“Nova,” I talk gently, backing up to give her space, but not moving out of her way. “I am so sorry. I will make it up to you. Iwillfix it, I promise. Look at me, IswearI will. Do you believe me?”
Nova stares up at me for a moment before she nods. Before I can make another promise, she presses her lips to mine before she is gone, fleeing the party without a single glance back. With her goes a huge part of me.
How can I celebrate without her here with me?
Chapter Seven
Nova
Avoidance is a skill I have mastered.
After we lost our parents, I avoided the truth for weeks, months even. I knew they were gone, I realized they were not coming back. I just could not face what that meant for us. I tried my best to avoid my brother and best friend's betrayal. Orion did his best to get through to me, but I refused him.
I can avoid most things with ease—except for one. Niko Hughs will not let me avoid him.
It has been a few nights since that disaster of a holiday hoe-down at his place. I have no idea why I agreed to go. Well, yes, I do. I wanted to see him. I wanted to be with him. Totryfor him. Christmas is hard on me, it has been all but ruined for me, but for him...for him it is still magic and wonder.
Niko has texted, called, and sent flowers every single day. I cannot avoid him because he is relentless. Flowers being delivered to my flower shop is weird enough. Having them sent to my house, getting cute text messages about him missing me and not giving up, it is all new for me.
“Ease up on the guy,” Hudson implores as I burrow my face in another bouquet of beautiful blue hyacinths. “A class act sends flowers to the florist,” he teases, shoving me playfully as he heads out with a delivery.
It is akin to sending the best chocolates to the candy maker or the sweetest tarts to the baker. Niko has gone out of his way to send me these flowers. I am the one florist shop in True Ridge—he has ordered flowers from all over Tennessee and Georgia.
I laugh as my phone vibrates in my pocket. Another text from Niko. All day long he sends texts. Asking how I am doing, what I am up to, whether I am creating any special flowerarrangements, did I eat something. How can I avoid him when he is so relentless?
“Morning beautiful,” his text pings, making my heart flutter. “I hope today is a good day for us both. Taking the Lost Boys shopping for their mama. Might pick up something special for this pretty flower girl I know.”
“No gifts. No holiday cute stuff,” I send back, even though I find myself wanting to know what sort of something special he would pick up for me.
“Allthe cute holiday stuff formy girl,” he replies immediately.
Flushing, I set the phone down. This is what he has called me any chance he has had since these texts have begun. His girl. I’ve never been anyone’s girl before. Am I his? Do I even want to be? The constant flutter in my chest, and the hot tug in my belly says yes, I do.
“Do youalwaysmake a big deal about holidays?”
“Yes, honey, I do. Birthdays, anniversaries, Easter.” He teases me with little emoticons of cake, champagne glasses, an Easter bunny, and big smiling faces. “Call it blind optimism or sad hopefulness, I don’t know. I just think life is a gift, it is amazing, and we ought to celebrate it when we can.”
Smiling so big my face hurts, I shake my head. What am I doing with this man? Until a few days ago, I would have never agreed to go to his holiday party. After being so overwhelmed I had to flee, I could have just cut things off completely. But the truth is—I do not want to.
“I suppose I am a blind pessimist. It's just...hard,” I answer him, closing my eyes as I recall his face when I blurted out why I hate Christmas.
Niko held my gaze with not just empathy or pity but understanding. Few people understand the kind of loss I have been dealt. Considering my brother a loss is unfair. Orion stillreaches out; I just refuse to talk to him or Oaklin. I am just too damn stubborn to accept their apologies or peace offerings.
Working on bouquets seems too tedious for my wearied head. Letting Hudson know I am closing shop—something I often do on a whim—I lock up and head downtown. I am not sure what I am looking for or why I cannot stay focused on work.
All I can think about is the holidays and how much I used to love them. As I wander through the dressed-up stores with their holly and twinkling lights, I wonder what a Christmas with Niko would be like. That same flutter from earlier returns in my chest, making my heart stutter as I imagine it.
“There’s my beautiful flower,” a husky, all-too familiar voice hums beside me. Closing my eyes, I breathe in the fresh winter air and smile as his sweet, soap and musk scent fills my lungs. I am at ease as I feel his body press close to mine, warming me.
“He-hello,” I stammer, turning my head to see him towering over me.
Niko grins big, dimple flashing even, his light eyes sparkling. Gosh, he is so pretty. Have I ever thought a man was pretty before? Not that I recall. I mean, my brother Orion is a looker, I suppose. I’ve never looked at a man and just wanted to stare at him, to learn each of his features.
Warmth spreads over my hip, to my belly. His large hand is beneath my sweater, burning my skin in the sweetest way. I turn my head a little more, letting it fall back on his shoulder. I missed this. This thing that I feel with him, this sense of being safe and protected from the rest of the world.
“I missed you,” he whispers against my ear, brushing his lips there. His hands tighten on me, and he tugs me back against his firm chest. “I have a feeling I won’t be good without seeing you every single day. Several times a day, if you would allow it. Damn, I missed you,” he repeats, his face now burrowed in myneck, his arms going tight around me.
Relaxing back against him, I sigh contentedly. I missed him too. We were talking or seeing each other every day, as he just demanded, before that night at his party. I thought some distance was good for us. I guess I thought wrong. Being close to him again, seeing those light eyes and that smile proves it to me.
