Heartache and Hope: Heartache Duet Book One
Page 16
“Okay,” he declares, eyes on mine, cheesy smile in place. Back to the old Trevor, he squeezes my shoulder, his thumb digging into the bruise on my collarbone. “You get her pregnant, and I’ll fucking kill you.”
Chapter 34
Connor
“I look like I’m going to a funeral,” I say, glaring at myself in the mirror. I’m wearing the school-issued suit that the team has to wear when we’re attending the games but are ineligible to play.
Dad sighs, watching me from my bedroom doorway. “I can’t believe you got suspended. And tonight, of all nights, Connor. What the hell—”
“Stop,” I tell him. “Just stop, okay? I know.”
“Well, you have to show up, right? Maybe you can catch the scout before he leaves.”
“Okay,” I say, my eyes drifting shut, shoulders tense, hands balled in frustration.
My phone dings with a text, and I pick it up off my desk.
Ava: BOYS!!
Connor: ?
Rhys: A little early in your relationship for a three-way, but I’m down.
Connor: Gross.
Ava: Hot.
Connor: What’s up?
Ava: Suit up, boys!
Rhys: Huh?
Connor: What?
Ava: Suit up! Or whatever the term is. Get in your uniforms. You guys are playing tonight.
Connor: No fucking way.
I rip off my tie and slip out of my shoes, my grin unconfined.
Rhys: Are you serious?
Connor: How?
Rhys: ^^ what he said.
“What’s going on?” Dad asks.
“Ava got me back in.”
“Good. It’s the least she could do,” he murmurs.
I ignore him. Read the next message.
Ava: I just had to show Brown my boobs. He was very appreciative.
Connor: Dammit, Ava!!!
Rhys: Noice!
Ava: Does it matter how? Just go!!! Get ready!!! You’ll be late.
Rhys: Thanks, A.
Another message shows up in a different box, just mine and Ava’s.
Ava: So… is this what they call coming in clutch?
Connor: It is! You’re amazing. I don’t know what you did, but thank you, Ava. THANK YOU.
Ava: You’re welcome, baby.
Ava: Now go!!
Connor: I’m going!
I change as quickly as I can and rush Dad out the door so I can make it for pregame and warm-ups. I practically sprint to Dad’s car, and with my fingers on the door handle, I stop when I hear Ava call my name. I turn to see her running toward me, barefoot and beautiful. Her hair’s wet and free of its usually messy knot. It’s the first time I’ve seen it like that. The curls flow behind her as she races toward me. She’s holding a bright orange balloon and the marker used to write her usual words. She stops when she gets to me, her breathing heavy. “Boo!” she jeers, handing me the balloon.
I take it from her grasp, my cheeks aching with the force of my smile. One hand on her waist, the other shifting her hair. “I like your hair down.”
“You do? I just got out of the shower to answer Brown’s call and messaged you as soon as I could.” She glances over my shoulder to my dad, who no doubt watches us. Her smile falls, and she takes a step back. “Good luck, okay?”
I pull her back to me, not caring who’s watching, and plant a kiss on her lips, passionate and painfully perfect.
Just like her.
Sweat drips down my forehead and into my eyes, and I blink it back, pour water over my face. It’s our last timeout of the game, and I’ve given it everything I have. Our score reflects that, and so does the burn in every one of my muscles. My chest heaves, my shoulders, too. Flames fire in my lungs, and Coach looks at me. “You want out?”
“No, sir.”
“You haven’t had a minute off, Ledger. It won’t break you.”
I swallow between shallow breaths. “I’m good.” Then I look up at Dad watching from the stands, his arms crossed. He nods, a show of encouragement. And then he smiles at me, and I’m reminded of all the times he’s been there, all the times he’s done exactly this—even before the end game. “You got it, son!” he shouts loud enough to hear over the chanting of the crowd.
“You okay, man?” Rhys asks.
“Yeah.” I shake off all other thoughts. “I’m good. Let’s do this.”
