SWNOVELS Break My Heart: Chapter 15
I sit perched on the edge of the couch at the Roasted Bean, my eyes glued to the door, scanning every passerby for a glimpse of familiar blonde hair. The moment Ava steps foot inside—or worse, walks past the café and ditches me altogether—I want to be ready.
It wouldn’t surprise me if she changed her mind at the last minute. The girl is unpredictable, always keeping me at a firm distance, never allowing me to get too close.
I check my phone for what feels like the twentieth time.
She’s five minutes late and counting.
With a shift, I fidget with my cell.
The bell above the door jingles, pulling my attention from the thoughts racing through my head. I glance up, heart stuttering, only to be met with a flirty smile from a brunette. She gives me a look that says I’ll come over if you want me to.
I flash a polite smile and hope she moves on. If I give her the slightest bit of encouragement, she’ll beeline in this direction.
That’s not me being conceited.
It’s just straight up facts.
Scenarios that have played out hundreds of times in the past.
Dismissing the brunette, my gaze drifts back to the door. I’m still scanning for Ava, wondering where the hell she is and why she’s late. She’s not the type to make things easy, and it only drives home the realization that I care.
When another five minutes slip by, disappointment gnaws at me.
It’s official.
I’ve been ghosted.
How’s that for ironic?
The first time I ask a girl out because I’m legit interested, she ditches me.
Note to self—stick with the eager bunnies.
This sucks.
I take a deep breath and force my muscles to loosen.
This was always going to be a long shot.
Ava isn’t the kind of girl who’s interested in someone like me. She’s got walls higher than I’ve ever seen, and I’m not sure I’m equipped to climb them.
“Hi.”
I blink back to the present and realize the girl who sauntered through the door a few minutes ago is now standing in front of me, with a friend who looks eerily similar to her. They’re both sporting bags with the same Greek letters stamped across the front of them.
Sorority sisters.
Been there, done that.
Her friend beams a blinding smile my way. “We caught the last game and just wanted to stop by and say you were amazing. The hat trick was so impressive.”
“You make it look so easy,” the other adds.
“Thanks. Years of training can make anything look simple.” My gaze flicks from them to the door when the bell dings and another customer steps inside.
Air clogs my lungs.
The physical reaction I have to this girl is the strangest sensation ever.
I can’t help but want more of it.
It’s only been a couple weeks, and already the feelings she rouses in me are more like an addiction.
I can just imagine how she’d react if I admitted as much to her.
She’d probably take out a restraining order.
Would I necessarily blame her for that decision?
Nope.
Is it going to stop me from pursuing her?
Probably not.
Ava meets my gaze before her own darts to the girls, and she grinds to a quick halt. One brow slinks upward. The thoughts circling around in her head flash across her face before vanishing behind a mask of indifference.
My attention never deviates from her as I pop to my feet.
When I take a step in her direction, one of the girls reaches out to detain me. “We were wondering if you wanted to grab a coffee. Maybe we could—”
Before the rest of the sentence can make it past her pink-slicked lips, I shake my head. “Sorry, I have plans, and she just walked through the door.”
With matching frowns, they turn and stare at Ava.
I take their distraction as my opportunity to leave.
The last thing I want to happen is for Ava to change her mind. I might not know her well, but I can see the indecision written across her expression.
It only takes a few long-legged strides for me to eat up the distance between us. “You’re late, Tink.” I make a show of glancing at my phone. “By at least ten minutes.”
Her gaze flicks from mine to the girls, who have their heads bent together and are whispering furiously while staring at us.
“Looks like you had company while you waited. Am I interrupting a fan club moment?”
Not bothering to glance in their direction, I shake my head. “Not at all.”
Unable to keep my hands to myself for another second, my fingers wrap around her elbow as my other hand settles at the small of her back, propelling her toward a couch in the back, away from the girls.
Once she’s settled, I nod toward the counter. “I’ll grab us a couple of coffees. Anything specific you’d like?”
With a tilt of her head, the corners of her lips quirk. “Surprise me.”
I arch a brow. “Hmmm. Why does this feel like a test?”
“Not sure.”
When mischief sparks in her eyes, I narrow mine for a second or two before swinging toward the counter. Once there, I ponder the array of drink options written in colorful chalk until one catches my eye, and I order two of them.
The entire time I wait, my attention strays to Ava. I’m half afraid she’ll disappear. Most girls are thrilled if I give them a little bit of attention.
This one couldn’t be more different.
“That was a hell of a game the other night. I couldn’t be there in person, but I watched the highlights on ESPN.”
