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“Damnit.” Nova pulled away from Lottie, rushing to the door and unlocking.
“Hey, that was weird,” Nova said as Caro pushed through the doorway.
“Totally, it was, like, locked.” Caro smiled over at Lottie. “I really have to pee!” She rushed into one of the stalls.
Lottie stared at Nova as she washed her hands, but Nova wouldn’t look her way. Caro came out of the stall then. “Oh my gosh, I feel so much better! Are you gals up for a late-night swim? Everyone else is going.”
“Sure,” Lottie said as Nova responded with a hard “No.”
“Come on, Nova. Cain already agreed. You know this program every which way. Let’s have some fun while we’re at this amazing resort!”
“Fine,” Nova agreed, rolling her eyes at the other woman.
***
Living in the Pacific Northwest can be disheartening for a good portion of the year. It’s cloudy, rainy, cold, and snowy a lot of the time but the beginning of October is beautiful. The weather is cool but not cold. The leaves are changing colors and winter is on the brink. The sky has been cloudless for days. Any way you looked; stars were twinkling. They seemed to be there just for her. Nova leaned back against a chaise lounge on the pool deck, stretching her long legs out in front of her.Am I relaxed? Is this what relaxing is?She didn’t feel relaxed. She felt anxious and, if she was being honest, a little guilty.What would have happened if Caro hadn’t walked into that bathroom when she did? Would Lottie have kissed me? Would I have let her?Her cheeks flamed. There were too many other things she should be focused on besides some blood sucking vampire queen she just met a week ago!
“Weird, isn’t it?”
“Excuse me?” Nova snapped, realizing it was Selena who sat in the chair next to hers. “I’m sorry. You startled me.”
“No worries.” Selena smiled.
“What…uh…what’s weird?” Nova asked.
Selena smiled knowingly. “Having both Cain and Lottie in this proximity.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Why would I even care about that?” Nova grimaced as she said it.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I thought you were ready to admit your feelings for Lottie. I’ll leave it alone. It’s none of mine or anyone else’s business.” Selena moved to stand up from the chair.
“Wait!” Nova said, louder than she meant to. “Wait, please. I’d actually…um…I’d be happy to have someone to talk to.”
Selena settled back into the chair. “I feel like I should explain something first. I’d like to remind you, and probably myself that this ‘thing’ between you and Lottie really is none of my business. That being said, I love that woman dearly. She is one of the best friends I’ve ever had. We’ve been palling around for years, and she’s gotten me out of some sticky situations. It has to be said that she’s gotten me into some of them too but mostly out of them. She is one of the most caring, compassionate people I’ve ever met and in all the years we’ve been friends I have never, ever seen her catch feelings for anyone the way she did you.”
Nova blinked several times trying to hold back tears. “That’s so sweet. I feel…I don’t know. I can’t explain the way I feel about her. About her or Cain. About school. About my family. About the Lottie. We’re so different. We’re fundamentally different. I’m sober. Always have been and Lottie just, well you know her! She just struts around, doing whatever and whoever she wants.”
“Ahh.”
“What’s that mean?”
“You’re concerned about Lottie’s history?”
“Not really, I guess. She just has such a strong personality and my whole life has been dictated by my parents. My parents, Cain’s parents…even the coven has a say. I’m…I’m sick of it, I think.”
“Youthink?”
“Selena!!!!” Lottie yelled at her friend as she sat on Vance’s shoulders readying for a game of chicken versus Caro and one of the other guys that had been at dinner.
“Hey buddy! I’ve been looking for you all day!” Selena called back.
“Me too! We definitely need to talk. Wanna come up later? Wait. Wait.” She tapped Vance lightly on the head. “Hey man, is it okay if Selena comes hang out later?”
Vance laughed. “Of course it is. You said it’s our last night! We better enjoy it!”
Caro surged forward knocking Lottie into the water in a fit of laughter from the group.
Lottie swam to the shallow side of the large pool. As she popped out of the water, she yelled “hot tub time!” most of the group followed her lead and dipped into the hot tub. Nova stayed in her seat as Selena walked away waving bye and promising Lottie she would meet her shortly. She watched as Cain walked up the steps of the pool. He did have an amazing body, gorgeous hair, and those cheekbones!
