Page 41 of Heartache Duet

“Not a boyfriend, but a friend boy.”

“Go on.”

“And he said he’d like to meet you.”

“When?”

“Whenever you’re up for it.”

“Hmm.”

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“Not tonight,” she mumbles. “But maybe tomorrow.”

“Okay,” I say, but I don’t believe it. Believing would create hope. And hope has no home here. At least not on zero days.

NINETEEN

ava

I take the bus home the next day because Trevor has a job and Connor has practice. I’d love to watch, jeer him from the sidelines, but it’s been a long time since I’ve wanted to do any after-school activities, so Krystal only works the set times I’m at school.

The moment I enter the house, the smell of freshly baked cookies hits my nose, filling my heart with nostalgia. “Ava!” Mom calls from her bedroom.

I drop my bag by the door and rush in to see her, panic swarming my insides. Krystal’s sitting on the bed, while Mom stands in front of her dresser. Dressed in a floral skirt and pale pink cardigan, she holds up two different necklaces against her chest. “Which one?” she asks.

“Mama, you look so pretty,” I croak out, my pulse settling to a steady strum. “What’s the occasion?”

She lowers her hand, eyeing me questioningly. “For your friend’s visit? Remember?”

Jaw unhinged, I look over at Krystal. “She’s been talking about it all day. She’s very excited, Ava. She even baked cookies.”

“You did?” I ask, my gaze back on my mother.

She’s nodding, smiling.

Pride fills every empty space of my being. “He’s at practice right now, but he’ll be done soon.”

“Okay,” Mom chirps. “We can wait.”

“Okay,” I agree.

“So?” she asks, lifting the necklaces again. “Which one?”

* * *

Ava: CONNOR!

Ava: CALL ME AS SOON AS YOU FINISH.

Ava: IT’S URGENT.

I throw my phone on the bed and strip out of my clothes. Then I stand there in my underwear, trying to decide what to wear because, besides my school uniform, I live in sweats. It’s been way too long since I’ve had to dress for the outside world, and even though I’m still at home, it’s Connor… Connor is coming to my house and—

And—

Calm down, Ava.

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