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“Bird,” I snarled. “Shut up.”
“I can pick her up,” Rumi said, looking at Nana. “No problem.”
“Well, that works,” Nana replied happily.
I didn’t want to say it. I hated that I had to. But if he showed up tomorrow on his bike, I’d be sitting the party out.
“I’m not riding on the back of your bike,” I reminded him, trying to keep all emotion off my face. That was a line I refused to cross, especially when I’d just seen him with someone else.
Pop laughed, but Rumi just nodded.
“I’ll take the truck, then,” he said. He waved at the group of us and climbed on his motorcycle. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow. Nova, turn your phone back on.”
“It’s dead.”
“No, it isn’t,” he argued, pulling his helmet on.
My family was quiet as he turned on the bike and pulled away.
“What the hell is going on with you two?” Nana asked.
The question was like sandpaper rubbing against raw skin.
“Nothing,” I snapped, getting to my feet. “Everything is fine, okay?”
“Don’t talk to your Nana like that,” Pop growled, following me.
“Like what?” I threw my hands in the air. “There’s nothing going on with me and Rumi.”
“You better change that fuckin’ tone,” he growled.
“Or what?” I shot back. I could feel tears building behind my eyes. I hadn’t wanted Rumi anywhere near me, but now that he was gone, I was desperate to have him in front of me again. What the hell was wrong with me? I just wanted everyone to leave me alone.
I was so turned around and mixed up inside that when Pop raised his hand like he was going to smack me, I didn’t notice it at first and when I did, I threw myself backward out of the way, tripping over the lawn chair and going down hard on my side.
“Whoa,” Bird said, jumping to his feet.
“He wasn’t going to hit you,” Nana said in horror, reaching for me.
My side felt like it was on fire.
Pop’s hands were in his hair as he stared at me.
“I’m fine,” I mumbled, painfully getting to my feet.
“Honey, what the hell was that?” Nana was looking at me like she didn’t know what was wrong with me. She couldn’t figure out why I’d dodged Pop’s hand because she didn’t believe that he would’ve hit me.
There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that he’d been about to.
“I’m going inside,” I said softly. “Thanks for the party.”
“Nova,” Nana called.
“Let her go,” Pop ordered.
Bird followed me inside the house, his eyes wide.
“What the heck was that?” he whispered, his hand lightly pressed between my shoulder blades. “Was he going to hit you?”
