Page 121 of Dream Chaser

He chuckled. “It was mostly Kaia. I helped. So…Nova.”

I gestured to the garden. He followed me to the bench under an olive tree.

“I wasn’t going to send it,” I said, flicking the cookie crumbs off my sweats as we sat. “My niece made the decision for me.”

Asher winced. “Ouch. How bad was it?”

“If you want me to show it to you so you can show it to Kaia, forget about it.”

He crossed his arms. “Fair. If you’re curious, Kaia told me to tell you to just tell Nova everything.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “Easier said than done.”

“I know,” Asher said. “With Kaia, I was terrified. So much at stake. You know we’ve been through a lot, but I never regretted her. She makes me happy. Racing can go to shit next season. I could get injured or disqualified. This year’s title could be my last, but I’d still have her. If you want Nova, just go for it. Why do you even doubt? Because of her husband?”

The thought of her with him made me nauseous, but he wasn’t a threat.

“Because of some shit you don’t know from my past.”

Asher’s shoulders rose and fell. “We all have one. Don’t use yours as an excuse or you won’t have the future you want. Nova cares about you too. I saw how she looked at you in Valencia. Sorry about the pool, by the way. We spoiled the moment.”

“It’s okay, mi niño.” I folded my arms behind my head, stretching as I looked at the stars scattered above. I wanted Nova to see them and my hometown one day, too. To get to know me. To give me a chance. The only person standing in my way was me.

Maybe we could date, even with her working for me. Assuming she wanted that.

I wouldn’t know unless I talked to her.

“I was going to fly back on January first,” I said. “Might travel sooner.”

Asher bumped my shoulder with his fist, smirking. “Go get her, bro.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Nova

December

Traffic hummed behind the window of Edward’s office. He finished typing and slid his glasses off. “Are you sure, Nova?”

I shrugged, shifting in my chair. “What choice do I have? Other than going to court.”

“Well, we can always refuse to comply with his demands.”

We could—which would lead to another delay. More money in lawyer’s fees. It was the thirtieth of December. One more day until the beginning of a new year. I didn’t want to spend it married to Preston. If offering him part of the money he’d invested in renovations would buy my freedom, I counted that as a win. Settling would cost less than going to court, even if I owed him nothing and shouldn’t have to pay him a cent.

“It’s been too long,” I said. “I just want to be divorced.”

“All right.” Edward’s fingers flew across the keyboard. “So, we’re going to offer him the amount he invested in the renovations that were completed, is that right?”

I curled my clammy hands into fists in my lap. “Yes.”

“I’ll get everything ready, then,” he said. “And email his attorney the settlement offer today.”

Getting an answer before the year ended was unlikely, but stubborn hope lingered.

I rose from the chair and slid my purse over my shoulder. “Please do, and thank you, Edward.”

***