Jace

“Are you sure this is what you want to do?” I ask Nova for the five-hundredth fucking time as we stand, ready to board the plane.

She chews her lip nervously. She decided she wanted to tell her parents in person she’s pregnant. I think she’s crazy for wanting to do that, but I know she probably needs this. She needs to see them and have some sort of closure. She left and went to college and never came back. This feels final.

“I don’t want to,” she finally says, stepping forward in line. “But I need to.”

“I understand.” And I do. Besides, I’ll always do what she wants to do. I would never push her to do anything she doesn’t want to do. She starts worrying her lip between her teeth again. “Nova,” I say deeply and she looks at me with wide sorrowful brown eyes. “You can do this,” I tell her. “You’re stronger and better than those people. Whatever they do or say doesn’t change that.”

She nods and swallows thickly. “You’re right.”

I grin. “I always am.” I can’t help saying the words, because I mean, I am.

We hand over our tickets and board the plane.

I’m nervous to meet her parents but I don’t let it on. I’m nervous because I hate them. I hate them for what they’ve done to Nova and I’m afraid of what I might do or say, and I’d never want to do anything that might upset Nova.

I tuck my carry-on bag into the compartment and then take Nova’s and do the same. We have a return ticket for tomorrow so it’s not like we needed to pack much.

Nova plops into the seat by the window and lets out a heavy breath.

I sit beside her and she drags her sad eyes to mine.

Her pain is my pain, and seeing that look in her eyes is like a kick in the chest.

A part of me wants to pick her up and throw her over my shoulder, carrying her out of here and telling her to fucking call them and be done with it. But I know she needs this closure and I’m not selfish enough to deny her that.

“Just remember,” I tell her, my voice low, “no matter what happens, they don’t define you and you don’t need their approval to be happy.”

She takes in my words and nods. “I know—I hate that there’s still some small part of me that wants them to love me.”

I frown. “I’m sorry,” I whisper. It’s all I can say. We both know people like them will never change. They’re not capable of love. Only destruction. 

My dad changed once he was dying. Fuck, as sad as it is that short amount of time I had with him there at the end was some of my best moments with him in my entire life. It was like he was finally free of the shackles he’d been binding himself with. He opened up more to me in that time than I ever thought possible. He confessed how cruel his own father had been to him, and for him it was normal, it was all he knew, and therefore he treated me the same way. I sympathized with him but I also felt anger, because even though I grew up with him treating me like shit I knew I’d still never do that to my own kid just because it’s what I knew. I don’t have it in my heart to be that way. Sure, I’m crass, and rude, and probably too bossy at times but I care and there lies the difference.

Regardless, I’m glad I had time with my dad and got to see him in a different light. It actually made me a bit sad when he finally passed, but if I hadn’t had those moments with him and seen there was a speck of good in him, sadly I don’t think I would’ve cared. In fact, I probably would’ve said good riddance and danced on his grave.

“My mom already doesn’t approve of you,” Nova sighs.

“Oh, really?” I raise a brow. “And how does she know me?”

She rolls her eyes. “Owen’s mom called her and told her all about you. I guess she made it seem like you were some tattooed prick or something.”

I snort. “I barely spoke at that stupid dinner—if you can even call it that.”

“Exactly,” Nova sighs again and I get the feeling she’s going to be doing it non-stop until we get home. “But my mom and Claudia apparently still gossip like a bunch of chickens.”

“Claudia looks like a fucking chicken.” The words come out under my breath before I can catch them.

Nova busts out laughing and slaps a hand over her mouth. Fuck, I’ll say it again if it gets that reaction out of her.

“She kind of does, doesn’t she?”

“Her nose is beak shaped,” I confirm. “Plus, she has those beady eyes that spell death if you stare into them for too long.” Nova suppresses more laughter. “I guess this is the time I should say, Confession: I really fucking hate chickens.”

Her laughter bubbles out in uncontrollable bursts. “Why?”

I take a breath. “Once when I was little, we went to visit some distant relatives of my mom’s. I don’t even know how we were related to them. Anyway, they lived on the farm. I was little, probably five or six, and I really wanted to see the animals but the adults were all talking. So, thinking I could handle anything, I went off in search of the animals. I petted a couple of sheep and kept going. That’s when I spotted the chicken coop.”

“Oh, no.” She presses a hand to her mouth, stifling more laughter.

