“I don’t know the whole story,” she said with a shrug. “And it’s really none of my business. All I know is that Bas is a single guy from what I’ve seen. He can hook up with whoever he wants.”
“We didn’t hook up,” I replied, sitting up. “Are people saying we hooked up?”
“That’s the gist of it.”
“Wekissed. That’s it.”
“I don’t give a shit if you gave him a striptease,” Nova countered with a laugh. “Who the fuck cares? It doesn’t have anything to do with me.”
“People are pissed, huh?”
“I try to stay out of it, so I haven’t heard much,” she hedged.
“Rumi doesn’t, he’s the biggest gossip I know.”
“Rumi doesn’t want to hear about any of his girl cousins having any kind of relationship,” she said dryly.
“Frankie wouldn’t even talk to me when they drove me home last night.”
“Did you talk to your brother?”
“No, I haven’t talked to anyone.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it too much,” she said, kicking off her shoes so she could pull her feet onto the couch. “It’ll all blow over.”
“I wasn’t trying to step on anyone’s toes,” I blurted defensively. “I wasn’t even thinking about—”
“Look, from what I understand, Bas and Lou aren’t together. Who knows what’s going on with them? But you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Then why do I feel like a pariah?”
“Frankie’s always quick to judgment, especially when it has anything to do with Myla and Lou. I didn’t notice anyone else that was mad about it last night, they were just…talking about it. A lot.”
“I’ve been home twenty-four hours and I already miss my solitary life,” I groaned. “Nobody knew who I was fucking. No one cared what I was doing.”
“Yeah, well, you’ll have to get used to that as long as you’re here. How long before you leave again?”
“No idea. I got fired.”
“Shit.”
“I can find another job, but I’m not sure what I want to do yet.”
“You’ll figure it out.”
“I can’t believe that I thought it was a good idea to make out with Bas the day my career imploded and I came home with my tail between my legs. Maybe I should give myself a bad haircut to really put the cherry on top of my shit sundae.”
Nova smiled. “Bas was an interesting choice.”
“You have no idea,” I murmured, the memory of his smile making my heart thump in my chest.
“Oh,” Nova said quietly. “Youlikehim.”
“What’s not to like?” I asked casually, trying to play it off. “Everyone likes Bas.”
“Harp…” Her words trailed off.
“What? Just say it.”