We’re only on the court for another two minutes before the final buzzer sounds. I shake hands with the other team and then rush to the bench so I can sit down, give my body time to recover. Elbows on my knees, I hunch over myself and towel the sweat off my face. “Good job, Ledger,” Coach says. “You really turned it on tonight.”
“Thanks, Coach.”
I stay on the bench longer than the rest of the team. While they leave to hit the showers and the crowd starts to depart, I let my muscles start to solidify again. I’d been weak, weaker than I should be, and I make a promise to start hitting the gym more and working on my stamina. I should be focusing on sprint sets rather than long distance.
“Connor?”
I look up to see Principal Brown and a man I’ve never met before standing over me. I get to my feet. “Yes, sir?”
Brown smiles, waving a hand to the man next to him. “This is Tony Parsons. From Duke. He wanted a word with you.”
My pulse picks up pace, as if I’m on the court again, overtime, two points down and I’m at the three-point line, ball in my hand. “It’s good to meet you, sir,” I say, shaking his hand.
“Likewise,” he responds. “That’s quite a shiner you’ve got there.”
“Yeah, it’s…”
“It’s one of the hazards of basketball, right, son?” Brown says.
I nod, grateful for his response.
Parsons continues, “Well, Connor, have you ever thought about playing for Duke?”
“Only when I’m breathing.”
He smiles, then opens his mouth, but I interrupt, my finger up between us. “Sorry, just one second.”
I look up at the stands, at one of the only people left—my dad. His eyes are wide, clear. “Dad!” I wave him over and watch as he makes his way toward us. Then I turn back to the scout. “This is my dad,” I tell him. “I uh…” I give him the truth that, lately, I’d been too stubborn to realize. “I just like to have him around.”
“It’s not like I’m going to get my hopes up or anything,” I say into the phone, pacing my room, the adrenaline inside me still pulsing.
“You should totally get your hopes up,” Ava encourages. “I mean, it’s Duke.”
“Yeah, but do you know how many scouts they have looking for high school ballers? I’m, like, one in hundreds these scouts would be talking to.”
“Connor,” she laughs out. “You’re looking at it wrong. You’re one in only hundreds that they’re talking to. That’s a big deal no matter how much you try to downplay it.”
I hold the phone to my ear, and pick up a ball, then spin it on the tip of my finger. “I guess.”
“I’m proud of you,” she says, and I can hear the genuine honesty in her voice.
I drop the ball to the floor and sit on the edge of the bed. “It wouldn’t have happened without you.”
“Well, technically, if you think about it…” she trails off.
“How did you get us back in, anyway?”
“I told you.”
“Ava…”
She giggles into the phone, causing my chest to ache in longing. I wish she were here. In my bed. So I could see her. So I could run my hands through her curls and kiss her and hold her and maybe fool around a little. “I just wrote him a heartfelt letter about what had been going on and how you and Rhys were my saviors, and that you didn’t deserve to be punished for it. Vincit qui se vincit.”
“What does that mean? The last part?”
“It’s the school motto. It means He conquers who conquers himself.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“I can’t believe you managed to work that in there.”
“Your girl can be quite convincing, Connor.”
I smile into the phone, let the silence fill the space between us.
“I wish I were there,” she says quietly, reading my mind.
“I know. Me too.”
Dad knocks on my door, enters.
I lower the phone to my lap.
“I’m heading off,” he says, smiling. “You did real good tonight, Connor. I’m proud of you. You’re one step closer.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I reply, genuine. “And thanks for being there. I would’ve been a nervous wreck if you weren’t.”
His smile widens. “Anytime, son. We’ll call Ross tomorrow and fill him in on what happened.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t stay up too late, all right? You’ve had a long day.”
“Yes, sir.”
I wait until he’s out of my room and out of the house before lifting the phone to my ear again. “Hey, sorry.”
“You and your dad are talking again?” Ava asks.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“That’s good,” she says, but I can hear the uncertainty in her voice.
