his tone playful, “You’re not going to run off with Rhys and have all his babies?”
“Nah… Rhys’s genetics are all messed up. His parents are second cousins.”
“You’re kidding?” he asks, wide-eyed.
“Am I?”
He glares at me a moment, contemplating. Then he gives up on my shenanigans and leans back against the wall, his chin up, looking at himself on the poster. “Damn, Ava. Your boyfriend’s pretty.”
I laugh, loud and free. “He’s modest, too.”
“Thank you,” he says, sobering.
“For what?”
His head lolls to the side, his eyes on mine. “For being proud of me.”
I settle my legs over his and cuddle into him. “You make it easy, Connor.”