Nova

I blow air across my hot coffee, watching the steam lift and disappear into the air. 

Joel peers across the table at me, his own coffee sitting to his right, practically abandoned. He doesn’t like coffee too much.

His brown hair is mussed, a pair of round glasses sits on his nose. He looks adorably nerdy, but I’d never tell him that. Besides, I don’t think guys like words like “adorable” and “nerdy”, let alone in the same sentence. 

“This isn’t working,” I finally say. “We’ve been trying for over a year and we still haven’t made progress with what we’re going to do.”

He grabs a sugar packet and dumps it into his coffee. “So what? You want to give up?”

“Well, no,” I admit. “But I can’t work at the record store my whole life. I need to do something I’m passionate about and that’s photography.”

“Maybe we’ve been thinking too big.” He spreads his arms wide. “What if we scale back?”

“What do you mean?”

He tips his chair back on two legs. “We’re too focused on getting to the end game. We’re not thinking about the steps it takes to get to that point. I have an extra room in my apartment we could turn into our studio for the meantime. We can start offering the kind of shoots we want to do. Fantastical and out of this world ones. And go from there. Just save up our money until we can buy a studio. Who knows, maybe by then we’ll be getting businesses attention and they’ll want us to do campaigns. Dream big.”

I ponder his words, pursing my lips. “You might be on to something.”

I kind of feel like kicking myself for not thinking of this sooner. Granted, Joel has only been in his new apartment for five months but still. It makes sense to start slow. Going out and buying a studio straight away would be a stupid business decision. Especially in the city, since rent will be super expensive. 

Joel grins, his dimples popping out. “See, I can be smart sometimes.”

I laugh softly to myself, hearing his words, but my mind is off thinking about how this might work. 

Ever since I graduated college, all I’ve wanted to do is focus on my photography, but I’ve been unable to. Like Joel, I like to do things that are out there and different and make people think. It’s what makes me happy. 

I sip at my coffee and smile at Joel. “I think we can do this.”

“I know we can,” he counters. “We’re awesome.”

I smile at the faith he has in us. 

Joel is such an optimist while I skew to the pessimist side.

“We have most of the equipment we need, and we can get props cheap at the flea market. This is going to work, Nova. I know it.”

I want to say I hope so, but instead I agree with, “It will.”

And I actually believe it will. 

I can feel it. 

I leave Joel and walk around aimlessly a bit, letting my mind wander.

Eventually, I end up back at the apartment. I head inside and find Jace lying on the couch, wearing his glasses, with a book clasped in his hand.

I gave him a Kindle for Christmas a few years ago but he refuses to give up his paperbacks. It’s like they’re a part of him or something. I don’t quite understand it. 

He sits up as I close the door.

“How’d the brainstorming session go?”

I click the lock closed. “Good, really good.”

He raises a brow and sets his book on the coffee table. “Really?”

“Yeah.” I kick my shoes off and then cross the room to plop on the couch beside him. “Joel thinks we can turn the spare room in his new place into a studio and work our way up to our own studio. It makes the most sense money wise.”

Jace gets a serious look on his face, and I know what’s coming.

“I’d be happy to give you guys the money for a studio. You know this, but I thought it should be said again.”

“Jace,” I say softly, “I can’t take your money for something like this. What if it ends up being a major bust?”

He shrugs. “I wouldn’t care.”

I sigh. “But I would. It would take a lot of money to open a studio and I’d feel guilty if I couldn’t pay you back.”

“I wouldn’t want you to pay me back,” he objects, stretching his arm over the back of the couch.

“I know, but I wouldn’t feel right not to. Joel wouldn’t either.”

Jace raises his hands. “Well, the offer still stands if you two change your mind, but I’m glad you’ve at least got something figured out. I know it must be a relief.”

“Yeah, but people might not take to our kind of photography and want that kind of thing. It’s different, and weird.”

Jace chuckles. “Everybody in the city is different and weird. You’ll be fine.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I’m always right.” He smirks and stands, stretching his arms above his head, which causes his shirt to ride up, exposing a sliver of stomach and the light trail of hair that disappears into his jeans.

My breath catches.

“Are you staring at me?”

“Always,” I answer.

He laughs. “Good answer.”

He bends and kisses me. My hands wrap around his neck, pulling him closer.

He smiles against my lips. “Are you trying to trap me here?” he whispers.

“Maybe.” I draw out the word and reluctantly let him go.