“Oh, yes.” I nod. “I was small so I could fit in the fucking chicken coop—let’s just say they ran me out of there so fast I nearly lost my pants. One bit my ankle and let me tell you that hurt like crazy. After that, I haven’t been able to stand the sight of chickens.”

Nova laughs and leans her head on my shoulder. “God, I love you.”

I don’t say the words back, she already knows I love her more than my next breath.

She’s everything.

We arrive in Texas and it’s fucking hot—well, hot compared to the cold we’ve been having. It has to be in the fifties, where back home it was in the twenties.

We get a rental car and Nova drives around, showing me different places that are a part of her childhood.

Her high school, the park she and her friends used to hang out in, a gym where she did gymnastics for a year before giving up, and even the hospital where she had Greyson.

Each piece gives me further insight into who Nova is. It’s like I had the whole puzzle done and now I’m finally getting the border—the foundation.

Once the mini-tour is done we head to our hotel and check in.

Nova wants to wait until tomorrow to see her parents, since our flight out is tomorrow evening. I understand, I wouldn’t want to confront my bastard parents today and have to wait a whole fucking day to get home. This way, if they’re assholes it’s not like we’re going to be here long.

And let’s face it, they’re going to be fucking assholes because they don’t know any other way to be.

I drop our bags on the floor and Nova collapses on the bed.

The room is nice—I made sure to book something that wasn’t a shit-hole—almost cozy. There’s a refrigerator, a couch, a king bed, and the bathroom and closet off to the side.

“Why did you let me do this?” Nova asks, staring up at the ceiling.

I chuckle and crawl up the bed overtop of her. I stop when I reach her face, my arms braced on either side of her head.

“Because, you need closure. Otherwise, you’d be asking yourself what if. It’s better to get it over with and not have questions later.”

“Are you sure you weren’t a psychology major?”

“I write songs, Little Star. It’s basically the same thing.”

She smiles up at me—and that smile … Fuck, it does things to me I can’t put into words or even lyrics.

I roll over and lie beside her, both of us staring at the ceiling.

“Jace?” she asks softly.

“Yes?” I press when she doesn’t elaborate.

“When you were little, what did you imagine your life would be like?”

I press my lips together. “Honestly? I wanted to be a fucking rock star. What about you?”

“I don’t know. When I was little I was too scared to dream.”

She might as well have kicked me in the chest with as bad as her words hurt me. All I can picture is the love of my life as a small child, too frightened to hope, to dream, of a life worth living. It breaks my fucking heart.

“What about now?” she asks. “Do you still want to be a rock star?”

“No,” I answer honestly. “That dream died a long time ago. I don’t want the limelight.” I swallow thickly. “If you could have dreamed of something, what would it have been?”

She rolls over and gives me a small smile. “This—finding someone I love more than anything else, and having my love returned tenfold.”

I can’t help it, I have to kiss her. I have to feel her body mold into mine like my body was made to shelter hers.

She curls into me, her fingers grasping at the collar of my shirt. 

I wish I could erase the bad in her life like it never even happened, but it did, so now I have to spend the rest of my life showing her how fucking amazing she truly is.

Her lips open beneath mine and her hands glide down my stomach, frantically pushing up my shirt.

I tear it off and toss it over my shoulder to some unknown part of the room.

My fingers work the button on her jeans and push them past her hips. Her body’s filled out since she got pregnant, and I fucking love it. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it before and she’s beautiful no matter what, but I get a sense of satisfaction knowing I did that to her.

Her teeth nip lightly at me.

Frantic.

Desperate.

We both need to feel the other skin to skin.

We tear at the rest of our clothes, our desperation leaking into the air. Her nails rake down my back as I push into her and I smile in satisfaction, loving the small bite of pain.

Her dark hair spills out around her. Sometimes I miss her wild colors, but I also knew right from the start she was hiding behind them. This, this, is the real Nova.

She’s soft, and sweet, but she’s also sharp-tongued and quick-witted. 

Her fingers touch the scruff on my cheeks and she pulls my head down, kissing me like I’m her oxygen and without me she’s going to suffocate. 

She lets me go and looks up at me with glowing brown eyes.

Those eyes say it all.

Love.

Trust.

Forever.

I never thought I’d want it all with someone, a life, babies, a house, growing old together, but with her it’s easy to picture those things. They don’t seem like far off ramblings. They’re solid and true and I know it’s going to fucking happen. Hell, we’ve already got a jumpstart on the baby part.

She shatters beneath me, her eyes falling closed, and fuck I can’t help it but I’m right behind her. 

