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)
Ava stands on the other side of the stage watching the performance with her heart on her sleeve, and she doesn’t seem to care who in the crowd sees her lovelorn expression. Her gaze remains glued to the tall blonde playing guitar onstage. It’s like Katja is pouring her soul into the music and Ava not only hears but understands every note. The bond between them is beautiful.
We find Lu and Stuart off to the side, near the front. Spread out on an old plaid picnic blanket with hats and sunscreen and a variety of snacks.
“Wondered when you two would get here,” says Stu with an affable smile. “Little brother, you look so pretty.”
Connor smiles. “Thanks.”
Lu gives us a nod and keeps sucking on her smoothie.
We take a seat on the picnic blanket and yes. This is good. Connor picks up my hand and holds it in his. I don’t think this warm, bubbly feeling inside has been so big since high school. I am crushing hard and feeling all the feelings. My heart hasn’t been this invested in someone in pretty much forever. And I know the safe thing to do would be calm the fuck down. Come tomorrow, we’ll have known each other one whole week. But hormones and feelings have no interest in rationality. They drag us along leaving destruction in their wake. Though you never know. This time might be different and that’s the eternal catch. It just might all work out this time. I really hope it does.
At least the time has come to sit and chill. But apparently no because Denise is marching our way with a look on her face. One that doesn’t bode well for anybody. It’s nervous and hopeful and determined along with a hundred other things. This is a woman on a mission. Her gaze is set on her youngest son. Though she shoots me little frowns now and then and it sucks to be included.
“Take a seat, Mom,” says Stuart. “Nic’s going off today.”
Denise sits and gives everyone a solid attempt at a smile. Her fingers fuss all the while with the drink bottle she’s carrying. “I know you don’t want to hear it, Connor. So this is the last time I’ll bring it up. But I would appreciate it if you would take the time to have a conversation with Ava.”
Stuart shakes his head and turns his focus back to his wife’s performance.
Lu snorts. “Doubt Ava’s got time for him, Grandma.”
“Of course, she does,” says Denise chidingly. “Connor, you—”
“It’s not going to happen, Mom.” Connor’s tone is absolute. “Because the thing is, Riley and I belong together.”
Stuck in my throat is a bone or a wish or an I don’t know what. I cough into my hand and choke my heart out. So cool.
Connor pats me on the back. Talk about embarrassing. There’s no need for me to lose my shit. We’ve done lots of drama and lies in the last few days. Guess his words just caught me off guard or something. What he’s saying isn’t real. He has reverted back to faking, which is fine. Though maybe he never stopped. It’d be nice to know the truth, but it’s not like I can just ask him. Not here and now.
“What?” asks Denise with all due horror. “I am sorry to be harsh, but honey, that’s preposterous. You barely even know each other. Aren’t you rather conveniently forgetting all of the years you were happy with Ava?”
“I know Riley just fine. She doesn’t hide any parts of herself from me. From the moment we met, she’s always told me exactly what she thinks and feels,” he says. “It’s not just that I’m happy with her. The thing is, she sees me for me. Who I am now. Not some bullshit version of myself I made up long ago to try and pacify the town. I don’t have to pretend with her. I can just be myself, and you have no idea how much that means to me.”
His mom just sighs.
“I would be an idiot to let her go.”
My heart is beating hard enough to turn my rib cage black and blue. I never expected to want this so badly. For his words to be true. His tone of voice is earnest, but this has to be pretend.
Denise has no immediate comeback to his statement. Though she is throttling the drink bottle now. She licks her lips and says, “If what you say is true, then a simple conversation with Ava won’t change anything. She came all this way and–”
“Oh my, God,” says Lu with some truly dramatic eye rolling. “Grandma, you’re being so cringe. Ava’s with someone.”
“What?”
“She has a girlfriend.”
“Whatever do you mean?” Denise laughs nervously. “I know her friend came to visit her, but they’re just friends, honey.”