Her chin quivers, and I watch as she fights her emotions. Her beautiful features strain, but she loses the battle, and a tear spirals down her cheek as she admits with a strained voice, “She’s the only person who loves me.”
Seeing Nova’s pain takes a swing at my already pulverized heart, and my eyes burn again as I struggle to hold back the tears.
She covers her mouth as she sucks in a shuddering breath. “Rachel is my other half, and I’ll do anything for her.”
“She’s the glue that keeps us all together,” I add my thoughts.
Nova wipes the tear from her cheek and glances at the kitchen. After a moment of silence, she says, “I can cook, so I can help prepare meals.”
“You don’t have to. Frances takes care of the household.”
“Oh, right.” She looks awkward for a moment, then gives me a shy smile. “Coffee?”
I slowly nod while trying to force a smile to my face. “Coffee would be really nice right now.”
I watch Nova walk to the kitchen and keep staring at her as she prepares the beverages. Something about the way she moves and the energy she gives off is soothing, and it makes me feel grateful that she’s here.
The fact that Nova is completely different from most of the women in my world really makes me take notice of her. She’s beautiful in an innocent kind of way and seems to be as kind and caring as I remember.
It’s refreshing as fuck, to say the least.
The longer I stare at her, the more I become aware of the attraction I started feeling the instant I laid eyes on her after all these years.
When we lived in Verona, she was just Rachel’s best friend, but now that we’re older things feel different.
Christ, it’s been a long while since I’ve felt attracted to a woman. I’ve been too busy working my ass off to think about dating.
And now is not the time either.
“Thank you, Nova,” I say, my tone a little hoarse from the unexpected emotion she’s stirring in me.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I was going to make myself some anyway,” she replies as she brings the mugs to the living room.
“I mean, thank you for being here.”
She takes her seat again before meeting my eyes. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Chapter 9
Nova
I had another nightmare of Trent coming here and causing a scene, but I’m trying not to think of him. It isn’t easy, though.
After showering, I put on a pair of leggings and a shirt that reaches past my butt. When I glance down, I notice the bruises on my bicep are starting to fade a little.
Ugh, I wish they would disappear quicker.
Letting out a sigh, I look through my clothes before pulling a crocheted cardigan out and putting it on over the shirt. I push the sleeves up my forearms while I walk to the door, and as I exit my bedroom, I see Easton coming down the hallway.
“Morning,” he whispers, gesturing with his hand for me to walk ahead of him.
“Morning,” I reply, hurrying down the hallway and stairs so I don’t hold him up. When we reach the first floor, I ask, “Would you like some coffee?”
He shakes his head. “I had too much the past weekend. I’ll prepare a smoothie for myself. Thanks, though.”
I let out a chuckle. “Without coffee, I’d become a serial killer.”
The corner of his mouth lifts in a hot smirk while his eyes flick to me, and it has my stomach doing cartwheels. Today, he’s wearing a pair of black jeans and a matching T-shirt that spans tightly over his chest and muscled biceps.
