Page 12 of Unexpected Love

“Why not write him up?” I don’t know anything about being a teacher—at least not more than Declan has told me—but it seems like writing a student up would be the quickest way for them to learn a lesson.

“He’s so smart and doing well in his classes, but his behavior has him on the cusp of being expelled. I don’t want to be the reason for that,” Quinn answers. “I don’t want to ruin his chances of doing whatever he wants after high school.”

“Not everyone is worth saving,” I mutter under my breath. I know I’m being harsh, but I’ve been burned one too many times to offer more chances after people let me down.

“Do you know what you want to do with your time in town since you’ll be staying longer?” Quinn asks, changing the subject and saving me yet again.

“I honestly don’t know.” I know I need to figure it out, but I have plenty of time since I don’t have a job to get back to.

“Do you know how long you’re staying?” Declan asks as he picks at his lunch.

“Well, I’ve got a little over a month saved up. So I was thinking about staying through the new year.”

Declan stiffens in his seat, and I see Quinn place her hand on his back. “Ava.” He closes his eyes briefly before opening them and looking at me. “I know you don’t want to talk about it, and I want to respect that, but I need you to give me something to stop me from worrying.”

He’s right. I know I’m causing him more stress by making him imagine worst-case scenarios, but I’m not ready for the look of worry and sadness I know he’ll have when he learns the truth.

“I was fired from the firm.” I offer him a partial truth.

“What?” Declan breaths out.

“That’s all I’m going to say on it. I’m not sure I’m upset about it. Practicing law hasn’t made me happy for a while now.” I look at Quinn. She’s clearly someone my brother trusts and leans on for support, and I’m glad he has that.

I look back at Declan and give him as much as I’m ready to. “I just need a little time to figure it all out. I promise, when I’m ready I’ll tell you everything.”

Declan takes a deep breath before responding. “Okay. You’re welcome to stay as long as you want.”

“Thank you.”

I look back at Quinn and realize she and I aren’t all that different. Until recently, she was living in New York City as a big-time photographer with no plans of returning home. The only reason she’s here now is because of Scott’s cancer returning.

“I know you’re still in the same general field, but you did technically change careers. Would you recommend it?” I ask her.

“Ava!” Declan shouts, but Quinn laughs.

“You know what? I absolutely would. Sometimes, being forced to change one aspect of your life leads to a domino effect of wonderful things falling into it.”

We smile at each other, and lunch continues without issue.

six

GAGE

Three days later,and while I now know why Ava was at the courthouse—small town living has its perks—I can’t stop thinking about her or that look in her eyes. I haven’t seen her, but I’ve thought about her almost constantly.

It’s new for me, thinking about someone as much as I’ve thought about her. I’ve been turned down before—not that Ava actually turned me down—but I’ve never cared about it. Many would say I didn’t care enough with how quickly I moved on from rejection in the past.

The way I see it, love doesn’t exist. Infatuation? Lust? Like? Absolutely. But romantic love? I just don’t see it. So why waste time thinking about someone who doesn’t want to be with you?

I can admit my perception might be warped from seeing my parents in and out of numerous relationships with people they always claimed to love. But if love was real, wouldn’t at least one of those relationships have lasted? Wouldn’t those people have stuck around? I sometimes question whether any kind of love exists.

I do love my parents and my siblings—more than life. And in the past I would have probably said I loved my unit when I was in the army. But you go out of your way to stay in the lives of the people you love. It hurt to be so far away from my unit when I first got home, but if I'm honest with myself, that pain wore off quickly.

On the other hand, while I loved being in the army and serving my country, it physically pained me to be so far from my family and to have such little contact with them. I was in the army for twelve years and I never got used to being away from my family.

I think that's what love is—when it hurts to go long periods without interacting in some capacity with those you love.

Each time my parents remarried, their spouses claimed to love me. But when their marriage ended, they'd be gone, never to see me again. That is, of course, unless they had kids. Then, I would see them when they came to pick up my half-siblings for holidays and special occasions. But I was rarely acknowledged—barely a blip on their radar.

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