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“Novalee?” the guy beside Harry, who’s closer to my age, and probably this guy’s son, speaks.
My head swivels from the guy to Nova. I’ve never seen Nova look so utterly terrified before. She’s pale and sweaty, like she’s just seen a ghost.
“Novalee,” he says again, “is that you?”
She forces her head up to look at him and she looks like she’s about to burst into tears. “Hi, Owen.”
“You two know each other?” I ask.
Harry clears his throat and fiddles with his tie. “They were friends growing up.”
“We dated, Dad.” Owen rolls his eyes. “How are you?” he asks Nova.
“Fine,” Nova replies, her eyes darting down to her lap.
“Can we talk?” Owen asks her.
“I don’t think that’s the best idea—” his father interrupts and Owen glares at him.
“Please,” Owen says to Nova.
She nods and stands from the table.
“Nova?” I question, my hand grazing hers.
She shakes her head, pleading with her eyes for me to let her explain later. I nod and watch her go, even though it kills me.
Once they’re gone, Harry clears his throat. “I’ll see you later, Heath. Take care.”
He melts away from our table and I’m left alone with my father. His eyes flash as he appraises me.
“I take it you didn’t know about Novalee and Owen?”
“And you did?” I counter—because if he did …
He shakes his head and smiles slowly. “No, just … fate, perhaps?” He smiles and leans forward, crossing his fingers together. “If you didn’t know about this, what else do you think you might not know about this girl?”
I clench my teeth, anger eating away at me, because for once, he’s right.
Nova
The door to the apartment closes and Jace throws his tux jacket on the kitchen chair.
Three, two, one …
“I didn’t want to talk about this in the car, but I need to know about that guy.”
I shrug and kick off my heels, audibly sighing in relief. “You know I dated once before.”
He wets his lips, his hands on his hips. I can tell he’s fighting not to get angry, and I can’t blame him.
“Do you still love him?”
I snort. “Owen? Of course not.”
“I saw the way he looked at you,” Jace whispers. “He … he looked at you like you’d been ripped away from him and he’d been starving ever since.”
I bite my tongue, fighting tears. “My history with Owen is … complicated.”
