Page 41 of Unexpected Love

“Is Declan going with you?” I ask. If he were going with her, I might understand her decision better. Declan normally goes back to Harborview for the major holidays, but from my understanding, he does it because Ava is there. This year is different, though. Now he has Quinn, someone I know he feels very deeply for, and I can’t imagine he’ll want to spend the holiday away from her.

“No, he’s staying here this year.” She tucks that piece of hair behind her ear, glancing down at the counter, but when she lifts her eyes, they’re filled with unshed tears. “It’s unlikely Scott will be here next year. Declan wants to be here…” Her voice trails off, leaving the rest unsaid. And it doesn’t need to be. No one in this town will be the same after Scott is gone, but the people closest to him will be devastated.

I move around the island counter, spinning her seat to face me. Her legs open, allowing me to step between them—and I do, without hesitation—pulling her into a hug.

With her arms around my waist and her head against my chest, I press a light kiss to the top of her head. I want to convince her that she should stay here for the same reason as Declan, but I have a feeling this decision was already a difficult one for her. I won’t make it worse.

“I’ll be here when you get home,” I tell her softly.

I noticed when she spoke of going to see her parents she never once called it home, and part of me hopes that’s because she’s already starting to think of Ashford Falls as home.

Her arms around me tighten for a moment before she pulls back just enough that she can look up at me. “Thank you.”

“For what?” I lift one hand, tucking that wayward piece of hair behind her ear.

“I know you want to convince me to stay here, but thank you for respecting my decision.”

“You’re a grown adult, Ava, and you don’t owe me anything. I’m here to support you however I can. That’s what I meant when I offered you some extra strength.” I pause and study her. “I’ll be here when you get home.”

I hope, more than anything, this trip will be exactly what she wants and needs it to be. But based on the very little I know about her parents, I have a feeling it won’t be. Maybe this will give her the clarity she needs to really move on from whatever happened before she got here.

As long as there’s a lesson learned, then even the hard situations are worth moving through.

I’m sittingat the counter at The Diner for lunch, just lifting the burger to my mouth for a bite, when my parents plop into the seats on either side of me. I freeze, looking between them. “Well”—I put the burger back on the plate and wipe my hands on my napkin—“this can’t be good for me.”

“Now why would you say that?” my mom asks, her tone filled with sarcasm.

“The last time you two looked at me like this was when I told you I was going to the police academy.”

They’d been supportive but worried about me. They’d seen my mental state and were concerned I was trying to replace what I had in the military without actually addressing my feelings. They feared I would put myself in an unsafe situation—and they hadn’t been entirely wrong. That conversation with them made me pause and think about my why. I needed that push, that reminder that I still had a life worth pursuing and finding my new purpose.

That knowledge didn’t make me any less nervous about this conversation with them. And I had no idea what I’d done to warrant the looks on their faces.

“I want to know why you haven’t introduced me to Ava, especially if you two are having dinner with your father. I thought you loved me.” There’s a twinkle in her eye, and she can’t keep her face straight for long. The tension leaves my body and my shoulders fall at the realization this isn’t serious.

I look at my dad, noting the smirk on his lips. He’s done this on purpose. That dinner at Murphy’s might have only been the second time Ava and I had seen each other, but my interest in her had already been piqued, and I know my dad noticed.

I look back at my mom. “Dad’s just stirring the pot. There’s nothing going on with Ava. We’re friends.” I make sure I don’t look away from her. If my eyes shift even the smallest amount, she’ll know I’m lying. Not that I like lying to her—or my dad. I tell them everything, but having this conversation at The Diner will surely result in someone overhearing, and I won’t tempt fate.

“So you three didn’t have dinner together over a month ago?” she asks.

“Yes, we did, but only because Dad invited her when he saw me talking to her. After he showed up late, I might add.”

I hear Dad scoff, but Mom asks another question before he can say anything.

“And you haven’t been seen having dinner together every Thursday night?”

“Don’t you regularly have dinner with Dad?” I counter.

“Well, that’s different.” She waves me off, picking up a menu—something I’ve never seen her do in my entire life.

My eyes move to Dad, seeing him mess with the napkin holder in front of him, avoiding eye contact. They’re hiding something, and in my gut, I know what it is.

“No,” I say in disbelief, practically whispering. “You two are back together?”

“What? Of course not.” This from my dad, who sits up straight in his seat, bringing his eyes to mine. But he’s not able to hold it long. A sure sign he’s lying.

My head whips to my mother, who’s trying desperately—and failing—to hold in a smile.

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