His phone dings, and he groans. “I swear to God I’m going to throw that psycho off a cliff or change my number, one of the two.”

I laugh. “Thea?”

“Yes,” he mumbles, looking at the text.

“What’d she say?”

“She keeps sending me these idiotic jokes; are you ready for the latest?” I nod. “Brace yourself.” He clears his throat. “’How many South Americans does it take to change a lightbulb?’” He waits for me to get the punchline, when I don’t, he continues. “’A Brazilian.’” He shakes his head. “The girl is a nut, I swear. She lives to torture me.”

I shake my head. “It is kind of funny.”

“No, it’s not,” he snaps, and tosses his phone on the couch. 

I can’t help but laugh. Jace might pretend to hate Thea, but I know he actually likes her. She’s like the annoying sibling he never had or something.

“Let’s go do something,” he blurts.

“Like what? Don’t you have to work?”

“Yeah, but not until later. We could go to the park and walk around or something,” he suggests.

I shrug. “Sure, sounds fun. Let me change.”

My skinny jeans are not park-walking material.

He chuckles and sits on the stool in front of the island. “All right, I’ll be here.”

He swivels the chair to watch me as I climb the one stair into our bedroom that’s open to the rest of the apartment. There’s only one bedroom closed off from the place and it’s the size of a shoebox. It used to be my room but not anymore.

I shimmy out of my jeans and change into a pair of shorts. For good measure I change my shirt too, switching it for a tank top. I slip my feet into a pair of flip-flops and slap my hands on my hips. 

“Ready,” I announce.

He grabs a baseball cap from the island countertop and puts it on backward. “Me too.”

He stands and I shake my head, because, frankly, it’s unfair anyone is that good looking. 

It also seems crazy he’s mine.

After everything that went down with Owen and having to give up Greyson, I gave up on guys. I filed them all away into the same folder—the do not touch folder.

I didn’t want to get hurt again. 

What happened with Owen was crushing. I was a kid and forced to grow up overnight. It was hard, and it changed me. I had no support at home, so once I got away I only had myself to depend on, and I thought the safest thing to do was ignore all guys.

But then Rae introduced me to Jace and everything changed.

At first, we were simply friends.

Best friends.

He became my confidant, and I thought that’s all he ever would be.

But the more I got to know him, the more I began to feel things I shouldn’t.

And then the same happened to him with me.

From that point on we were inevitable. 

It scared me at first, but I know what we have is so much stronger and better than what I had with Owen. I was too young then to know what true love really meant.

Now I know.

It’s loving someone despite their flaws and laughing at each other and sharing secrets and—so many other wonderful things.

We head outside and to our left, walking hand in hand. 

The park isn’t far from our apartment, but it’s not usually the direction we head.

The sky is a bright cloudless blue. It’s absolutely beautiful for this time of year.

We reach the park, walking along the trail that wends through it. 

“Do you ever wonder what we did to deserve the hand we were dealt?” I ask Jace.

I don’t normally dwell on all the shit I’ve been through. It’s in the past and I prefer to leave it there, but sometimes I can’t help but wonder if I did something wrong and needed to be punished.

Jace stops in his tracks and looks down at me. “We didn’t do anything,” he says sternly. “Some people are assholes and because they’re so fucking miserable with their own lives they have to destroy everyone else’s.”

We start walking again. “I’m just glad for whatever reason, my life brought me to you.” I lean my head against his arm since I can’t reach his shoulder.

“I guess we both got at least one thing right,” he muses.

“And what’s that?”

“Loving each other.”

Love is the purest substance that exists on Earth because it lives inside us and can’t be freely given. Someone has to matter to you.

And Jace?

He definitely matters.

Jace and I walked around for a while before we ended up grabbing an early dinner and heading back to the apartment so he could get ready for work.

I’m in bed now in a pair of panties and a tank top. Even with so little clothes I’m sweating like crazy, because the air conditioning chose tonight to break and our landlord can’t get someone to fix it until tomorrow.

Figures.

My phone rings, and I pick it up without looking at the caller ID figuring it’s Thea or Rae.

Big mistake.

“Novalee,” my mom’s curt voice snaps across the line.

I mentally face palm myself. I can’t believe I was such an idiot not to check who was calling.

It’s not like my mom or dad calls me on the regular. I’ve only heard from them a handful of times since I moved out here for college. 

