Page 211 of Heartache Duet

I scoff, place my ear to his chest so I can listen to the magic that lives only for me. “You’re not the one who needs to be worried,” I say around the knot in my throat. “There are going to be so many groupies there. Don’t go meeting other girls.” It’s meant to be a half-hearted joke, but I can’t seem to hide the legitimate worry that’s been building inside me.

He shifts the hair away from my face, holding it to the side of my head so he can look me directly in the eyes. “Ava, come on.”

“I know,” I sigh out. “But you’ll be out there doing You things, and I’m the small-town girl you left behind… it’s a tale as old as time.”

“Stop,” he orders.

I shrug. “I’m a little insecure, okay?”

He huffs out a breath, then kisses me once. “What can I do to make you feel better about it?”

Reaching up, I run a finger along his forehead. “Get my name tattooed right here.”

He laughs. “Just A V A?”

Nodding, I say, “And Diaz. Just so it’s clear. Maybe Ava E. D. Diaz.”

“That’s a lot of letters, babe.”

“Well, lucky you have a giant head.”

His head throws back with his laughter, and I smile, pull back a little to give him room to breathe.

“I’m stupid,” I admit. “Go and have a good time. The best time. Forget me.”

“All right. I won’t forget you, but I will try to have a good time without you.”

“Good.”

“You’re going to be late to multimedia, and Miss Salas has been a raging bitch lately.”

“I know.” I kiss him again, and this time, I let my tongue do the talking.

When we pull apart, he asks, “Hey, when I get back, will you do that thing with your tongue on my—”

Laughing, I start to walk away from him for the second time and shout, so everyone around us can hear, “Yes, Connor! I promise! When you get back, I’ll wax your nipples again! Your asshole, too!”

TWENTY-SEVEN

ava

My house looks like the Fourth of July the next day, with red, white and blue streamers and balloons scattered throughout the living room. It was Mom’s idea, and I was all for it. Trevor holds on to a lone maroon balloon and raises it in the air. “Gig ‘em, Aggies!” He’s still butt-hurt thinking we never cared about his games, but it was hard to show how proud we were of him when he was all the way in Texas.

We set up around the TV with popcorn and drinks. Mom wears her All-American jersey, and I wear one of Connor’s Wildcats jerseys. Every minute closer to game time, my excitement seems to double. It’s his first national broadcast, and I’m so thrilled for him.

I take a photo of the room and Mom and send them both to Connor with the caption:

Ava: We’re just a little excited. Can you tell?

And then one of Trevor frowning with his balloon and write:

Ava: He doesn’t count.

I wait until it’s only minutes before the game to send:

Ava: I know you won’t see this until after the game, but I just want you to know how proud I am of you, of everything you’ve accomplished and everything you are. No matter what happens today, or tomorrow, or a year from now, you’ll always be my number one, #3. I love you more than the magic inside you.

“Here he is,” Mom says, slapping my leg a little too excitedly.

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