Free Eternal Hearts (Incurable Hearts 2) by Ellie R Hunter

the space they needed. My muscles tightened when I saw tears forming in Lizzie’s eyes, I haven’t forgotten her drunken, emotional outbursts with Jas and I prayed she didn’t unleash any today.
    “I’m glad you came. God, this is unbelievable. I don’t know what to say” Lizzie said , soaking up every bit of Ava.
    “My plan is to stay in Cambridge, so we can arrange a day to get to know each other, if you want?” Ava asked her.
    “Yes! Of course I want that” she replied getting very teary.
    “I have to go now, here is my number. Call me when you want to meet up, I would prefer it not to be in a pub though” she said, strongly knowing how she wanted this possible relationship to proceed.
    “Of course not, we can arrange a more suitable place. Here is my number,” she said writing it down on a scrap piece of paper from her bag on the bar.
    “Where are you staying?” she asked.
    “With Fiona and Henry”
    “They are good people, they looked after your mother when I didn’t” Lizzie said wistfully. I could see how this was going, I stood up and stepped closer to Ava.
    “Always quick to save the girl CJ” Lizzie snapped at me.
    “This has been a pleasant introduction Lizzie, let’s not ruin it now” I said.
    “ I’ll call you tomorrow” Ava said standing beside me.
    “Make sure you do, I messed it all up with your mother, and I don’t want to do the same with you”
    “I’m sure you won’t” Ava said beginning to walk away.
    Hell no she won’t, because I’ll not give her the opportunity to do so.
         “She seems so lonely” Ava spoke once we were back in the car.
    “She has been on her own for a long time, not that she didn’t bring it on herself. Don’t pity her too much” I warned her, “Anyway, what shall we do for the rest of the day?” I asked her changing the conversation.
    “Rose mentioned my mother left her the house, she said I was more than welcome to visit so I could see where she lived”
    “I don’t think it will be the same as when Jas was there,” I said hoping she wouldn’t want to still go.
    “Rose said she hasn’t changed a thing” she challenged, “I know it won’t be nice for you, I can go on my own if you like?”
    “That won’t be necessary, I’ll take you,” I said, regretting I opened my mouth in the first place.
    I took the next exit and made my way back to the big white house.
     
    I couldn’t stop the lightheaded queasiness that passed over me as we walked towards the back door. Hundreds of memories kept flashing through my mind. My hands shook unlocking the door to the kitchen.
    Inside, absolutely nothing had changed, it looked as if we should still be here, all living together under the same roof.
    “It’s beautiful,” she murmured wondering around taking in her surroundings.
    “You should see the rest of the house”
    I showed her around the rooms downstairs including the extension where the swimming pool was housed.
    When I closed my eyes I could remember the night she pushed me in the pool, hearing her giggle, watching her undress before jumping in and joining me, the way her skin felt against mine in the water. No, I had to stop thinking about her. I shook my head clear of thoughts and spoke.
    “It took me a few days to find Jas after we had a falling out, it turned out I was working for her all along” I told her even though she hadn’t asked.
    “You built this?” she asked surprised.
    “I used to work for a guy called Joe, he was contracted to build this. Once we both knew where we stood with each other, it came in handy working here to be close to her”
    “Sounds romantic”
    I snorted, trust the female to think of romance at such a dire time.
    “Come on, I’ll show you upstairs”
    I needed the rest of the tour to be over with as soon as possible. I took the stairs quicker then I normally would. It wasn’t helping that the next room she would see was our old bedroom. I sucked in as much air as I could and pushed