SWNOVELS Break My Heart: Chapter 12
The drive to Harvey’s Eats and Treats is a quick fifteen minutes from the arena, but with Ava sitting next to me in the passenger seat, it feels like a longer stretch of time. She offered to take her own car, but Kia—God bless her—begged Ava to ride with us. There was no way she could say no to those big blue eyes, and I wasn’t about to let her off the hook.
Without my little sister doing my dirty work, I’m sure Ava would have found an excuse to avoid my beat-up Ford Bronco. The old girl might be rusty and a little worse for wear, but I’d never replace her. Not even with the NHL salary I’m hoping to land next year. I’ve put too much blood, sweat, and tears into this truck, working summers in high school to afford it, then spending weekends fixing her up with my uncle. She’s seen me through a lot, and there’s something grounding about that.
Ava sits stiffly beside me, her fingers twisted together in her lap, eyes glued to the windshield like she’s trying to will herself to be anywhere but here. Alternative rock hums through the speakers while my siblings chatter in the back seat about their morning on the ice.
After we pull into the parking lot of Harvey’s, Ava pops the handle and steps out of the truck before assisting the kids. All three of them scramble from the backseat and race toward the entrance. I chuckle, watching them disappear inside as the bell above the door chimes in their wake.
“You’ve certainly got your hands full,” Ava mutters.
I grin, locking up before we follow them inside. “You have no idea, Tink.”
Harvey’s is one of our favorite spots. It’s got this old-school diner vibe with pinball machines, a jukebox, and a menu filled with classic burgers, fries, and the best milkshakes in town. It’s not something we splurge on often, but every now and then, I like to treat my siblings to dinner out just to remind them that things won’t always be this tough. That better days are ahead of us.
As we walk in, Shelley—the waitress who practically watched me grow up—spots the kids and greets them with a wide smile. “Hey! It’s been a while since I’ve seen the Van Doren bunch! Want your usual table?”
She doesn’t bother to wait for a response, already knowing the drill. The kids love the booth near the pinball machines. Her gaze catches mine, and a curious brow arches as she takes in the girl beside me. I can practically see the gears turning in her head. It’s only a matter of time before she calls my mom with the latest gossip.
Once we’re seated, Kia scoots close to Ava until she’s practically sitting in her lap. Shelley hands out menus even though we don’t need them.
“The usual?” she asks.
“Yeah, that sounds good,” I say, glancing at Ava. “Do you need more time to make a decision?”
She shakes her head, a small smile playing around her lips. “I’m good. My dad and I came here last month. He loves the Salisbury steak. It reminded him of the place my mom used to work at in college.”
I lean back, taking in the way her face softens as she talks about her family. This version of Ava—more relaxed, less guarded—is rare, and I find myself wanting to keep the conversation going, to tease out more from her.
“Do you have any siblings?”
With a shake of her head, she tucks a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “No, but I’ve always wondered what it’d be like.”
I glance toward my brothers and sister, who are busy bickering over which of them is the better hockey player. “They can be loud and rambunctious, but I wouldn’t trade them for the world. It’s kind of like having chaos and calm all at once.”
She smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “I bet. I’m sure your parents appreciated the help, especially with such a big age gap between you and them.”
I pause for a moment, considering how to answer. This is the most we’ve talked about anything personal, and I don’t want to say something that will send her guard shooting back up.
“Guess I got the best of both worlds. I had my parents to myself for a while, then got to be a big brother.”
Before Ava can respond, Ollie breaks away from the pinball machine and rushes over. “Can we get some quarters for the games?”
“Pleeeeease,” Kia adds, stretching out the word for a solid ten seconds.
Ava chuckles from beside me before covering it with a cough.
I pull a ten and two singles from my wallet before handing them over to Ollie for safekeeping. “Have Miss Shelley break it at the cash register.” My gaze settles on Theo. “If I give the three of you twelve dollars, how much do each of you get?”
With a furrowed brow, he looks upward, as if the answer might be magically written on the ceiling. “Ollie and Kia get three each and I get the rest.”
“Nice try. Everyone gets four bucks.” I point at the three of them. “And no fighting.”
Theo and Kia cheer before running off, leaving me with Ava.
If I’m lucky, I’ll get a solid ten minutes alone with her before they’re back, begging for more money. So I need to make the most of it.
If Ava has her way, I’ll never get another chance like this again.
She stares after them with a bemused expression. With her distracted, it gives me the perfect opportunity to silently soak in the sight of her.
She shakes her head and chuckles. “They’re pretty cute.”
“What they are is a pain in the ass,” I correct, though there’s a fondness in my voice I can’t hide. “They keep my mom busy, for sure.”
Her lips curve as she shrugs. “I can see that. When I was about ten, I begged my parents for a sister or brother. It was always just the three of us, and there were times when it was lonely. That’s when they sat me down and told me that my mom couldn’t have more kids. They’d both been so sad.”
It’s kind of weird to think of Coach having a life outside of hockey. Maybe even a few unfulfilled hopes and dreams.
“Are you close with them?”
She nods. “Yeah, I am.”
“They must be pretty protective since it’s just you.”
Emotion flickers in her eyes before she glances away. Just when I think she’ll evade the question with a change in topic, she says, “They are.” There’s a pause before her voice dips. “The last year has been difficult for them.”