I glance at the barista. “Thanks.”
He rests his elbows on the counter, as if settling in for a long chat. “Yeah, I used to skate back in the day.”
“You don’t say.”
With a nod, he puffs out his chest. “I wasn’t half bad.”
My gaze slides to Ava.
Well, hell.
The brunette sorority sisters have descended, flanking her like vultures.
My attention stays pinned to them as I clear my throat. “Are the drinks ready?”
He straightens to his full height. “Cara? Put a rush on the Van Doren order!”
Less than thirty seconds later, a girl bustles around the corner with two cups. Her cheeks are pink and her hands tremble as she sets them on the counter. “Here you go! Sorry about the wait!”
“No worries. Thanks.”
As I step away from the register, she raises her voice. “Bye, Hayes Van Doren!”
Without turning, I lift one of the drinks. “Have a good one.”
As I make my way to Ava, I notice the girls have settled on either side of her, sandwiching her in. By the look on her face, she’s not thrilled about the situation.
Her gaze fastens to mine as I approach.
The sorority sisters straighten as their eager expressions lock on me like heat-seeking missiles.
One of them flashes a sly smile. “We were just getting to know your friend.”
It would be impossible not to notice the way Ava’s jaw tightens.
“Yeah! Now we’re all besties,” the other adds, trying to slip her hand around Ava’s smaller one. With a frown, Ava tugs it free.
“Thanks for keeping her company while I was getting our coffees.”
“No problem!”
“Now, if you two wouldn’t mind…” My voice trails off, not wanting to be rude.
“I’d love a coffee!” the girl on the left chirps.
“Me too!” the other agrees.
“Sure.” Their smiles widen before I nod toward the counter. “Mark would be happy to assist you with that.”
They blink a few times before understanding dawns across their faces.
“Oh.”
That’s all it takes for awkward silence to descend.
“Um… I guess we should leave you two alone, then?” Her brows draw together, as if that’s not what I could possibly want.
My smile widens as comprehension finally dawns on them. “That would be great. Thanks for understanding.”
They take their sweet time vacating the couch, as if they fully expect me to have a change of heart.
Yeah, that’s not going to happen.
I want this girl all to myself.
The sorority sisters hesitate for a long beat before finally rising to their feet, their exit slow and reluctant. “It was nice meeting you,” one of them says to Ava, her tone sweet but insincere.
Ava watches them go, then turns back to me with a shake of her head. “Do you have a fan club that stalks your every move?”
I grin, trying to lighten the mood. “Only when you’re around.”
Once they’re across the shop, I huff out a relieved breath before settling next to Ava and passing over the drink.
“Finally,” I mutter. “Alone at last.”
Confusion flashes across her delicate features. “Certain that’s what you really want?”
“One hundred percent. I’m interested in getting to know you. Kind of hard to do that with other people hanging around.”
She stares at the girls for a second or two before bringing the container to her nose and taking a delicate sniff. With her gaze pinned to mine, she takes a sip. As soon as the hot liquid hits her tongue, her eyes widen before fluttering shut as she savors the rich medley of flavors. Pleased with my selection, my muscles loosen as I relax against the cushions.
Even though I can tell she likes it, I want to hear her admit that I picked out a winner.
“So, what’s the verdict?”
She takes another drink. “Not bad.” Lifting the cup, she stares at it. “Which one is this?”
“The McNichols Special.”
There’s a beat of silence before she shakes her head. “Of course it is.”
“You might not have realized it since you’re new to Western, but Colby McNichols is pretty popular around here.”
She snorts. “Oh, it would be difficult not to notice.”
A prick of something foreign blooms in the pit of my belly. It takes a handful of seconds to realize what it is.
Jealousy.
It’s not a sensation I’ve experienced before.
I don’t like it.
Even more disconcerting is that it’s impossible to shake off.
What doesn’t make sense is that I’ve shared girls before and didn’t care one way or the other who they liked more.
So why is this strange emotion rearing its ugly head now?
With someone who’d prefer not to spend any time with me at all?
My brow furrows as I stare at Ava. The words shoot out of my mouth before I can stop them. “Do you have a thing for Colby?”
Her face scrunches. “Hardly. For one, I don’t date hockey players. And two, even if I did, he’s married to my friend.”
My rigidly held muscles loosen with that acknowledgment as I take a sip of my own drink and attempt to get this runaway conversation back on track again. “Don’t date hockey players, huh?”
“Nope.” With a shake of her head, she pops the P at the end of the word.
“Is that a firm stance or is there room to maneuver?”
