So I shove my hands in my pockets, heart heavy and uncertain, and head toward the only place that makes sense anymore.
The Marrow is quiet when I get there, the front door still locked, a thin sheen of frost clinging to the windows like lace. I fish out my keys, planning to head straight to the kitchen and bury myself in prep work, anything to shut my brain up for a while.
But as I round the corner by the service hallway, I stop short.
Dee’s standing near the back door, one hand cradling a cup of something steaming. Nova’s in front of her, one arm braced on the wall, the other gently brushing a lock of hair from her cheek.
They’re laughing at something, low, warm, and then Nova leans in.
And kisses her.
Not a quick, casual peck. But a real kiss. Slow. Sure. Like she means it. Like they’ve been waiting a long time to get to this moment.
I freeze, more from surprise than anything else. I didn’t know this was coming, not by a long shot. Nova really is a dark horse.
Dee pulls back first, but she doesn’t go far. Her eyes are soft, her usual edge smoothed down to something almost… shy. It’s the most vulnerable I’ve ever seen her.
They exchange a few more hushed words I can’t hear, then Dee heads out the back door, coffee still in hand, her mouth tugged into the kind of smile that sticks around even after it's gone.
Nova watches her leave, then exhales like she’s been holding her breath for weeks.
When she finally turns, she sees me in the hallway.
She doesn’t jump or flinch. Just lifts a brow like she’s daring me to say something.
I raise my hands in surrender. “None of my business.”
She grabs a towel from the prep table and starts wiping down the already clean counter. “Damn right it’s not.”
There’s no heat in her voice, though. Only a quiet kind of satisfaction.
Still, I can’t help myself. “So, you and Dee?”
Nova shrugs, avoiding eye contact. “It’s nothing. We’ve been hanging out. It’s not a big deal.”
“Sure.” I nod, pretending to buy it. “Totally casual.”
She side-eyes me, mouth twitching. “Fine. Maybe it’s something. But don’t go making a thing out of it, okay? It’s early.”
I nod again, more slowly this time. “She makes you smile. That’s not nothing.”
Nova goes still for a beat. Then, softly, “Yeah. She does.”
And just like that, she slips past me into the pantry, conversation over.
But the whole exchange leaves something rattling around in my chest.
That look on Nova’s face, the hope, the nerves, the wonder of it all, it’s the same feeling I had when I looked at Josie this morning, curled up in bed like she belonged there.
I sink into one of the stools by the prep counter and pull out my phone.
My fingers hover over the screen.
I miss you already.
Delete.
I did NOT want to leave you this morning.