Everything around me fades to the background as I press closer, wanting to know every detail she’s willing to hand over. “How come?”
She shrugs as her teeth scrape across her lower lip. “The move and just everything that came along with it.”
Even as I nod, I replay her words in my head, trying to make sense of them. I get the feeling there’s more to the story than Ava is willing to tell me. What I’ve already discovered in the little time we’ve spent together is that she’s guarded. If I push too hard, attempting to dig for the truth, she’ll shut down, and I’ll lose the tiny bit of trust I’ve gained this afternoon.
I glance at my phone, knowing our time together is running out. “My mom is going to meet me here to take the kids home since they live about thirty minutes away.”
She picks up the straw wrapper from her drink and smooths it out before folding it accordion style. “You’ve mentioned your mom several times, but not your dad.” Her gaze flicks upward, pinning mine in place. “Are they divorced?”
It’s a fair question, one I’m used to answering, but it still stings. “He died right before Kia was born.”
Ava’s hand flies to her mouth as regret floods her features. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
I shake my head. “It’s okay. He was a great dad. Life hasn’t been easy without him, but we’re managing.”
She surprises me by reaching across the table, her fingers curling around mine in a gentle, comforting gesture. “Do you mind me asking how it happened?”
“Distracted driver,” I say quietly. “The guy was a few years older than me, and I knew him. It was an election year, and the DA was hellbent on making an example out of him. He went to prison, but it didn’t change anything. It was a tragedy all the way around.”
Her eyes flicker with sympathy, and for the first time, I see a crack in her tough exterior before she glances at my siblings again as if with fresh eyes. “They’re lucky to have you.”
The heartfelt comment takes me by surprise. I don’t talk about my dad with many people, but somehow, sharing my past with Ava feels… easy.
Right.
“Kia chattered about you nonstop in the locker room. Just in case you didn’t realize it, she’s your number one fan.”
My lips quirk. The feeling is entirely mutual. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for that girl.
And that includes burying bodies or taking someone out to the woods if they break her heart.
“It’s good to know she was hyping me up.”
“The entire time.”
“I should probably slip her a few bucks for putting in a good word.”
Our gazes cling from across the table as Kia’s excited voice cuts through the air. “Mom!”
I glance up to see my mom standing near the entrance, talking with an excited Kia while Theo tugs on her sleeve, trying to get her attention. Ollie is still glued to the pinball machine.
When she finally spots me, her eyes widen slightly as they land on Ava. It doesn’t take long for her to recover. She walks over, a smile already forming on her lips.
“Ava, this is my mom, Cheryl. Mom, this is Ava.” I introduce them quickly, hoping Mom doesn’t say anything too embarrassing.
“It’s nice to meet you,” my mom says, her smile warm and genuine.
“You too,” the girl across from me replies politely, her earlier ease slipping away under the older woman’s scrutiny.
Mom’s eyes sparkle with interest as she glances between us. “Are you two friends?”
Ava’s quick to say “No.”
But I counter at the same time. “Yes.”
Mom’s brows shoot up. “I see.”
I suppress a laugh as Ava’s cheeks flush a deep shade of pink.
“We met recently,” she clarifies.
Mom doesn’t push for more info, but I can tell she’s dying to. Instead, she turns back to the kids. “Well, I should get them home. Theo’s got a birthday party later this afternoon.”
I stand, giving my siblings a quick hug and then hugging my mom too.
“Thanks for taking them.” She glances at the three of them. “Seems like they had a great time.”
“They did.”
With a smile, she leans in to whisper, “Text me later. I want all the details.”
I roll my eyes as she herds the kids out of the restaurant. The second they’re gone, the silence between Ava and me grows heavier. As much as I want to spend more time with her, I’ve probably pushed the envelope enough for one day.
“Ready to head out?” I ask.
With a nod, she rises to her feet and grabs her jacket. After taking care of the check, we walk back to the truck.
As we approach, I quicken my steps to open the passenger door.
Her brow arches as she smirks. “Chivalry, huh?”
I grin. “You just met my mom. Do you really think I’d survive in that house without at least learning a few manners?”
She laughs, the sound light and warm. “Fair point.”
Once she’s settled, I jog around to the driver’s side and hop in, starting up the truck.
Without Ollie, Theo, and Kia acting as a buffer with their incessant chatter, thick tension crackles in the air between us. I rack my brain for something to say. Something that will get us back to where we were earlier at the restaurant when our conversation flowed with ease.
Instead, my mind remains frustratingly blank. Every time something pops into my head as a possible topic, I disregard it.
When have I ever had this much trouble talking with a chick?
The answer is never.
As we drive back to campus, I can’t stop replaying the way her hand had settled over mine at the diner.
The way she’d softened, even if it was just for a moment.
We’re halfway back to the arena when her phone buzzes. She pulls it from her pocket and glances at the screen. Fear flashes across her expression before it’s quickly masked as tension seeps into her shoulders.
I don’t want to pry, but it’s hard to ignore the way her entire demeanor has changed. “Is everything okay?”
She swallows, slipping the phone back into her pocket. “Just someone from my past who refuses to stay there.”
It’s so tempting to ask for more details, but I know better than to push.
Whatever is going on, it’s clearly something she’s not ready to talk about.
At least, not with me.
But I can wait.
If my past has taught me anything, it’s to stay focused on the long game.
Especially when it involves a certain pixie-like figure skater.