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“Which is why you should make it up to me now,” Lyra says firmly.
I shake my head.
Nova stiffens. “You know what, Lyra? I’m not going to help you this time.” When her sister’s eyes widen, Nova lifts a dark finger and talks in a firm voice. “And I’ve been meaning to tell you this for a while. I am not a sell-out for speaking the way I speak and working where I work. Also, I love myself. I love my dark skin and my big nose and my hair. I love how dark my palms are and I love my curves. I like to dress in professional clothes and high heels, the same way you like cheetah prints and dying your hair. That’s your style and who you are. This is my style and it’s who I am. If that offends you, then you’ll forever be offended because I’m not changing who I am to suit your narrow idea of what being ‘black’ should be.”
My eyebrows hike.
Lyra’s jaw drops.
Nova doesn’t look affected at all. She nods at me. “I’m done here.”
“You’re just gonna leave?” Lyra shrieks.
“I’m going to respect who you are, Lyra.” Nova stops and turns back around. “But I have to warn you. If who you are pushes you to commit crimes, it won’t end well for you. So maybe look into yourself and figure out who you want to be before it’s too late. That’s my last advice as your big sister.”
“Nova, don’t you dare walk away from me!”
I open the door of the interrogation room and Nova sashays through.
“Nova!” Lyra screams.
We nod at Hall and the police officers who’d been supervising through the two-way mirror. Nova keeps moving and I’m right behind her. We don’t stop until we get into the sunshine.
Once we’re outside, she takes a big, deep breath. “You were right, Adam. That does feel better.”
I smile and wrap her in my arms. “Where do you want to go now?” I ask, my voice muffled in her braids. “Rowan’s at art camp and I’m free for the day. I can take you to the emporium or to Turkey or Belize. Wherever you want to go.”
“Home.” She meets my eyes and gives me a spent smile.
“Your apartment?”
“No.” She slides her fingers into mine and interlocks our hands. “I want to go to your place.”
CHAPTER19
THE WAY WE DRAW CONCLUSIONS
NOVA
I don’t knowwhen my apartment stopped feeling like home, but the thought of being in that big, empty space with all my minimalist furniture and rarely-used kitchen appliances does not appeal.
It’s not like I fully understand the shift.
Not until I curl into Adam’s arms on the porch swing. Looking out over his acreage, feeling a gentle wind on my face, it finally hits me.
“I don’t think it’s your house.”
“What?” Adam stops, his hand halfway to the cupholder. We’ve both got glasses of lemonade chilling on either end of the porch swing.
“It’s not your house that feels like home,” I say, working through the revelation and letting the words out as they come to me. “It’s you.”
Adam blinks in shock.
I barely register his expression because I’m too busy sorting through my own baggage. Horror fills me to the brim. The swing bucks as I sit up abruptly and glare at Adam. “What did youdoto me?”
“Uh… love you?”
I scowl at him. “Exactly. Why couldn’t you love someone else? Why’d it have to be me?”
