Page 40 of Dream Chaser

“Stop it.” She squeezed my arm. “It won’t be forever. One day, you’ll have your own place, and all of this will be a distant nightmare. You’re young, and look how far you’ve already come. You’ll be just fine. We’ll go to my place after work.”

***

The office was quiet when we returned, except for the tapping on keyboards. As I greeted everyone, Alejandro’s eyes lingered on me, and he nodded with a barely there smile.

His gaze landed on me several times throughout the day. When I got up to pick some fruit from the bowl. When I fixed myself coffee. When I sent him suggestions for the NitroFlow pitch.

“Nova,” he said when the workday was over, and Eleanor went to the bathroom.

I stood by his desk. “Yes?”

“I rescheduled the NitroFlow meeting for Friday. I’ll put it in your calendar.”

“Okay.” I inhaled, shifting my weight. “I was wondering if I could take tomorrow off. I’ll work remotely if you need me to. I just need to go to Millford.”

A copy of my grandmother’s house key was at my mother’s. My fall clothes were at Preston’s. I needed to collect them, along with the rest of my things, preferably while he was at work.

“You’ve done more than enough overtime,” Alejandro said. “Take the whole day. I’ll call you if there’s an emergency.”

“Thank you.”

Our gazes locked. Heat warmed my face.

Alejandro smiled like he noticed, then he rubbed his chin. “I was looking at the pitch deck, and I like your new suggestions. Maybe you should go to the NitroFlow meeting without me.”

I managed a smile despite the nervous flutters in my stomach. “I’d rather not. They’re too important.”

His green eyes softened. “So are you, Nova Lockhart.”

“Sorry to interrupt.” Eleanor cleared her throat in the doorway. “Nova, are you ready?”

“Yes.” I turned toward her, smiling. Hopefully, she wouldn’t notice how flustered a simple exchange with my boss made me. “We can go now. Goodbye, Alejandro.”

I glanced at him, then grabbed my purse and followed Eleanor out of the office.

***

Despite the soft bed in Eleanor’s guest room, sleep had refused to come for the better part of the night. I was in the kitchen at six a.m., bleary-eyed and overcome with nerves.

“You’re an early riser just like me.” Eleanor walked into the kitchen in her satin robe. Always stylish, even at home, she suited her spacious apartment with its abstract art, plants, and sleek white furniture. “Coffee?”

“Yes, please. Need help?”

She waved me off. “You’re my guest.”

“I’m not a lazy guest.” I pushed away from the counter. “And I’d like to at least buy groceries.”

She tsked, starting the coffee maker. “Don’t even think about it. Attorneys are expensive. Save everything you can. By the way, have you got an attorney in mind? Mine retired, but he might know someone.”

“Not yet. I’m going to my hometown today. I’ll start looking as soon as I’m back.”

Having somewhere to stay took a huge weight off my shoulders, but I wanted to start over as soon as I could—being a Lockhart on all my papers. Renting my own apartment. Chasing all those dreams I gave up on after getting married.

“Yes, do that.” Eleanor handed me a mug. “But take my advice—look for someone here. If your husband is a big deal in town, I wouldn’t trust anyone there.”

I took a sip. “I wouldn’t either.”

***