Page 74 of Second Chance Mates

“Do you remember your parents?” I ask gently.

Her head turns to look in my direction. “My parents?”

I nod and wait patiently.

“I didn’t really have any parents. I’ve been fostered since I was a baby. Never was chosen to be adopted, so I jumped from foster home to foster home.” Her lips turn downwards at the thought, and I hate how her emotions make my heart plummet. “Foster care sucks.”

She’s never had a loving home? My bloodstream freezes.

I open my mouth to respond, but she speaks first. “I wish I could feel like this forever,” she whispers, holding onto her neck as she looks up at the ceiling.

“Like what?”

“Like I have no problems. Like I’m normal.” She smiles to herself, but it’s not a happy smile.

I frown. “You are normal, Ava.”

She ignores me again, her eyes wandering over the room like she’s deep in thought. “Oh, yeah!” she blurts. “I also had a boyfriend.”

My entire throat closes as I choke. “You had a boyfriend?”

A weird sensation of ice-cold water and burning-hot fire rush through my body at once. I shake my head at the reaction and watch her as she swings her arms around her body.

“Mmhm,” she murmurs.

“Do you miss him?” I ask out of nowhere.

Goddess, help me get my shit together.

Ava’s eyes snap to mine within a second. “Do you miss Julia?”

Yeah, maybe we won’t go down that path tonight.

When I don’t respond, she wanders back over to the sofa and sits down next to me. Well…half on me, half on the sofa. I never expected her to sit this close, but I’m not complaining. I like knowing she trusts me.

Her hand reaches up, and she traces her index finger over my stubble and across my lips. Her touch is so gentle I barely feel it. I study her face as she analyses mine with big eyes and a pretty smile. The bond is zapping between us like lightning; it’s in the pit of my stomach.

“You’re a fine specimen,” she whispers as her finger pulls down my bottom lip.

My heart thumps in my throat. I grab her little fingers and press my lips to her warm skin in return. “You have a way with words, Ava.” I chuckle softly.

She fidgets on her knees and falls back. Luckily, I have a grip on her waist, catching her before she hits the floor.

“Woah!” she shrieks. I pull her back until our chests are flush against one another, then she starts to laugh, and I adore the sound. I’d keep it in a jar if I could and present it on my office desk to be reminded every day.

“Come on.” I beckon with my head. “Let's put you to bed.”

When she doesn’t move, I stand from the small sofa and carry her in my arms to her bed, tucking her beneath the sheets.

“Wait,” she mumbles, latching onto my wrist. “Stay. Please. I don’t want to be alone.”

I flick my eyes over her pleading face. My chest crumbles. There is no way I could say no to her, but at the same time, I want her to be sober while making these decisions. I would never want to push her boundaries and take advantage of them just because she’s drunk.

“Until you fall asleep,” I eventually land on.

Instead of getting in the bed, I lay on top of the sheets. I face the way she’s sleeping and watch her eyes flutter open and shut. She’s trying her hardest to stay awake, but I know the alcohol will claim her soon.

When she opens her eyes again, she scowls in my direction. She doesn’t look mad; she looks drunk-mad. “Why are you so far away from me?”

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