Page 205 of Heartache Duet

My eyes drift shut, sleep quick to consume me. “Ava, my future with you is all I think about.”

TWENTY-FIVE

connor

I wake up to my phone ringing, and my eyes feel like they’re burning when I open them. Every one of Ava’s limbs is somehow wrapped around me, and it takes me a moment to untangle myself from her to search for my phone. I find it in the pocket of my discarded jeans and cringe when I see Dad’s name on the screen. “Hey, Dad.”

“Hey. You still sleeping?”

“Yeah, Ava was over last night and uh…” I try to swallow, but my throat’s too dry. “Hey, is there any chance you could call the school…” I trail off.

He’s silent a beat before answering, “Yeah, I can do that.”

“You’re the best dad I’ve ever had,” I mumble.

Dad chuckles. “Big night?”

“Kind of.”

“No drinking and driving, I assume?”

“No. My car’s still at Rhys’s, and I’m not going to lie; we had a little here, too. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I prefer you to be honest, but just remember, you’re still a minor, Connor.”

“I know.”

“Is Ava taking the day off, too?”

“Yeah.”

“So, I’ll see you both when I get home?”

Next to me, Ava stirs.

“Mmm-hmm,” I murmur.

“Should I bring home some breakfast from the diner?”

“Literally the best dad in the entire world and I’m not even joking this time.”

“I have to use the bathroom,” Ava mumbles, climbing over and around me to get out of bed.

“We need to call Ross, too.” My agent. He’ll be thrilled to hear how bad my stats were from last night.

“Sure.”

Ava skips her pile of clothes and opens my drawers, finding a pair of boxer shorts and an old jersey. She throws them on.

“All right. Well, I’ll let you go,” Dad says while Ava rummages through her bag. She pulls out her phone and a plain white box. She throws the box on my lap before exiting the room.

“Don’t forget to call the school,” I remind Dad.

“I won’t. I’ll see you soon.”

“Bye.” I hang up and open the lid of the box.

My heart stops.

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