Nova

I turn from side to side, appraising my outfit, the third I’ve put on.

“Nova,” Jace groans, “you’ve looked beautiful in everything. Let’s go. Who cares what those people think of you?” he questions, referring to Owen’s parents.

“I don’t really care,” I defend. “I want them to see how well I’m doing despite their wickedness, so they can suck it.”

Jace chuckles at that, rolling up the sleeves of his dress shirt, exposing the tattoos that color one arm. 

He moves in behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, and kisses my neck.

“They don’t deserve to know or think anything about you. They lost the right to judge you—good or bad—when they abandoned you and forced their son to do the same. You’re so much better than them.”

I sigh. “How is it you always know the exact right thing to say?”

He grins. “I’m fucking brilliant.”

I roll my eyes, but I can’t help but laugh. “What do you think of this outfit?” I ask, turning to face him so he can see the blouse and skirt combo. 

“You look like a fucking librarian and not like you,” he answers honestly.

My shoulders sag. “You’re right. Forget this.”

The restaurant is dressy—hence Jace’s dress shirt and slacks—and I don’t own a lot of nice things; I’m a simple girl.  

I pick up the first dress I tried on—a simple black number—and slip it on. 

“See, you looked perfect the first time,” he says with a smirk. 

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I intone, searching for my heels. I finally find them under the bed and pull them on, leaning against the dresser for support. “God, I hate these things,” I mutter. I’m positive heels were invented as a torture device to keep women from running away. 

“Ready?” Jace asks.

“No,” I answer honestly.

His face softens. “You’ll get through this. We both will.”

He wraps his arms around me, pressing his face into my hair and inhaling the scent. He bends, kissing me softly, and grabs my hand.

I let him pull me out of the apartment, swiping my bag off the table before we’re swept into the hallway and down the hall to the elevator. 

It feels like it moves at a snail’s pace down to the ground floor. I lean against Jace for support, breathing deeply. I keep trying to remind myself I’ll also be having dinner with Greyson and he makes all this better. 

Seeing my little boy fills me with so much joy.

Although, he’s not so little anymore. He’s nearly ten years old. When did that happen? 

The doors slide open and we step out, heading outside. Jace holds the door for me, his eyes roaming up and down and stopping at my heels. I never wear heels.

“Don’t. Say. A. Thing.” I warn through clenched teeth. 

He chuckles. “I was only going to say your ass looks fan-fucking-tastic.”

I smack his solid stomach, which only makes him laugh harder.

He leads me to his ancient truck, which he refuses to get rid of even though he has the money, and I slide into the passenger seat.

The truck still carries the faint hint of cigarettes despite the fact that he stopped smoking years ago.

Jace gets in and glances at me. “It’s going to be fine,” he reminds me, and I let out the breath I was holding.

When I get nervous about something, I hold my breath, and when I was little I used to pass out because of it. Thankfully, I don’t do that anymore. 

He pulls away and heads to the restaurant which is all the way on the opposite side of town. It’s a place I’ve never heard of before, but when I looked it up, it’s all shiny marble and chandeliers. Nothing but the best for the Mitchells. 

With traffic it takes us a good thirty minutes to get to the restaurant. They have a garage below ground which we quickly take advantage of. No way am I allowing him to park blocks away so I have to walk back in heels.

We get our parking ticket and find a space. Jace hops out, adjusting his dress shirt, while I slip out slowly, still not wanting to do this.

There’s an elevator and it leads from the garage up to the restaurant. I squeeze Jace’s hand as it ascends; I know it has to hurt, but he makes no comment.

The doors slide open with a pleasant ding and we walk toward the hostess station. She looks up with a pleasant smile.

“Do you have a reservation?”

“It’s under Mitchell,” I reply.

She looks and smiles brighter. “Right this way.”

I hold my breath as we follow her through the restaurant. I don’t even have time to appreciate the beauty of it.

Besides, things that are beautiful usually are a mask to a bunch of ugly.

“Here you go.” She waves her hand at the table. 

I let out the breath when I see Greyson and his adoptive parents, Sarah and Jimmy, are the only ones at the table.

“Angel!” Greyson cries, diving out of his chair to wrap his arms around my waist.

“Grey.” I smile, loving our nicknames. It’s our thing.

He used to call me his Angel Mommy but now he’s older so it’s dropped to Angel.

I kiss the top of his head, ruffling his hair.

He pulls away and smiles up at me. He’s the cutest little boy I’ve ever seen, and I can’t believe he’s a part of me.

“Sit beside me,” he pleads, taking my hand and showing me the empty spot beside him. 

“I’d love that,” I say, taking the spot. Jace slides into the chair on my other side.

“How are you guys?” Sarah asks, sipping at her glass of water.

“Good. Some big life changes coming up,” Jace replies, grinning at me.

“Oh, really?” Sarah asks. “Like what?”

I wave my hand dismissively. “It hasn’t come to fruition yet, we’ll let you know when it does.”

“You’re not moving, are you?” Jimmy asks. 

“Oh, God no.” I snort, like the idea is ridiculous. Which it is. I wouldn’t leave here if my life depended on it. Not with Greyson here.

“Good,” Sarah breathes. “That was my first thought too.”

I turn to Greyson at my side. “What’s new with you?”

“I got an A on my spelling test.”

“Awesome.” I smile at him. 

“Give me a high-five, bud. Good job.” Jace leans around me, extending his hand, and Greyson high-fives him as hard as he can. Jace pretends to wince and shakes out his hand. “Man, you’re strong.”

