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CHAPTER46
ZEKE
The humid airsticks to me before I even step off the plane. I swallow the thick lump in my throat and hitch my backpack on my shoulder.
A flight attendant smiles kindly at me as I leave. “Enjoy your stay.”
I return the smile and head down the long hallway that leads to the airport terminal. My heart ramps up higher with each step.
This is for Nova. To find answers to this complicated mess we’re in. For me, it’s mostly about being by her side. She asked me to trust her, so that’s what I’m doing.
This is my chance to prove to her she’s it for me. To sacrifice for her, as she did for me. I don’t care how public her life is or how many photos of me get published. I just care about her.
One quick scan at the Arrivals terminal and my eyes are drawn right to her. She’s absolutely stunning in a light sundress, her eyes bright and her hair styled. My nerves explode when we make eye contact. It’s been less than a day since I’ve seen her, but it feels like so much has happened.
But the second she smiles, everything else is forgotten. I stride to her, dropping my bag at her feet and taking her in my arms, crushing my lips to hers. There’s chatter outside of me. An annoying clicking, snapping sound, but all I feel is her. She holds on and kisses me back but keeps me from going as deep as I want to.
I pull back and take in a gulp of air. “I hate being away from you,” I say and then kiss her again.
She giggles against my mouth. “Zeke,” she says between kisses.
“What?”
“Look around,” she whispers, her face so close to mine I can’t see anything else. When I broaden my focus, the flashes and clicks of the people around me make sense. People taking pictures are everywhere. The second I make eye contact with them, an explosion of questions immediately overwhelms me.
“What’s your name? Is it true you…? Where did you meet? Is the baby a boy or girl?”
Nova pulls my face back to hers. “Don’t talk to any of them. Not a word.”
She slips her hand into mine, and I barely scoop my backpack from the floor before she’s dragging me behind her through a sea of bodies.
“Who are you?” I whisper in her ear, and she smiles.
She navigates her way through this like it’s no big deal, and I’m in a state of heart-pounding, ear-buzzing, gut-turning panic by the time we pass into the hot sun where a man is holding the door open to a sleek, black SUV. Nova switches grips on my hand, and I help her get in before climbing in after her.
The door closes, and I collapse into the leather seat, scrubbing my face with my palms to expel some of this buzzing.
“What the fuck, Nova?” I mumble, and she giggles.
“So, this is him?” Another woman’s voice sounds, and I drop my hands, my cheeks flaming with embarrassment.
“Mama, this is Zeke. Zeke, this is my mother, Ronnie.” Nova gestures to the woman sitting in the front seat. She has dark straight hair and piercing eyes. Power radiates from her posture.
“Um, hey. I mean, hi. Nice to meet you.” I lean forward to shake her hand.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Zeke.” Ronnie has a bone-crushing grip. She scans me, no doubt scrutinizing my worth. “Is this your luggage?”
I sink deeper into my seat as the vehicle drives away, hugging my backpack to my body. “I didn’t want to check anything.”
“Smart.” She smiles, and Nova scoops up my hand. I quickly find my way between her fingers and squeeze. I’m definitely in need of her right now. This world is one I don’t understand.
“Mama, be nice,” Nova says, and Ronnie smiles wider.
“I’m being nice, Pumpkin.” She scoops up her phone, the screen lit with an incoming call. She holds her finger out and turns to face forward.
I stifle a laugh and mouthPumpkin?
Nova smacks my arm and glares at me, which helps ease some of this tension. We’re still just us.
