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Vance throws his hands up in surrender as she opens the half door and slides in. “I’ve been telling him, but he’s taking his sweet time with it. Strike while the iron is hot, I say.”
“Have you gotten Selina to go out with you yet?” Jade asks before popping an ear bud into one ear. When Vance doesn’t say anything, she continues. “That’s what I thought.”
“Shut it, Squirt. I’m wearing her down,” Vance turns his attention toward me. “You’re welcome, by the way. If I wouldn’t have given you the idea of having dinnertogether tonight, you’d have been trying for another week to catch her off guard.”
I send up a silent prayer of thanks for Vance’s meddling ways. “Don’t I know it, but this isn’t a date. It’s just the four of us having dinner together.”
“That’s not how you wanted it to be, is it?” Jade questions, cocking her head to the side.
“Not at all, but it’s what makes her comfortable,” I respond, eyeing her skeptically.
There’s no doubt that Jade and Love know exactly how I feel about Audrey. Those two are thick as thieves, but who knows how they really feel about their parents being together? I know I’ve asked Jade about it, and she seems okay, but now that it’s really happening, I want to check back in with her just to make sure. All it would take is one word from her to stop, and I would. No matter how my feelings for Audrey have grown over the last month, if Jade isn’t happy, it’s not happening.
“You really like her, don’t you?”
“I do,” I reply, not wanting to sugarcoat my feelings for Audrey. “Are you okay with that?”
“Dad, I’m fourteen, not two.” Jade snorts before grabbing my hand and giving it a squeeze. “You deserve to be happy just like everyone else.”
“I’m happy,” I grumble, causing Vance to chuckle.
“Whatever you say, Dad.” Jade shakes her head before releasing my hands and leaning back. “Love and I can hang out in my room after dinner and give you two timeto chat. That will be the perfect time for you to make your move.”
I peek at Jade in the rearview mirror as I back out of the spot and head home. “I don’t want to discuss my moves with you.”
“I don’t want you to, either. I’m speaking hypothetically.” Vance lets out a boisterous laugh, slapping his knee a few times before gripping his stomach.
I shake my head at his antics. “I can’t wait for you to have a teenage daughter.”
“Neither can I. Selina and I will have gorgeous children.”
“Wishful thinking,” I mutter to myself before focusing my attention back on the road.
Jade is right. I need to use this opportunity to get closer to Audrey. I know someone hurt her badly in the past. It’s understandable she has trust issues when it comes to men. I hadn’t thought about having a relationship in years, believing there was no one else in this world for me but Lydia. That is, until I met Audrey. Just being near her completes me in a way I didn’t know was possible. Now the only thing I need to do is convince her to take a chance on me. Not a hard task, not at all.
Chapter 13
Audrey
“Hold on a second, Love.” I pull my hand from her grasp. “You have dance class in a few minutes. What’s gotten into you?” I stop dead in my tracks and cross my arms.
“I told Auntie Selina that I was missing class today.” Love turns toward me and mirrors my position. “I’m not letting you get out of having dinner with Connor.”
“Who said anything about trying to get out of it? He asked, and I said we would come over for dinner.” I step around her and hit the button to unlock the car.
“Mom, I heard you two talking. He didn’t want to have dinner with all of us. He wanted to take you on a date.” Love pulls her door open and drops into the seat.
I open my door and take a seat. Before I have a chance to start the engine, Love sighs. “I just want you to be happy, Mom. What are you so afraid of?” Love stares into my eyes, searching for an answer.
I have plenty of things to be afraid of, but nothing more than whatever this is between Connor and me.Who knew that after a few stolen kisses and a heavy makeout session, that the connection I feel with him would be off the charts. It’s as if our souls are in perfect tune with each other, and it freaks me out. Have I ever felt like this before? No. Do I anticipate ever feeling like this again? Also no. But that doesn’t make me any less terrified about crossing the line in the sand.
I promised myself and Love that I’d put her first, that I’d grow up and stop searching for someone to love me and focus on what’s best for her. Being here in Tyson’s Creek is what’s best for Love. She’s thriving here. Everyone here has practically adopted the two of us as their own, and I don’t want to jeopardize that if whatever this is between Connor and me blows up in my face.
“I’m not afraid of anything. I promised you that I was going to remain focused on getting settled in and making a home for the two of us here.” I quickly start the engine and reverse out of the parking spot, pointing the car towards home.
“You can fall in love and make a home for us at the same time. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.” Love ends the conversation by shoving her ear buds into her ears.
Love isn’t wrong, but is it worth the risk? I refuse to let history repeat itself. Every time I open myself up to love, it blows up in my face. With Trey, I was enthralled with the popular boy who gave me attention. He treated me differently than anyone else and made me feel special before taking what he wanted from me and disappearing.The only good thing that came from that relationship was Love, and I could never regret her, but I didn’t learn from my mistakes.