“I have to be strong. I’m going to be a hockey player one day.”

“Still want to play hockey, huh?” Jace asks him.

“Of course,” Greyson replies.

There’s a noise behind us and I turn to look, seeing Owen standing in front of his parents while the hostess walks back to her station. 

Owen clears his throat and takes a seat, his parents falling into place.

“I’m Harry,” Owen’s dad introduces himself to Sarah and Jimmy. “And this is my wife, Claudia.”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes but from the squeeze of Jace’s hand against mine beneath the table, I’m not sure I was successful. 

Oh, well.

“I’m Sarah.” She waves at the couple.

“Jimmy.” He raises his hand.

“You look good,” Owen comments to me, and Jace gives me a look that clearly says I told you so.

“How’s New York treating you?” I ask, changing the subject.

Owen pushes his dark hair from his eyes and shrugs. “Not bad.”

An awkward silence descends on the table, and I shift uncomfortably in my chair. 

If it wasn’t for Greyson, I swear I wouldn’t be here right now.

Harry clears his throat, his eyes zeroing in on Jace.

“Jacen Kensington, I’m surprised to see you here.”

“It’s Jace,” he grinds out between his teeth. “And I don’t know why you’d be surprised considering you knew Nova and I were dating years ago.”

Harry’s lips twist. “I figured with Nova’s age she’d move on. She certainly moved on from my son.”

My jaw drops to the floor and my face heats with anger. Harry and his wife forced Owen to leave me. I didn’t end the relationship. I was the one who was a teenager and pregnant and absolutely terrified. 

Jace’s fists flex and he opens his mouth, ready to defend me. 

I beat him to it.

I don’t care who’s at this table, I will not let Harry Mitchell walk all over us. 

I may have done it once, but not now. 

“How dare you,” I snap, my voice rising. “Owen broke up with me. He’s one who left me alone and pregnant, because you” —I shove a finger in his direction— “made him. You’re nothing but a nasty excuse for a human being. I don’t even know why you’re here. You don’t deserve to know this little boy.” I place my hand on Greyson’s shoulder. “He’s good and you’re … you’re … not.”

Jace looks at me with admiration in his eyes and mouths I love you.

I smile back at him. If I didn’t find my soulmate when I met Jace then I came pretty damn close.

Harry clears his throat and fiddles with his tie, his face growing increasingly red.

To Jimmy and Sarah, he says, “I’m terribly sorry. Novalee has always been unstable.”

I gasp. I want to throttle him.

Everything that comes out of this man’s mouth is a fucking lie. I guess that’s why he’s such a good politician. 

Sarah tilts her head, appraising him. “Funny, because I’ve now known Nova for … what? Five years?” She turns to her husband and then back to Harry. “And I’ve never, not once, found her to be unstable.” She throws his word back to him. “You, on the other hand, this is our first time meeting and I could say the same about you.”

Harry’s eyes bulge out of his head. 

Go Sarah. I mentally fist-bump.

Harry sputters and finally comes to a stand. “I will not be insulted this way.” He stands up, buttoning his suit jacket. “Claudia, Owen, let’s go.” He moves away, expecting them to follow.

Claudia does, but Owen stays seated.

“Owen.”

Owen lifts a steely jaw. “No, Dad. I’m staying.”

Harry hates being defied and anger flashes in his eyes, his top lip snarling, but he says no more, putting a hand on Claudia’s waist and guiding her away. She glances back over her shoulder, and our gazes collide, she stares at me with anger and then her eyes move to Jace and she shakes her head in disapproval before turning around.

Owen clears his throat. “Should we go somewhere … less formal?”

Jimmy breathes out a sigh of relief. “That’d be great.”

“Can we have pizza?” Greyson pipes in, lifting his hand in the air like he’s in school and needs to be called on.

“Sure, bud.” Greyson smiles at him and my heart lurches because they look so much alike. I don’t often get to see Owen and Greyson together. Usually when Owen visits him I let him have time alone with him—that’s what I get since I can see him more often.

We leave and end up at a place a couple blocks away.

Before heading in I switch out my heels for a pair of black Converse I had left in the back of Jace’s truck. He laughs, because they definitely don’t go with my dress, but I am not wearing those heels if I don’t have to.

Dinner goes smoothly with lots of smiles and laughs. I don’t think any of us misses Harry and Claudia, but especially Harry.

Ain’t nobody got time for judgmental assholes. 

The meal ends and we each take care of our own bills. 

I hug Greyson goodbye, inhaling his scent until the next time, and then Jace hugs him.

The two have grown close, and I’ve loved watching their relationship grow and evolve.

Jace and I head outside but we don’t get far before there’s a shout behind us. 

I turn and find Owen jogging after us. “Did I leave something?” I ask, confused as to why he’s chasing us down. 

He shakes his head, dark hair falling into his eyes. He stops in front of us and pushes it out of his eyes. 

“No, no,” he adds. “I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. So, bye.” He rocks back on his heels awkwardly.

My brows knit together, confused by his strange behavior.

“Um … bye.” 

He moves in for a hug, and I let him, though my grip is limp while he hugs me like I’m a buoy holding him up.

He lets go, looking me up and down from head to toe before sighing softly. “I’ll see you soon.”

He turns and heads back to the restaurant.

I shake my head, unable to wrap my head around his behavior.

Jace is silent until we get into the truck and he starts it.

He glances at me, a serious look on his face. “I told you he’s still in love with you.”

I pause, wanting to protest, but I can’t because … because I think he’s right.