AllFreeNovel
Share Us
On the nights the girls convinced me to let Love spend the night, Connor and I would have deep conversations. We talked about my lack of relationship with Love’s father and how hard it was taking care of her all on my own. I even told him about all my different careers and my tendency to let fate make choices for the two of us most of the time. Unlike most men, he never made me feel like a lunatic or that I wasn’t doing what was best for my daughter.
He listened to all my stories and even talked about his late wife, Lydia. Anyone with eyes could tell that she still holds a piece of his heart; he even still wears his wedding ring. My concern is that he doesn’t have room in his heart for anyone else.
“Hmm, the fact that we haven’t been to Jade’s for almost three weeks. Or that every time I mention going over to their house to hang out, you change the subject. Or?—”
“I get it, Love.” I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose between my thumb and index fingers. “We need to head out before I’m late for work. You can hang outwith your Auntie Bristol and me or Auntie Selina and Emersyn before class.”
“Okay, Mom. But you can’t avoid them forever.” She huffs before stomping toward the front door.
“Teenagers are even worse than toddlers,” I mumble to myself before grabbing my keys off the hook and heading out the door.
Love doesn’t say another word as we drive downtown, leaving me alone with my thoughts on what to do with whatever this is between Connor and me. I need to put on my big girl panties and make a decision, but hell if I know what that is. On the one hand, I can see the life I could have with Connor, the family I’ve always dreamed of, but on the other hand, I could end up right where I was when I arrived here—heartbroken and completely lost.
I sigh loudly as I pull into a parking spot near the dance studio, no closer to making a decision than I was when I left the house.
“Bye, Mom. I’m going to go hang out with Auntie Selina.” Love gives me a quick kiss on the cheek and climbs out of the car.
My head drops back onto the seat as I whisper into the empty car, “I’m here to make a life for me and Love, not fall for mister tall, dark, and handsome.”
But you want him, don’t you?
“Shut up, you,” I respond to the nagging voice in the back of my mind, reminding me that if it was any other time, Connor would be exactly what I’m looking for. “I’m not falling in love with Connor Bennett!” I shout inside my car before shutting it off, hopping out, and slamming the door behind me for good measure.
“It doesn’t really work like that, hun.” I spin around, plastering myself to the driver’s side door as I come face to face with Bristol.
“When did you become a ninja? You appeared out of nowhere,” I reply, placing two fingers on my neck to check my pulse.
“Stop being so dramatic, Audrey. I’ve been standing here for a while. Love even gave me a kiss and a hug before running into the dance studio, but you were too into the conversation with yourself to notice.”
“Whatever.” I roll my eyes for good measure before squeezing between her belly and the car next to me. “Shouldn’t you be teaching a class or something?”
“I should be, but we finished early. I saw you pull in and figured I’d come and say hi.”
“Okay. Hi. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get to work,” I mumble, trying to avoid any further conversation about Connor and me, but before I can head toward the studio, Bristol places a gentle hand on my shoulder.
“Dang it,” Bristol says in mock horror. “I completely forgot to tell you that your class this evening was canceled.”
“Why?”
“Because I own the place and have barely spent any time with my best friend since she moved to town a fewweeks ago because she’s been hiding,” she deadpans, placing both her hands on my hips.
Connor isn’t the only person I’ve been keeping at arm’s length over the last few weeks. I haven’t been avoiding my friends, per se, but I don’t know how to answer all their questions about what’s going on between us.
“I haven’t been hiding. I’ve been busy trying to get us settled and Love ready to start school in a few months.”
“Love is fine, and I doubt it’s taken you this long to unpack. You don’t want to talk about what’s going on between you and Connor Bennett.”
“There’s nothing going on, Bristol.”
“Audrey Wilde, why do you always have to be so stubborn?” She sighs loudly. “If the two of you are meant to be, there really isn’t anything you can do about it.”
“Just like you and Seth?”
“We aren’t talking about me and the father of my child,” Bristol threads her arm through mine and pulling me toward the dance studio.
“You and I both know that you are in love with Seth. It shouldn’t matter that he’s in the military, but for some reason, you can’t bring yourself to let him know how you feel.”
“I refuse to let my baby grow up feeling like they’re second in anyone’s heart.” Bristol huffs as we stroll toward the dance studio.
