Page 75 of Connor

I chuckled, shook my head as I took a bite. She kept eating, still watching me, still wary, like she’s waiting for me to fuck it up somehow. And I got it. I really did.

I’ve given her every reason to doubt me.

But I was ot going to let her doubt me anymore.

After breakfast, I helped her grab her things for school, and tossed her bag over my shoulder like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

"Connor," she started. "I can carry my own bag—"

"I got it," I say simply.

She stared at me for a second. It was so fucking domestic, I almost laughed.

But I liked it.

I loved it, actually.

I walked her to my car, opened the door for her without thinking. She slid in, while she was still watching me like she was waiting for the catch. L

I hated that I’ve made her feel like that.

I got in, started the engine, and started driving. We pulled up in front of the university, and I put the car in park.

"I’ll be home by dinner."

She blinked, startled. "What?"

"What? You think I was just gonna disappear?"

She pressed her lips together like she didn’t want to admit that, yeah, she kind of did.

I leaned in, pressed a slow, lingering kiss to her lips. "I’m not running anymore, Summer."

She still didn’t say anything.

But when she got out, she hesitated for half a second. And I saw a faint smile across her face.

My chest ached.

Because fuck, maybe that wasn’t much.

But it was something.

And I would take every little something I could get. I was a complete asshole to her all this time and I must win her back. It is my duty as a man, as a father to be and as a man who fell in love with the most kind and beautiful woman there is.

With one last glance at the entrance, I pulled away from the curb and head toward home. Mom was getting out of the hospital today, and it’s time I faced my childhood home.

***

I pulled into the driveway of the house I grew up in. It looked smaller than I remember. Or maybe I just grew up. Either way, it was unsettling to see after spending so much time trying to forget about it.

The windows were dark, the paint was faded, and the porch sagged slightly—like the house suffered just as much as the people who lived inside it.

I killed the engine and came out. My boots hit the pavement with a dull thud, and the sound grounded me. Taking a deep breath, I headed toward the door, pushing it open without knocking.

Aiden was already inside, and by the look of things, he was sorting through boxes in the living room.

He didn’t look up when I entered, but must’ve known I was there. "Took you long enough," he muttered, pulling a box off the shelf and setting it down with a heavy thud.