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“I can take care of Nova. You don’t have to.”
“I’m happy to.” She walks over to me. “I know how much she means to you.”
She’s never acknowledged that until now. Not once in twelve years has she ever acknowledged how important Nova is to me, because if she did, she’d have to admit she was wrong to take Nova out of my life. I’m not going to point that out to her. I’m just happy she said it.
“Since your father’s going to be gone, I think we should keep Nova here, give her time to get better. What do you think?”
“Yes,” I say, beyond relieved she’s letting her stay. “Mom, thank you.”
She nods and looks away. She’s acting really strange, and she seems sad.
“What if Dad finds out?”
“How could he? He won’t be here.” She goes to get a mug from the cupboard.
“But won’t he be home for dinner? And to pack his stuff?”
“He packed this morning and he’s meeting some friends for dinner.” She takes a tea bag from the drawer and puts it in the mug. “What about you? Are you having dinner with the team before the game?”
“No. I already told Jace I wouldn’t be there.” I pause. “Shit. I can’t go to the game. I can’t leave Nova here all alone.”
“Easton, you have to go,” my mom says, filling the teakettle with water. “You can’t miss a game.”
“Then who’s going to stay with her?”
“She’ll be fine for a couple hours. She can rest, watch TV. We’ll make sure she has everything she needs before we go.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I don’t want her being alone when she’s this sick. Mom, would you stay with her?”
“And miss your game? Honey, it’s your senior year and this is your first game of the season. It means a lot to you.”
“Nova means more. Mom, please do this for me. I’m not going to play in the game if you don’t.”
She nods. “Okay. I’ll stay here with her. I’ll tell your father I wasn’t feeling well and decided to stay home.”
“So you’re talking to him again?”
“We talk via text.” She leans against the counter, staring at the teakettle as it heats up on the stove.
“Does that mean you guys are still fighting?”
“We aren’t fighting. We just don’t agree on some things. We’re taking some time apart to think.”
“Is that why he’s leaving early for his trip?”
She hesitates, then says, “Yes.” She looks back at me. “Don’t tell Jenna that, or any of what I just said. I don’t want her asking questions.”
Just as she says it, Jenna walks in. “Elsa’s coming over. We’re gonna go to the basement and watch this show she’s obsessed with.” Jenna rolls her eyes. “It sounds stupid, but whatever. I told her I’d watch a few minutes and if I don’t like it, we have to do something else.”
“You can’t use the basement,” my mom says. “You can use the living room TV, or the one in your room.”
“But the downstairs TV is the biggest.”
“And I told you it’s not an option,” my mom says.
“Why?” She points to me. “Because of Easton and his stupid friends? Why do they get to use it and I don’t?”
My mom walks over to her. “Easton’s not using the TV. I need you to stay out of the basement because we have a guest down there.”