“It’s impenetrable.”
I settle on my seat, all the while watching her carefully. “You know, I get the feeling you don’t want to be here.”
Her gaze flicks to mine as uncertainty flashes in her eyes. “It’s not that,” she says slowly, as if choosing her words carefully. “I’m just… not used to this.”
“To what?”
“To you.” With a shrug, she glances away. “You’re not what I expected.”
“Good surprise or bad one?” I ask, my voice softening.
She hesitates, her gaze meeting mine for a moment before darting away. “I’m still trying to figure that out.”
I lean forward, straining closer. “I can wait while you do.”
As Ava stares at me, I can almost see the walls she’s built start to crack. She’s unsure, still guarded, but there’s something else there, something that makes me believe I’m getting through to her, even if it’s only a little.
“You’re very persistent,” she mutters, taking another sip of her coffee.
I grin. “You have no idea.”
With a laugh, she shakes her head, as if she can’t quite figure me out. “I’m not sure what you’re after.”
I keep my gaze locked on hers and my tone serious. “I’m after you, Ava.”
She blinks in surprise, and I can see her inner conflict. As much as she wants to believe me, something holds her back. Something I can’t put my finger on yet.
“Nothing about me is easy,” she warns.
“I know,” I say, leaning back. “But I think you’re worth the effort.”
Instead of responding, she clears her throat and changes the subject. “Did your siblings have fun at the clinic?”
“They did. The boys have been participating in them since I started freshman year. This will be their last one.” A punch of sadness hits me. As much as I want to move on with my life, I’ve enjoyed living so close and spending time with them. That won’t be the case next year. Plus, Ollie will be in high school. His schedule will be packed with academics and hockey. I’ll probably blink, and Kia will be going off to college herself.
“I’m sure they’ll miss it.”
“I think we all will.”
As excited as I am to make my move to the pros, so we have more financial security, I won’t be able to spend as much time with them as I have these past couple years. It’s an unfortunate trade off.
“Hi, Hayes.”
I glance at Larsa Middleton, who has sidled up to us while I was focused on Ava. I’m still getting used to the idea that everything around me ceases to exist when we’re together.
“Hey, Larsa. Stopping in for a coffee?”
Her gaze flicks to Ava before she dismisses her without any acknowledgment. “If you’re not busy, I was thinking we could hang out at my place for a while. My professor just canceled class for the afternoon.” She flashes a knowing smile. “I’m sure we could figure out something to occupy ourselves with.”
I nod toward Ava. “Sorry, I’m a little busy at the moment.”
Larsa’s brows slant together. “Oh?”
“Yeah, Ava and I are having coffee.”
She drops down on the chair situated across from us. When she crosses one long leg over the other, the short corduroy skirt she’s wearing slides higher up her thigh. “I can wait.”
“Sorry, Larsa. We’re hanging out.”
Her face scrunches. “Together?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
The petite figure skater shakes her head. “We’re not together.”
I slip my hand around hers and give her fingers a squeeze. “We’re definitely together.”
Larsa takes a closer look at the girl sitting next to me. “Wait a minute. Aren’t you Coach Philips’s daughter?”
“Yup, I am.”
Speculation brews in Larsa’s eyes. “Interesting. Is she tutoring you or something?”
“No, she’s not.” With my hand locked around Ava’s, I rise to my feet, bringing her up with me. “If you’ll excuse us, we were just about to head out.”
“What about my coffee?” Ava asks.
“Leave it behind,” I mutter. “We’ll get you another one later. Let’s just get the hell out of here.”
We’re halfway to the door when a tall, lanky guy steps in front of us. “Hayes! That was an awesome hat trick you scored against the Titans.”
“Thanks.”
When he launches into my stats, I give Ava a bit of side-eye. I don’t need to know her well to realize she’s seconds away from leaving me behind in her dust. I have one chance to change her impression of me, and we’re only fifteen minutes into this date, and I’m already blowing it.
“I appreciate your support, but I’m kind of in the middle of something.”
He glances at Ava, as if seeing her for the first time.
What the hell is wrong with people around here?
“Oh.”
I clap him on the shoulder. “Thanks for your understanding.”
“Sure thing, Van Doren!”
With that, I hustle her ass out the door. It’s only when it closes behind us with a resounding thud and the small group doesn’t follow us out, that I breathe a sigh of relief. Under normal circumstances, I don’t mind shooting the shit and talking hockey with the fans, but that’s the last thing I want to do when I’m with this girl.
Before she can come up with a reason to bolt, I blurt, “Can I take you somewhere, Tink?”