“Please, Harper. You know how much I care about her.”
I’m skeptical. Meddling in other people’s relationships doesn’t seem like a wise decision. Nova and I are friends. I don’t want to overstep that boundary.
“Please,” he pleads with me again.
“Listen, I love you and I love Nova. But you guys have to work it out together. I can’t be interfering in your relationship.”
Ashton leans his head back and rubs his eyes. “It’s not a relationship if we’re not together.”
“But you were,” I say and point at him. “You have to do this on your own.”
“Come on. How about we go on a double date? You and Luca. Nova and me?” Ashton asks, waiting for my answer.
“And who is going to watch Zeke?”
Ashton laughs, hanging his head, clearly having forgotten about my little guy.
“How about you come up with some grand romantic gesture, and I’ll convince Nova to show up at the right time and place?”
Slowly, he nods, glancing at me. “Not a bad plan. Any suggestions?”
I decided not to ask Ashton what he planned on doing with Nova. I didn’t want to accidentally spoil the surprise.
The three of us, Nova, Zeke, and I, saunter through the mall for the afternoon. I have less than an hour until I drop Nova off with Ashton nearby.
“Mama, candy store!” Zeke squeals, pointing excitedly at the bright and colorful display of sweets in the window. He tugs my hand and drags me running right toward the shop. I scoop him up in my arms, careful to make sure that he doesn’t shove his hands into the bins as we step inside.
The place smells like cotton candy and bubble gum.
“I’m going to wait outside,” Nova says, ruffling Zeke’s hair before heading toward a bench.
Carrying Zeke on my hip, I head inside the candy shop and round the corner, laughing when I see who I’ve run into. “Hey, stranger.”
Thirty-One
Nova
Glancing up from my phone, Harper and Zeke have been taking a while in the candy store. I was tempted to go inside, but I also knew that if I did, there was zero chance I’d be leaving without spending far too much money, and my budget this month is already blown.
Besides, there’s enough junk food in the house, not including the goodies stashed away in the pantry for Zeke. Occasionally, I steal a few sour candies when I’m craving something sweet.
Just last week, Ashton bought a bag of candy for Halloween to hand out to the trick-or-treaters, but I noticed it was already open. He’s not usually the sour candy kind of guy. I’ve always caught him munching on chocolate, so I doubt he was the one who opened the bag.
I swear my mind is playing tricks on me, because I see Ashton walk out of the candy store and meet my gaze.
It’s definitely Ashton.
He strides right up to me and smiles that boyish grin that makes my heart flutter. His dimples are positively adorable, and I swear he never smiles enough.
“What are you doing here? Stalking us?” I joke, glancing up at him.
He grabs the seat next to me on the bench. He’s carrying a shopping bag from the candy store and hands me a bag of sour jellies, in all my favorite flavors. “For you.”
My eyes light up and I take the clear bag filled with candies from him. “Thank you.”
Ashton shrugs. “It was nothing. Harper mentioned you were waiting outside the candy shop.” There’s a sly smile on his face, like he’s trying to hide something devilish.
“What?” I ask, the grin growing on my face. The longer he stares at me, the more my body tingles, betraying me. His stare heats my cheeks and warms my insides.
