“Do you want to watch a movie?” I ask, nodding toward my house.
I know I should let her go home, but I can’t. I don’t want to be away from her—not tonight.
Nova studies me for a moment before nodding. I catch her eyes flick down to my lips for the briefest second, and it sends a rush of warmth through me. I can’t help but grin as I hold out my hand. She takes it, and I lace our fingers together.
Then I tug her toward me, making her yelp as I break into a run toward my house. Her boots are still in Max’s father’s truck, but I’ll get them tomorrow. She can keep wearing my shoes as long as she wants.
It’s only when I reach my porch and fumble with my keys that the realization hits me like a punch: Nova and I had almost kissed—and now we’re alone in my house.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Nova Marshall
PRESENT (2023)
"I just want to be a guy with a guitar."
Jeff Buckley
––––––––
I take a sip from my mug of milk and cocoa while Maggie, crocheting, sits beside me on the couch. There’s an old episode ofModern Familyplaying in the background—one we’ve already watched and rewatched countless times.
This afternoon, I’m supposed to go to the party Vincent’s parents and his Aunt Evelyn planned for my twenty-second birthday. Over the years, Daniel and Chris always called to wish me a happy birthday, often asking me to come visit, but I never could. I couldn’t bring myself to step into Vincent’s house without him there—not when our friendship had shattered the way it did.
And today, after four years, I’ll finally see them all again. I’ll set foot in that house, after all this time, and see my old home from the outside.
I wonder if the people Mom sold it to still live there. If my dad’s rose bushes survived. If the daisies I planted ever bloomed again.
And the ladder... is it still there? The one I used to climb down to escape into Vincent’s room at night? Or the one he used to climb up to sneak into mine?
“Nervous about today?” Maggie asks suddenly, her eyes never leaving the bag she’s working on.
I glance up at her. “Who, me?”
She sets her crochet aside and turns to me, giving me that look—the one that says,Do you really want to play this game with me?
Shifting closer, she takes my legs and rests them on her lap. “Unless I’m talking to your asshole friend who won’t stop snoring, then yes, I’m talking to you.”
I laugh, glancing at Maggie’s closed bedroom door, where Sam’s snoring blissfully. Maggie’s excuse for him staying here was that he didn’t want to be alone while Vincent was away helping his parents with the party.
Her hand presses gently to my shoulder, grounding me. When I meet her eyes, something inside me clicks. I can’t lie to her. It hurts too much to even try and she’s the only one I can really talk to about this.
Steven? Things between us are already crumbling, and I can’t possibly open up to him about Vincent. Sam’s his roommate, which makes it impossible. Will doesn’t know the full story. Max loves Vincent too much to keep this from him. And Aurora... she already carries too much.
Maggie’s the only one. My sister in every way that matters.
“I don’t know what to do...” I whisper, leaning against her shoulder.
“Tell me more, Nova.”
“I have too many topics.”
She lets out a little laugh and nudges me with her shoulder. “Let’s start with the one that haunts you most, okay?”
I only nod, staring at the silly turtle on my cup—the one eating a pink ice cream cone. “Steve.”
“And Vincent,” she adds. “Especially Vincent, right?”