Our bodies are slick with sweat and our breathing is heavy, but none of it seems to matter.

I pull out of her and gather her against my chest. She drapes one leg between mine, her hand on my chest.

I run my fingers through her hair and she looks up at me sleepily.

“I think … I think maybe I dreamed of you before I even knew how to dream.”

What the fuck does one wear to meet the asshole parents of their girlfriend?

Maybe I should go in a fucking Speedo and goggles—really leave a lasting impression.

Unfortunately, I didn’t pack a Speedo.

I don’t even own one, and since it’s December, the chances of me finding one are slim to none.

Besides, Nova would probably lock me in a closet before she ever let me show up to meet her parents like that.

Instead, I settle on a pair of jeans a long-sleeve black t-shirt. 

It’s hardly fancy, but at least I’m covered. 

Nova wears a pair of jeans and a loose red sweater that hides her bump.

A growl emanates from deep in my chest, pissed she feels the need to hide our baby like it’s a dirty fucking secret.

I wish she wasn’t afraid of her parents, but I know they did a number on her and it is what it is. It’s a good thing she’s not messed up like she could’ve been. The same is true of me.

We’re both lucky to have come out of bad situations relatively unscathed.

Nova looks at me, her face showing her apprehension.

“No matter what happens, they don’t define you.”

She nods at my words. “I know.” She gives me a small smile, retreating further into herself. I hate that these people can do this to her and she hasn’t even seen them yet. I miss her vibrancy, and her energy, and her, and it’s only been one day.

I shrug into my coat and she does the same. 

Nova starts for the door and she barely has it open when I slam my hand down on it and push the door closed.

She jumps and looks at me, clearly startled.

“You don’t have to do this,” I tell her. “They don’t know we’re here. We can hang out here until we have to catch our flight and no one will be the wiser.”

She presses her lips together and seems to be mulling over my words. After a moment she shakes her head and squares her shoulders. “No, I have to do this.”

I sigh. I knew she was going to say that, but I had to ask anyway.

I nod once and swing the door open, letting her step outside first.

I drive, since she’s too nervous to drive, and she gives me the directions.

Eventually, we pull up outside a large stone two-story home with a long ass driveway.

It’s different than I expected. Way different. 

Anytime I pictured the home Nova grew up in it was always smaller, like a little cottage or something, but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised if her parents are friends with Owen’s parents.

Rich people tend to stick together—one valuable lesson I learned from my father.

I put the car in park and pull out the key from the ignition.

Nova takes a shaky breath beside me and stares straight ahead at the garage doors. “Let’s do this.”

She doesn’t sound enthusiastic about it at all.

I keep reminding myself she needs to do this.

Closure is everything. Without it we keep spinning in circles.

I slide out of the car and she does the same, we meet in the front and her hand reaches for mine. Her fingers curl around mine—she’s holding on like I’m a buoy keeping her afloat in the turbulent ocean.

We walk slowly up the walkway and then up the three small steps to the front door.

“Ready?” I ask her.

“I’ll never be.”

She reaches out anyway and rings the doorbell.

Her hold on my hand tightens, and I can’t be certain but I think she’s holding her breath.

I hear the sound of heels slapping against hardwood floor and then the front door is swinging open, revealing an older form of Nova—also, a much unhappier version.

Her brown hair is pulled back in a tight bun that looks painful, while the messy one Nova usually sports looks light and free.

She sports a pinched look, like someone who’s had too much Botox and can’t move their face.

“Hi, Mom,” Nova speaks softly beside me.

“What are you doing here?” she snaps, her lip curling as her gaze moves from Nova to me.

“We were in town and thought we’d stop by.”

“Hmm, well, come in, I guess.” She steps aside to let us in but I can tell it’s the last thing she wants to do. “Take your shoes off.”

I give Nova a look like is she for real?

Nova’s look back says, unfortunately.

I let go of Nova’s hand and remove my boots. Even though I’m careful to set them aside I still get a dirty look from her mom. 

“It’s nice to meet you,” I say, even though it’s anything but, and hold out my hand.

She stares at my hand like it’s a wild animal. “Don’t you have a bank to rob?”

My brows shoot up. “Excuse me?”

“I know your type. You have criminal written all over you.”

I glance at Nova and her cheeks are red, not in embarrassment but in anger. 

“I can’t say I know what you mean,” I finally reply.

“People with a low IQ wouldn’t understand.” She turns sharply on her heels, heading further back into the house.

I grab Nova’s arm, halting her before she can follow. “What the fuck is that about? Is she for real?”

