Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 72362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
It takes a moment or two, but eventually she starts to squirm. Her gaze hits the floor, and her brows draw together in a look that appears close to confusion. Guess she doesn’t strike out often. But she doesn’t stay down for long. “Connor, please. I still love you. If we could just—”
“No,” he says. And that is all he says.
No one speaks. The whole world seems to hold its breath while Ava stands as still as a statue.
Connor turns to me and asks, “Can I get you a glass of wine or something?”
“Cider would be great,” I say. “Thanks.”
His arm slips from around my shoulders, and he moves farther down the bar to order. Ava has been dismissed and she knows it. Ouch. Though it only takes her a moment to stand tall and smile. “So,” she says, “you do know him, Riley. Who could have guessed?”
“Don’t be a dick. We met after you and I texted, as I am sure you’re aware.”
It takes her a moment to admit, “People in this town like to talk.”
“Yes, they do.”
She fusses with the fine chains around her neck for a moment. Straightens her dress and takes a deep breath. This cannot be easy for her. We’re watching the downfall of a former prom queen in real time. You can see the actual struggle on her face to keep from staring at him again. Though the funny thing is, when she watches Connor, it seems more possessive than appreciative.
But I know that usually only the people in a relationship tend to understand the relationship. How it works and what keeps them together. Or what tears them apart, as the case maybe. But having met her and seen how she behaves, I believe Connor can do better.
“Thanks for the happy snaps,” I say. “You take a hell of a picture.”
She snorts. A moment later she says, “You never sent me any back.”
“I didn’t realize you wanted any.”
Her nose goes up, but nothing is said.
“How was your trip?”
“Long. Lonely.” She takes a sip from her drink. “You do realize he’s just using you to get back at me. To teach me a lesson.”
“Is that what he’s doing?” I glance at him over my shoulder. “In all honesty, he’s so pretty, I don’t mind. Wait. Does that make me shallow?”
“He won’t talk to me. Why else would he show up here with you except to make me jealous?”
“Maybe he’s trying to leave the past behind and move forward. Maybe this is, or was, an attempt at being friends.” The maybes are doing a lot of heavy lifting here. But I’m lying for the good of us all.
She tosses her head in disdain. “Please.”
“Do you want us to leave?”
“No.” Her nostrils flare delicately. “Stay. Both of you—I guess.”
“Such a generous invitation.”
“But you have to know, he’ll come back to me,” she says with nil doubt. “He always has.”
“Yeah. You might have mentioned that a time or two.”
“I just need to be patient. He loves me and we’re perfect together. It will happen.”
I keep my mouth shut and let her talk. She obviously needs to get it out. Just purge the idiocy from her system.
“I hurt his feelings so he’s going to make me work for it. But there’s a bond between us that can’t be broken.” She shoots me a look. “You wouldn’t understand. It’s nothing personal. I mean, you seem like an okay person.”
“Thanks, Ava. That’s big of you. Can I ask a question?”
“What?”
“When was the last time he willingly communicated with you before tonight?”
She discreetly checks on our audience. Some pretend to be engrossed in their own conversation. But most don’t even bother. People in this town are wild. In a quiet voice, she confesses, “Christmas.”
“And he only changed his number last week. Interesting.”
“You make it sound like I’ve been harassing him for half a fucking year. That’s not how it was,” she growls. “He wanted space, and I gave it to him. I only decided to come back for the reunion a couple of weeks ago. That’s when I told him I was coming home and things had changed. That I missed him and wanted to sort things out between us. But he kept leaving me on read.”
“No answer is an answer. You’re old enough to know that.”
“Why am I even talking to you about this?”
“I honestly have no idea. Both of our therapy bills would probably be lower if you didn’t.”
“Anyway…it’s not like things are that great between you two,” she says with a trace of a sneer. “You barely even know each other.”
“It was love at first sight.” I sigh with all the whimsy I have in me. “A magical all-consuming connection you can’t explain. Like the universe wanted us to be together. From the moment we laid eyes on each other it’s been nothing short of amazing.”