Page 226 of Heartache Duet

His mouth claims mine, his urgency forcing me onto my back as his hand slides up my thigh. I part my legs, giving him what he wants.

What he needs.

Even if it costs me my pride.

THIRTY-ONE

ava

“Is there anything I can do for her?” Connor asks, his gaze shifting from Mom, sitting on the couch in the living room, back to me.

I finish up washing the last of the dishes and hand it to him to dry. “Not really, it’s just part of who she is.” It’s a lie, and he seems to realize that going by the way he’s staring me down.

It’s been a couple weeks now since Connor and I fought and around the same amount of time since the doctors were here. They couldn’t find a solution to our financial problems that didn’t mean cutting some of Mom’s meds and giving her alternatives. They’d hoped the change in her wouldn’t be drastic, but it’s the third zero-day in a row now, and things are looking bleak, at best. But at least she hasn’t hit the negative numbers.

Yet.

“Maybe I should get her back to the sports park. That might help, right?”

I dry my hands on a dish towel and look up at him. “I don’t know, Connor. You can ask, but not right now.”

He nods, looking out the window. “Fireflies will be out soon. That could help, too.” It warms my heart that he’s this thoughtful, especially when it comes to her. I just wish it was enough to take away the constant dull ache in my chest. Things with us haven’t been the same since Wendy. I still don’t know who she is, and I’m not going to ask. But it’s there, nagging, always at the forefront of my mind, and maybe that’s why I’m struggling with my feelings toward him. Or maybe I’m just placing all the blame for our disconnect on that and not everything else that seems to be going on around us.

Headlights shine through the living room window, and I look at the time. It’s close to 8 p.m., and Trevor’s just now getting home. He enters a moment later, his eyes instantly finding Mom on the couch. He greets her with a kiss on the cheek before making his way to the kitchen. “Hey, man,” he says to Connor. Then to me: “Please tell me we have food.”

“Yeah. I saved you a plate in the fridge.”

“Are you just finishing work now?” Connor asks him.

Trevor nods, his head in the fridge, searching for the plate that’s no doubt right in front of him. “Yep. I have to somehow dig myself out of this debt.” He looks at Connor. “You know anyone who needs any work done? We’re kind of desperate right—”

I clear my throat, stopping him from revealing too much. I don’t want Connor to know, to worry.

Trevor’s focus flicks between Connor and me, but Connor’s the first to speak. “How bad is it?”

“It’s not bad,” I lie.

Trevor shakes his head at me. “Ava, Connor knows people around here. More than you do. He could probably use some contacts from the team to help us out. Contacts with money.”

“Trevor, stop,” I sigh out. “It’s not his problem.”

Connor pushes off the counter. “Wait, it’s that bad?”

“No.” Another lie from me.

“Yes,” says Trevor, narrowing his eyes at me. “Would you rather Connor hand out some of my business cards or I make the call to Peter, because—”

“Hang on,” Connor cuts in.

I grind my teeth, my lashes lowering.

“What does Peter have to do with—”

“Nothing,” I interrupt. “He’s got nothing to do with this. And neither do you.” I look at Trevor. “This is my problem. No one else’s.”

“And mine,” Trevor says. “Mainly mine.”

“I just need time,” I whisper, glancing at Mom. She hasn’t moved from her spot. In fact, she hasn’t moved at all. She’s fallen asleep sitting up.

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