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“Hey,” I say, slipping into the booth across from her, trying to steady my voice. Acting like I have my shit together when I’m one step away from a full-blown panic attack inside is a superpower of mine. Not even my family is aware of how tightly I keep my feelings on lockdown.
“Hi,” she responds in a timid voice as she plays with the sleeve of her green sweater.
“How are you feeling?” I stumble, and Xan’s words are on loop in my mind.Listen.
“Like I’m going to puke.” A small laugh is carried out on a heavy breath, and she won’t make eye contact with me.
“You have morning sickness pretty bad?” That, I remember.
“I have all-day sickness. It sucks. But I’m also really not sure what to do about this.” She gestures between us. “I’m nervous.”
Nova finally looks at me. Her eyes are ocean blue, and her beachy-blonde hair falls in sandy waves past her shoulders. She’s gorgeous—inexplicably stunning—and I need to get that thought out of the way so I can get to the rest.
“I don’t know, either. But I want to be there for you.” The words taste cheesy on my tongue, but there is no way to put this that doesn’t make me feel fucking stupid.
I slump back into the seat at her tone, the awkwardness crawling on my skin like ants.
Patty comes to the table to take our order, and she gives me a stern look as if to say,This is not your girlfriend.
“Can I get a plate of fries?” I ask, ignoring her maternal stare. It’s not the first time, and probably not the last, that she’s glared at me like I’m up to no good.
“Want to share?” Nova asks, and I nod.
Patty’s glare deepens, and she scribbles on her paper a little harder than she needs to.
“She wasn’t very pleasant,” Nova says when she’s gone.
That Southern tilt to her words affects me on a physical level. The smooth waves of her accent leave a trail of goosebumps along my arms, and I cross them in front of my chest.
“Oh, she usually is. She’s mad at me that I’m here with you. I have a girlfriend—who is aware that I’m meeting you, by the way. She just doesn’t know why.”
Nova’s cheeks turn a rose colour, and her skin is fucking flawless. I’ve heard that about pregnant women, too. That glow bullshit. Is that what this is?
I stare at her openly until she clears her throat, and I startle out of my trance.
“I’m sorry that I have to come between you two. I feel terrible about that.” She tips her chin to her chest.
“Don’t. Jess is cool. Probably the most understanding girl in the world—maybe to a fault.”
The super fucked-up thing is that I was kinda bummed out at how she didn’t get upset. At least a little bit would have shown me she cared enough about me to not want me out with anyone else. It’s not right to think this way, but her neutrality to everything is kind of a kick in the dick sometimes. She has such clear and outspoken views on things like sex before marriage that I am convinced she has thoughts about me being out with someone else but just isn’t saying anything.
Silence falls between us, the pressure of our discomfort building. I do about seven different things with my arms because I can’t get comfortable. In the end, I tap my fingers on the glossy yellow table. She stares at them, her light brows furrowing, so I stop.
Patty brings our fries and sets the plate between us.
“Where’s Jessica today?” she asks, her words so thinly veiled that Nova smiles. She puts two fingers on her lips to hide the smirk, and it infects me as well.
“She’s at home. Settle down, Patty. She knows I’m here with another woman.” I laugh when Patty’s glare turns to a flustered stutter. “This is Nova. I fixed her van a few months back. She’s on her way home to Alabama, and we’retalking.”
It is essential to axe rumours before they start around here. Gossip is a form of currency in this town, and while Patty is the most loving human on the planet, the woman has a big mouth.
“Oh, well then. Have a nice stay in Raston.” She spins on her sneakers and walks away.
“Sorry about that. I had to, or word would have gotten to Jess I was cheating on her before I got a refill on my Coke.” I grin, and Nova stares. She’s studying me this time, as I did to her only moments ago.
“I guess we should figure this out, right?” I continue, and she takes a deep breath, shifting in her seat.
“Yeah, so I thought I might stick around for a bit,” she starts.
