When she rushes out of the kitchen, I stare at her until she’s out of my sight. Turning my attention to Rachel, I ask, “Did something happen to Nova?”
My sister glances at me. “Why?”
“She had a panic attack just because I asked her about her job.”
Rachel glances over her shoulder in the direction of the stairs before saying, “Yes, something happened. A lot of somethings.”
“What?” My tone is unexpectedly gruff, and the bacon is forgotten in the pan.
She shakes her head. “It’s not my place to say.”
“Was it bad?” I ask, trying to get more out of her as worry for Nova trickles into my chest.
Rachel hesitates, then nods.
Christ.
A hundred scenarios rush through my mind, and it makes my body tense and my jaw clench.
When we first moved to LA, I felt bad for leaving Nova behind, but she was a minor and in her grandfather’s care. Afterward, life got busy, and it’s been one rollercoaster event after another.
Rachel glances over her shoulder again before locking eyes with me. “Once I’m gone, will you look out for Nova? Please.” Her features draw tight with sadness. “I don’t want her to be alone.”
Nova’s been a part of our lives since she and Rachel met on their first day of elementary school. I know how much my sister loves her best friend, and honestly, some part of me has always cared about Nova too.
I nod, and just as I’m about to pull Rachel in for a quick hug to comfort her, the smell of something burning hits us.
“The bacon!” Rachel bursts out laughing while I move the pan off the stove.
When I walk to the sink, I hear her mutter, “Shoot, the pancake burned as well.”
“That’s what you get for laughing at me.”
We throw the burned food in the trash and drop the pans in the sink before getting clean ones from the cupboard.
“Let’s try again,” Rachel says, putting a dollop of butter in her pan. When I join her at the stove to fry more bacon, she asks, “So, you’ll look out for Nova, right?”
“Yes.” Seeing the pleading look in Rachel’s eyes, I add, “I promise.”
I hear movement, and a moment later, Nova joins us in the kitchen again. She looks a little pale, and when she smiles, it’s strained and doesn’t reach her eyes.
Knowing something bad happened to her and seeing her pale complexion makes the worry I already feel double in my chest as I ask, “Are you okay?”
Nova nods as she picks up her empty mug, taking it to the sink. Suddenly, there’s a burst of laughter from her. “You burned the food.”
The corner of my mouth lifts. “Rachel distracted me.”
“Don’t blame me,” Rachel playfully grumbles.
When Nova walks back toward us, she teases, “Maybe I should take over making breakfast.”
Wanting to include her, I say, “Come take over from me before I burn everything.”
I only move enough to make space for Nova between Rachel and me, and leaning my hip against the counter, I can’t help but admire her beautiful face.
What happened to you?
I take in the nervous way her teeth tug at her bottom lip and the anxious expression that keeps her from looking relaxed. My eyes get stuck on a faint scar above her eyebrow, and it makes me wonder how it got there.
