Heartache and Hope (Heartache Duet #1)(40)

We jet, my feet hitting the pavement hard. The kids take off, one of them shouting, “You need to get your wisdom teeth removed!”

And another adds, “Yeah. So you can fit more dicks in your mouth!”

Peter busts out a laugh, slowing to a stop. I do the same.

“Jesus Christ,” he says, watching them turn the corner. “Insults sure have amped up since I was a kid.” He offers me his fist for a bump when we turn back toward my house. “I’m Peter, by the way.”

For a second, I’d forgotten that he was my enemy. I bump his fist anyway. “Connor.”

“I know who you are,” he says in a non-threatening tone.

My chest swells at the idea that Ava mentioned me.

“Trevor told me about you. Or warned me actually.”

“Warned you?” I ask incredulously.

He shakes his head. “Not like that, just that you and Ava have a thing going on.”

A Thing. That’s what we’re calling it? Cool.

“He said to make sure you weren’t creeping into her bedroom at night.”

I wish. “Nah,” I say. “It’s not like that.” We stop in front of Ava’s house, and I help him wind up the hose. I ask, as nonchalant as I can, “How is she anyway? I haven’t heard from her for a couple days.”

Peter shrugs. “She’s been busy with her mom and all. I think she has a harder time when Trevor’s gone, and I’m no back-up Trevor. I’m just here for the muscle.”

Nodding, I pretend to understand what he’s saying, but the truth is, besides the basics of what Ava’s told me, I have no idea what she goes through on the daily.

A car I recognize as Rhys’s drives past us, turns, and parks in front of my house. There are a couple guys from the team with him. And Karen. The others stay in the car while he gets out and approaches, his gaze on Peter. To me, he says, “What’s up, dipshit?” And to Peter, he says, “Hey, man. Home for a break?” They shake hands as if they’ve known each other their entire lives.

Peter answers, “Just staying with Ava while Trevor’s gone.”

“Oh yeah. His dad’s wedding, right?”

Peter nods. And my stomach drops. It’s like I’m right here but in another dimension. Clueless to the real world. I don’t know how Rhys knows Peter or how he knows what goes on in Ava’s life, if it’s small-town gossip or if Ava’s talking to Rhys the same way she talks to me.

But more.

More unreserved and open, and I feel… I feel so fucking insignificant.

Rhys says, pointing to me, “Get your ass dressed. We're going to the sports park.”

“Don’t we have that showcase today?”

After a scoff, Rhys mumbles, “Yeah, in like four hours. Let’s go.”

I sigh, not really in the mood to socialize. “Is Mitch going?”

“Nah, he can’t make it.”

Good.

Then Peter says, “Maybe he’s getting his wisdom teeth removed.”

I can’t help but chuckle.

“What?” asks Rhys, confused.

And I say, “You know, so he can fit more dicks in his mouth.”

Peter laughs, and Rhys glances between us. Then Karen appears from thin air and sidles up next to me. “You coming?” she asks.

“Yes,” Rhys answers for me. “Hurry your ass up. I’m hungry as shit.”

“I’ll go get dressed,” I say at the same time Peter tells Karen, “Hi, I’m Peter.”

Karen giggles. “I know who you are. You and Trevor used to chase Ava and me around the backyard with piss-filled water pistols.”

His eyes widen. “You’re that girl?” Then he eyes her up and down. “Damn, talk about a glow up.”

“Get dressed already!” Rhys yells, shoving me toward my front door.

I throw my hands up in surrender. “I’m going.” I glance toward Ava’s house, shocked to see her standing in her doorway watching us all. I lift my hand in a wave. She shuts the door between us.





Ava


“What’s going on outside?” Mom asks, agitated.

I close the door, jealousy and resentment forming an ache in my chest too large to ignore. I plaster on a smile and sit back down at the table, moving Mom’s speech therapy flashcards around aimlessly. “It’s just some kids from school,” I mumble.

“Are they messing with the house again?” she asks, her eyes narrowed, fist balled on the table.

“No, Mama. They’re just out there talking to Connor.”

She snorts. “Who the hell is Connor?”

“He’s…” He’s a boy who deserves to have the life being offered to him. “He’s no one.”





Connor


In my room, between getting dressed, I text Ava.

Connor: Rhys is forcing me out of the house, then I have the showcase this afternoon, but I’m free after if you want me to come by.

Connor: We can sit on your front porch for all of twenty seconds and watch the grass grow. I don’t really care. I just want to see you.





I wait a good five minutes for her to respond, ignoring Rhys on my doorstep telling me to hurry the fuck up. I send a text to Dad sleeping in the next room and tell him where I’ll be.