“Hi, Mom.” I force some cheeriness into my voice but it comes across tight-lipped and curt. I don’t want to talk to her. She’s never really been a mom to me, and I have a new family now. My friends have shown me more love in the last couple of years than she did in the eighteen years I was home.

“Claudia called.” I roll my eyes. This has to be good. “She says you’re dating some hoodlum with tattoos.”

“Well, considering his dad was a politician I wouldn’t call him a hoodlum.”

“He has tattoos, Novalee.” She says it slowly like I’m too stupid to understand.

“I’m aware.”

“How could you do this?”

“Do what?”

“Be with someone who’s practically a criminal.”

I snort. “Having tattoos doesn’t mean he’s a criminal.”

She sputters on the other end. “Well, in my book it does.”

“Is your book dated to the biblical era?” I know I shouldn’t get snarky with her but I can’t help it. What can I say, she brings out the worst in me.

She’s silent on the other end. “I don’t know why I even bother talking to you. You’re such an ungrateful brat.”

“You keep thinking that.”

“I will, considering you haven’t come home to visit us once since you left.”

“Do you want me to come visit?” Silence again. “Mhmm, I figured.”

She doesn’t say goodbye or I love you or anything of the sort. The line simply goes dead.

“Goodbye to you too,” I mutter and toss my phone on the bed.

I’m used to her behavior so it doesn’t bother me anymore. It is what it is.

I slide my laptop closer to me and lift the lid, typing in my password.

The screen lights up and I click over to photoshop so I can resume editing.

I take pictures of Jace all the time. If it bothers him he never says so. I find he’s the best kind of muse.

The pictures I take of him range from dangerously close to X-rated to completely innocent. 

One of my favorites is from a local café where we go to get coffee. He’s looking away, out the window, with a slight smile on his face.

I love seeing him happy. His happiness means more to me than my own.

When I grow tired of editing I snap the lid closed and set it on the night table.

I stretch my arms above my head and lie down on top of the covers to sleep. It’s much too hot in here to get under them. I’d smother myself to death. Jace is notoriously hot all the time—I swear his normal temperature must be two-hundred degrees—so I don’t know how he’ll survive through the night. We don’t even have a fan to plug in and by the time he gets off everything will be closed. It’s probably closed now if I’m being honest.

I sprawl out across the bed, searching for the coolest parts, but it’s all so damn hot.

I sit up with a groan and gather my long hair up, securing it in a ponytail so it’s up off my neck.

I fan myself with my hand but even it does no good. The tank top I’m wearing is starting to get damp.

Finally, I give up.

Me: Are you up?

Thea: Yeah—Xael won’t sleep.

Me: Do you mind if we crash there tonight? Our air-conditioner is out and I’m going to die.

Thea: Come on over. We have plenty of space—though you might regret being here when Xael screams all night. She’s a fucking demon.

Me: Lol. She’s your kid.

Thea: She’s also a demon and never lets me sleep.

Thea: It’s like she knows when I’m about to doze off and screams her head off. Demon, I’m tellin’ you.

I laugh out loud. I can’t help it. 

Me: Jace and I can handle it. I’ll wait until he gets off and then we’ll come. It might be late.

Thea: You have a key. Use it.

Me: Thank you.

Thea: You’re welcome.

I pack an overnight bag filled with things for Jace and myself and keep occupied while I wait by watching my favorite movie.

Titanic.

I’ve made it halfway through the movie when the door creaks open. I sit up and Jace startles at seeing me.

“I’m surprised you’re awake.”

“It’s too hot.” I pull my tank away from my chest, which is sticky with sweat.

“Fuck yeah it is hot in here.”

“Thea said we could stay over there tonight. I’ve already packed our bag.”

“Stay with the psycho? I don’t think so.”

“Well Rae and Cade don’t have room for guests so they’re our only option.”

Jace frowns and sighs. “Fine. It’s too hot to stay here.”

“You’ve been here five seconds. How do you think I feel?”

He chuckles. “I can tell how you feel.” He nods at my sweat-dampened shirt which leaves little to the imagination.

I stand up and stretch before turning the TV off. I change into a pair of sleep shorts and a different top while Jace grabs a bite to eat.

I pick up our bag and sling it over our shoulder. “I packed you stuff too.” I pat the bag.

“Thanks.” He shoves a piece of leftover lasagna in his mouth. 

He finishes eating and washes his hands. 

“I’m sure you’re sleepy,” he comments. “So, let’s get out of here.