“Look, about what my dad said about you…” I sigh. “It’s not as if he has something personal against you. It’s just, he’s being protective, you know? And it’s not like he knows you, because if he did…” I trail off, not knowing what to say.
“You don’t need to explain,” she assures. “It’s okay. I know what we are—my family—and I know how it seems from the outside looking in. But just... if it ever gets too much for you—being with me—just say so.”
“Ava, stop.” I flop down on the bed, cover my eyes with my forearm. “We don’t need to be having this conversation.”
She’s silent a beat too long.
“Ava?” I sit up.
“Sorry,” she says. “Someone’s just uploaded the game, and I’m trying to download it as fast as I can. Oh, my God, I’m so giddy. Hurry up!”
“I can probably get you a copy tomorrow.”
“Guh! Tomorrow’s too late. I need it now!”
“You’re not—”
“It’s here,” she cuts in. “Blah blah blah, people I don’t care about! Hey, it’s you! Okay, I’m going to watch it. Bye!”
She hangs up before I get a chance to respond. But no more than five minutes later, she sends me a text.
Ava: Damn, Connor. You look good on camera.
Connor: Stop it.
Ava: You think I’m joking? *unzips*
Connor: Hey. No unzipping unless I’m with you.
Ava: Hmm. The thought of you unzipping me… *unzips twice*
Connor: You could come here… if you want to. I can leave my window open. Dad doesn’t get back until morning.
Ava: I wish I could, but the doctors came by today and changed Mom’s meds. I have to be here in case she has a reaction.
Connor: How is she?
Ava: She’s doing much better. She just had a few bad days, that’s all. Thanks for asking.
Connor: Of course.
Ava: Okay, I’m going to go watch now. Bye, boy, bye!
An hour passes, and I’m already in bed when the next message comes through.
Ava: Welp. It’s decided. Sorry to tell you, but you kind of suck, #3.
Connor: I know.
Ava: Feel like giving me a goodnight kiss?
Connor: …
Ava: ?
Connor: Sorry, I didn’t realize that was a question. How? When? Where?
Ava: Now. Left side of the house. Second window.
I’m out of bed and into sweats and out the door in less than ten seconds. I smile when I see Ava waiting for me, half leaning out her window. She brings her finger to her lips in a shushing motion, and I slow my steps, go lighter on my bare feet.
“You’re crazy fast,” she whispers.
“I wasn’t sure how long the offer would stand.”
She rolls her eyes, leaning farther forward to grasp my shoulders. Pulling me as close as I can get, she kisses my forehead. “Goodnight, boyfriend.”
“That’s it?” I deadpan. “You made me come over—”
Her lips meet mine, soft and warm, while her arms wrap around my neck. I reach up, fingers threading through her curls, and hold her to me. She tilts her head, her tongue swiping against mine, and I let out a guttural moan. Then she gently bites down on my bottom lip, and no joke, my knees give out beneath me. I catch myself, one hand on her window ledge, the other grasping her hair, tugging with enough force that her head rolls back, giving me access to her jaw, her neck. I release the window ledge and bring my hand to her shoulder, down her chest, the backs of my fingers skimming a part of her I’ve fantasized about for so long. Too long. She moans, taking my mouth again. Then my jaw. My throat. God, I love her there. She nuzzles into my neck, her breaths heavy. My heart races, blood rushing to an organ I’ll no doubt be paying attention to as soon as I’m back in bed. “I could do this all night,” she whispers.
I grunt. Because I’m incapable of forming words, apparently.
“But we can’t,” she says, laughing silently. “Another minute, and what we’re doing will be illegal.”
I take a few calming breaths, let my pulse settle. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”
She rears back, my hand still in her hair. Then she offers one last kiss. Chaste. Her eyes lock on mine, a smile playing on her lips. “Goodnight, boyfriend.”
