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My breathing is ragged—being in here is hard, knowing how much love and care we put into this room. Fuck, I poured literal blood into this when I cut my finger while putting the crib together.
But it’s time for it to all go.
It being here isn’t helping me, and it definitely wasn’t helping Nova. I brought up taking it down the day she left, and after that, I was so shocked she was actually gone I didn’t bother with it.
I change into a pair of athletic shorts and grab my phone, texting Cade and Xander to help me.
Both guys reply within minutes saying they’ll be here.
I don’t rely on my friends often, I don’t like to rely on anyone if I’m honest—except Nova, and look where that’s got me since she left.
But she isn’t going to be gone for long. Not if I have anything to say about it.
There’s a knock on the door and I swing it open to find Cade filling the doorway. I’m not surprised he’s here first. His apartment with Rae close to us, whereas Xander and Thea live out in the suburbs.
“Thanks for coming, man, it means a lot you’d come,” I say, stepping back to let him in. “I know it was last minute.”
His brows furrow. “Of course I’d come. I’m glad you’re finally asking for help. You and Nova always think you have to face everything alone—excuse my bluntness, but you’re both fucking idiots.”
“Yeah,” I sigh. “We’re bad about that,” I agree. “When you grow up with no one it’s hard to trust.”
But I thought Nova could always trust me, and I could always trust her.
I close the door and Cade looks around.
“Love what you’ve done with the place.” His lips rise in a smirk.
“Fucking asshole,” I mutter, but laugh.
The place is a fucking wreck, takeout boxes are piled everywhere since I haven’t felt like cooking, there are glasses and plates on the counter, the sink is full, and my clothes are strewn all over the place.
“I’ll clean it tonight,” I say, more for my benefit than his.
“When’s Nova coming back?” he asks, and I wince.
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly.
“You haven’t heard from her at all?” I shake my head in reply. “And you haven’t contacted her?”
“She’s the one who left,” I defend.
“Fuck, Jace.” Cade looks at me like I’m an idiot. “Girls want you to go after them. To show them you care.”
I gape at him.
He shakes his head. “You’re an idiot, I swear. This is what you get for not dating.” He claps me on the shoulder. “Trust me, man, go after her. Show her no matter what, no matter how much distance she puts between you, you’re always going to close it.”
Could it really be that simple?
“I don’t know,” I hedge.
He stares at me. “All I can tell you is, if that was Rae, I’d be on the first plane out of here.”
I swallow thickly and nod. “You’re right.”
I don’t know why I didn’t see it at first. I think I was so blinded by shock that she left and went to Owen of all people. Add in the fact I’m still grieving for my son and it’s a recipe for fucking disaster.
Cade looks at me like, “I fucking told you so.”
