“Dad?”
I stand up, kiss her head, and walk out the door. I throw on my shoes and stomp across the lawn. Jade and Ryan are in the hot tub when I storm in through the gate.
“Is she fucking him?”
Jade begins, “Lucas, what are you—”
“Don’t fucking lie to me, goddammit, Jade! Is Tessa fucking Zach Taylor?”
“Of course not. That’s—”
“Fucking save it!”
I turn around and see Ava standing there, looking terrified.
“Dad?”
My chest burns again, and I hold my hand to it. “Ava, please don’t. Not now.”
God, it hurts.
I walk home, up the stairs, and sit on my bed. When I lie down, the room spins.
?
When I wake up, Ava is sitting on my bed, crying.
I sit up and look at her, and she hugs me.
“You fell asleep. I thought—”
I hug her back. “I’m fine.”
“You love her. You love Tessa Abraham.”
I can’t tell her I don’t.
“You have to tell her, Daddy.”
“Ava, Tessa needs to heal. I’m not going to—”
“Then I will! You were so upset. I’ve never seen you that upset. You fell asleep. I thought you were—”
“You can’t tell her. You can’t mention it. I promise I’m fine. I don’t want Logan to know. Oh God, where is Logan?”
“In his room. He’s feeling sorry for himself, too.” She sniffs back tears. “You men in my life drive me crazy you know—”
“We will both be fine. You will be fine.”
“I can’t go back to school now. Logan will be gone, and you’ll be alone.”
“I have a ton of work. I’ll be busy. Ava, everything will work out the way it’s supposed to.”
“I’m moving home.”
“When you can, Ava.” I smile at her. “Promise me that you will when you can. Maybe get an internship here?”
“If you promise to get out and start living again, Dad.”