Chapter 35
Connor
With my basketball schedule and school and Ava’s life, we don’t get anywhere near as much time together as I want. And with the team doing as well as it has been, there are more commitments I have to deal with. Pep rallies, meetings, and media interviews. It’s not a bad thing. It means more chances of being noticed, but it sucks that I barely get to even speak to my girlfriend. And we’re only ten days into the relationship.
Ava: Hey, can you ask your dad when my dressing is supposed to come off? I can’t remember whether he said ten or fourteen days.
I peel myself off the couch and go to the kitchen, where Dad’s starting on dinner. “Hey, Ava wants to know when she should take the dressing off her burns.”
Dad looks up from whatever he’s doing. “It depends on how well it’s healed.”
“Okay, I’ll tell her,” I say, starting to type out a text.
“She can come around if she wants me to have a look at it.”
I pause, my thumbs hovering over the screen. I look at Dad again, my eyebrows raised. “Yeah?”
He nods.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
Connor: Dad says it depends on how it’s healed, but you can come over, and he can take a look at it.
Ava: …
Connor: ?
Ava: Are you sure?
Connor: That’s what he said.
Ava: Okay, I’ll be over in a bit.
“She says she’ll be around soon,” I tell Dad.
“Good.”
Something’s off with Dad’s reaction, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Regardless, I find my home back on the couch and wait. Fifteen minutes later, there’s a knock on the door, and I’m on my feet and swinging that bitch open. The door. Not Ava. She’s not a bitch. She’s The Best. I lean down to kiss her, but she presses her hands to my chest, stopping me. She shakes her head, and I smell… perfume? Ava never wears perfume, at least not that I know of. I take a step back to let her in. She’s dressed nice, but like, if she were going-to-church type nice. I like Ava in tank tops and sweats, and yeah, her school uniform, but that’s a whole other conversation. “Why are you dressed like that?” I whisper.
She elbows my gut. “Shut up.”
“Hi, Ava,” Dad calls from the kitchen. He points a knife at
the couch. “Just take a seat, and I’ll be with you in a moment.” He’s all sweetness and smiles, and I’m suspect.
My eyes narrow at him and then Ava when she says, “Thank you, sir. I appreciate this a lot.”
I flop down next to her, throw my arm over her shoulders. She pushes my hand away. “What’s with you?”
“Not now,” she hisses without moving her lips.
Dad comes into the living room drying his hands on a dish towel. He sits on the coffee table, dish towel beside him, and asks, “Can I take a look?”
Ava cranes her neck. “Sure.”
While Dad’s focused on peeling off the dressing, I put my hand on Ava’s knee. She pushes it away again.
“It looks like it’s healed just fine,” Dad says. “No more dressing, but be sure to use the cream I gave you until it’s all gone, okay?”
Ava nods. “Thanks again, Mr. Ledger.”
He gathers all the dressing and stands. “No problem.”
Ava stands, too, and I take her hand. This time, she lets me. “I’ll walk you back.”
I open the door at the same time Dad calls Ava’s name. Ava turns to him, her eyes wide, shoulders rigid. Dad stands between the kitchen and the living room. “I’m just starting on dinner. You’re welcome to stay if you’d like.”
Ava does her best not to let her shock show, but I see it even if Dad doesn’t. “I appreciate the invitation, but I have to get back home.”
“Oh.” Dad drops his gaze, his shoulders. “Okay, sure.”
“It’s just…” Ava starts, sensing Dad’s disappointment. “I can’t really leave my mom, so…”
Dad tilts his head. “Isn’t your stepbrother home with her?”
Ava nods, her grip on my hand tightening. “Yeah, he is, but he’s really only there for when things with her get uh…” She glances up at me, and I try to offer an encouraging smile. If this is Dad’s attempt at getting to know her, then we have to try. “Sometimes she gets physical and he—he has to restrain her.” I can hear her voice weaken with every word, so I release her hand, place mine on the back of her head and bring her to my chest, her ear to my heart. Ava exhales slowly, her eyes drifting shut. When she opens them again, she says, “I have to be there, because I’m the only one who can really talk her through whatever she’s experiencing.”