She shrugs. “This is what I grew up with.”

“I’m surprise she didn’t shove you down the steps when you were pregnant, as awful as that sounds.”

Nova flinches. “Sadly, I am too. I think it’s only because it was Owen’s baby.”

We finally make our way through the house and to a living room. Her mom sits perched on a couch, looking stiff and angry.

“Where’s Dad?” Nova asks.

“In his office,” she replies tartly, barely moving her lips.

“Would you mind asking him to join us?” Nova asks hesitantly.

If her mom’s brows could move, I think they’d furrow in that moment. “Why?”

Nova takes a deep breath, like she has to hold back her irritation. “Because I wanted to talk to you guys while I’m here.”

Her mom looks away. “I don’t know why you’d need to talk now. You left and never looked back.”

Nova shakes her head. “It goes both ways, you know? You never reached out to me, either.”

“Did I or did I not call you a few months ago?”

“Yeah, to tell me once again what a failure I am and how Jace isn’t good enough for me. Did you ever stop to think maybe it’s you who’s not good enough for me?”

Go Nova! I silently cheer. I’m proud of her for sticking up for herself.

Her mom stands, smoothing out her skirt. “I’ll get your father.”

“Thank you,” Nova says softly. 

Once she’s gone we sit side by side on the white couch. It’s uncomfortable and definitely more for looks than actual comfort.

Nova’s hands wring together nervously, and I place mine overtop to still her movements.

It isn’t long until her mom breezes back into the room, head held high, followed by a tall man with graying hair, a smooth-shaven face, and an expensive looking suit and tie.

The man fiddles with the sleeves of his suit before sitting down.

“Novalee,” he says gruffly. No I missed you or I love you or I’m glad to see you. Just Novalee, like he’s disgusted to have her in his presence. 

Sometimes, people horrify me. Is it so fucking hard to be nice?

“Hi, Dad.” Nova wiggles beside me, her unease rolling off her in waves.

“Who are you?” he asks. 

I highly doubt he doesn’t know who I am—if her mom was aware of me, he must be too.

“Jace Kensington,” I reply, holding out my hand to shake his.

He eyes my hand before he finally takes it in his. The handshake is so quick I’m not sure it even happened, then the fucker has the audacity to wipe his hand on his pants leg.

Her mom runs her hands down her skirt, smoothing it out. “What brings you to town?”

“I wanted to see you guys.”

Her mom makes a noise of disbelief. “I highly doubt that. Liars are disgusting, Novalee, surely you can do better.”

Nova’s teeth clamp down and she looks torn between screaming and crying.

“Well, it’s the truth.”

Her mom looks at her nails, like Nova’s so unimportant she can’t even be bothered to look at her.

It takes everything in me to bite my tongue and not to tear into these people.

Her father sighs heavily and claps his hand. “You’re obviously here for a reason, get to the point and stop wasting our time. What is it? Do you need money? Your boyfriend looks like the type to lose all his on drugs. I can assure you, we won’t be digging you out of any more holes, young lady. This is your mess, you figure it out.”

Nova seethes. “Do not talk about him. You don’t even know him. And I’m assuming the holes you’re referring to is Greyson—yeah, that’s his name, but I’m sure Claudia told you since she seems to tell you everything. But I take serious offense to you insinuating my son is somehow less because I was young when I had him.” She takes a deep breath. “I came here to tell you I’m having a baby, and I’m happy, and I guess I hoped you’d be happy for me too.”

Her mom scoffs and clutches her heart. “But you’re not even married.”

“Another mistake, I’m sure,” her father pipes in.

What the fuck is it with people and thinking you can’t want to have a baby when you’re not married?

Nova stands so fast I nearly get whiplash. She points a menacing finger at my parents.

“I assure you, this baby was very much wanted, and for your information, Jace and I have no intentions to ever get married. We’re happy and in love the way we are.” She shakes her head. “I hoped maybe you guys could be different, but you’re not. You’re the same selfish and hateful people you’ve always been. I’m leaving, and I won’t be back. Forget you have a daughter.”

Nova storms from the room and her parents look at each other before looking at me.

I make a face and point in the direction Nova fled.

“I’m going to go,” I mutter, and dash out of the room and after Nova.

I find her outside pacing the driveway. When she sees me, she stops, looks up at the sky and screams.

All her sadness, anger, and frustration bleeds out into the sky above.

When she looks at me, there’s a clearness to her eyes now.

“Let’s go home.”