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I lean down to her stomach and kiss it, whispering to the baby while she threads her fingers through my hair. The action is tense, her touch not as warm, my words not as sure, but this is what we do. At least there’s still that.
“What are you guys talking about?” Her voice is wary, and I sense she hates that we were talking unsupervised.
“Oh, your sister was just telling me all about how it’s all for the best because I’m not good enough for you, and you’re going to get bored here living my peasant life.” I kiss her stomach once more and lean up.
Nova leans into me, and we’re both desperate to touch each other as much as possible before she leaves. She looks at me, searching me for some sort of answer.
“I don’t want you two to fight,” she whispers, and it cracks my heart. She hits me with a serious, pained look. “This is my sister. How would you feel if I accused your sister of something like this?”
Everything in me wants to fight her on it, but I know she’s right. I look to my feet, not knowing how to manage these feelings.
“And Dru,” Nova continues. “Zeke is the father of this baby, and he’s not going anywhere. I care about him, and you both need to get over yourselves.”
I curl her back into a hug, and Dru and I exchange a look. I don’t trust her.
“Are you sure I can’t come with you?” I ask, my last-ditch attempt to keep her under my watch.
“You need to be here with your family,” she says, but I shake my head, the words spilling out with no thought.
“You’re my family, Nova,” I growl. “I’m not the only one who loves you. My family is yours now, like it or not. Just stop being so fucking stubborn and let me talk to them. Whoever is doing this to you is a goddamn coward. Let me sic my brothers on them.”
“I’d be more worried about your sisters,” Nova says with a soft tease to her shaking voice. I laugh, despite the tension and the fact that I just told her I loved her.
“I’m not leaving you alone with this. I know you’re worried about the image. I get it. But I can’t stop thinking about if they hurt you—if they hurt our son.” I choke on the word, and her eyes fill with tears. “I’ll never forgive myself if I let you go.”
Dru storms through the kitchen and slams the bathroom door. Nova flinches and turns a distrusting eye from the door to me.
“Give me one more night. Please. You have 48 hours. If my family is good for anything, it’s protecting the people we love.” I tip her chin with a hooked finger to force her eyes to mine. “And I do love you.”
She gives a small nod and heaves a big sigh.
“I love you, too.”
An idea pops into my head, so I kiss her quickly and whisper in her ear. “Check her phone.”
“What?” Nova says, and I spring forward to grab Dru’s phone off the counter, shaking it at Nova.
“Whoever took a picture of us has it on a phone. Check Dru’s phone. If it’s not there, she’s not the one doing this, so there’s no risk of her knowing that I’m coming with you.”
Nova glances at the door. “Okay. I’ll say I told you that you couldn’t come. That you left mad.”
“Good. If she’s not the one, fly with her today. I’ll meet you in Nashville in a couple of days, in case it’s someone else, and we’re still being watched.”
She flings forward and kisses me. I absorb as much of her as I can in a single kiss and then walk backward to the door.I love you, I mouth, and then turn to leave, slamming the door hard for good measure.
I tremble as I pull out my phone and text my brother.
I need you. Meet me at the bar at 5.
