Eternal Hearts (Incurable Hearts 2) by Ellie R Hunter Page B

forgot about everything else that was going on. I don’t remember when you all left,” I admitted.
    “How has it been getting to know her?”
    “An eye opener” I laughed, “I feel like she is part of me now. She is planning on staying in Cambridge permanently so we have time to make up for before, although I am a little out of my depth when it comes to the attention she receives from boys” I admitted, telling her about what happened with Jack yesterday.
    “Ah yes, good luck with that” she laughed.
    We were talking about her son when the barman called last orders. As I was driving I didn’t have more than orange juice, I declined another drink and so did she.
    “Was tonight as bad as you feared?”
    “No, I had a really good time” I admitted to myself as well as her.
    “Good, the thing is I can’t afford to get involved with anyone if it isn’t going to be reciprocated. I can see you’re not ready for anything more than a drink, it’s a shame because we had a good time” she said being completely up front.
    “We did” I smiled weakly.
    Thank god she said it first, I didn’t want to dash her hopes for a second drink.
    “It really isn’t you” I winced, wow, how much of a cheesy cliché?
    “Don’t worry, I understand better than you think. If you ever want to talk or just have a drink, call me,” she offered before leaning over.
    I had been completely absorbed with fretting over the initial idea of a date, I forgot the kiss at the end of the night. Before I had a chance to think anymore, she lightly kissed my cheek, smiled and got out of the car.
    I watched her walk to her door before driving away. All the way home I kept thinking, I had done it. Who was I kidding, it wasn’t a drink, it was a date. I had been on my first date and survived.
    Everyone had thankfully left when I arrived home, and Ava must have been in bed.
    Looking back over the night with Megan, it was a blur. I did have a good time, I already knew nothing serious would come of it, yet it was weird how I felt refreshed from spending the evening with another woman, doing what normal people did on dates, yet I was shattered from the whole experience.
    I washed up and got into bed, I was tired enough to fall asleep but my mind had other ideas.
    “I have missed you,” I told her.
    “I love these moments”
    “So do I, I don’t see you as much anymore” I frowned.
    “That’s because you are moving on, you don’t need me as much”
    “I’ll always need you,” I told her.
    “It’s okay not to need me. You have Ava now, and if you open yourself to the possibility, you could have Megan”
    I hated it when she spoke like this, she was after all, my mind playing tricks, so why couldn’t she just play along? It was just me, myself and I saying it is okay to move forward. Hearing it from Jas or telling myself didn’t change the gut wrenching feeling I felt every time I seriously thought about moving forward without her. 
    I turned the lamp off, plunging the room into darkness.
    “Good night Jas” I murmured before falling asleep.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter Six
    Ava
     
    Yesterday I called Lizzie and we arranged to meet at a Starbucks in town, a complete neutral territory for the both of us. I was up and out early hoping to be the one who arrived first, so I was very surprised when Lizzie was already seated with drinks.
    “Hello, I hope you don’t mind, I ordered you a hot chocolate as I didn’t know if you like coffee” she said , as I pulled out a chair.
    “Hi, that’s fine thank you” I smiled taking a small sip to prove it, “How are you?”
    “I’m nervous. I’m still in shock to be honest” she admitted.
    “Me too”
    We both kept taking sips of our drinks to cover the silence. After five minutes it became unbearable.
    “Why don’t you tell me what my mother was like as a child?” I offered getting the conversation going. I noticed she was