Nova

I hang up the phone from the doctor and smile at Jace. 

“Both of us came back negative for any abnormalities. The doctor says to be patient and sometimes it takes time.”

I feel so overwhelmingly relieved. We had our appointment a few days ago and it’s been hell waiting for the results. I wanted to know immediately but since some labs had to be sent off we’ve had to wait.

Jace grins back at me and wraps his arms around me. I laugh as he swings me around. When he sets me down he plants a loud kiss on my lips.

“This is going to happen soon. I feel it.”

I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I was so fearful there was something wrong with one or both of us. I feel silly now for being so upset about not getting pregnant immediately. Of course it doesn’t always happen overnight. 

I look at the time and curse. “We need to go.”

We’re supposed to be meeting our friends for dinner in fifteen minutes. Since I knew the doctor was supposed to call I wanted to wait. We haven’t told our friends yet that we’re hoping to have a baby, so I wanted to avoid taking a phone call in front of them about this. 

I know we need to tell them eventually, but I know they’re going to be judgmental about it. They’ve already made so many comments about our decision not to get married, which kind of pisses me off.

We don’t judge people for getting married, so why should married people judge us for choosing not to go down that path?

Jace and I feel our love speaks for itself. We don’t need a ceremony and flimsy piece of paper to confirm that. 

“Are you okay?” Jace asks, breaking into my thoughts as he grabs his truck keys from the kitchen counter.

“Yeah,” I mumble.

I slip my Converse on and then we head to the restaurant. Luckily, it’s not close by so we only end up being fifteen minutes late.

The others are already there and we meet them at the table.

“Sorry we’re late,” I apologize. “What’d we miss?”

“Nothing much.” Rae laughs, sipping at a glass of wine. “Just Thea educating Cade on the most stimulating sex positions.”

Thea smiles widely. “I like to make him mad.”

“I’m pretty sure you like to make everybody mad.” Jace chuckles, grabbing a roll from the basket on the table.

Thea shrugs. “It’s a talent. What can I say?”

Beside her, Xander shakes his head, stifling a laugh. I think he learned a long time ago to embrace her crazy.

“When do you guys leave?” Rae asks, referring to our vacation.

“Next Monday,” Jace replies.

“I can’t believe you guys are going to Paris. I’m kind of jealous,” Rae jokes. “I’ve always wanted to go there.”

Cade drapes an arm over the back of her chair. “We’ll go sometime.”

“Is that a promise?” She smiles up at him, clearly still as smitten and in love with him as she was in college.

I have to say, watching Rae become this happy has been one of the greatest things I’ve ever witnessed. When we were first partnered in college for an assignment, I knew she had more demons than I did. It was clear she was haunted by something, and when I found out what it was, my heart broke for her.

“Sure.” Cade smiles back. “You. Me. Paris. Sounds like a good time.”

“I wonder what you’ll do with yourself since you can’t torture me.” Jace turns to Thea.

She waves a dismissive hand. “Please, you best be prepared to pay high dollars for calls in Paris because I’m going to call the shit out of you.”

“Thea,” Xander warns.

She raises her hands innocently. “I’ll put a quarter in the swear jar.”

He shakes his head. “The point of the swear jar was to not have to put money in it.”

“What can I say? I like to break the rules. It keeps life exciting.”

“That’s for sure,” Xander agrees.

“What have you guys been up to lately?” Rae asks Jace and me. “I feel like we’ve hardly seen you the last couple of months. It’s almost October.”

Jace and I look at each other and both shrug, refusing to tell the truth. 

I speak first. “Just working at the record store and trying to get things going with Joel. We finally have a studio set up in his apartment so now we need to book some clients.” An idea occurs to me. “Maybe all of you should let us take photos of you so we have an example of what we can do. Something cool like Disney Villains or something.”

“I’m game,” Thea pipes up first, slathering butter on a roll.

“Sounds fun,” Rae agrees. 

I look at the guys next. “Sure,” Cade says.

“I’m in.” Xander nods. 

I look at Jace next. “You know I’d do anything for you.”

I smile. I know he means it too.

“Thanks, guys, this means a lot.”

It may seem like a little thing, but this is exactly what Joel and I need to launch our business. 

I want so much for it to succeed. Once I lost Greyson I turned to photography and it became the only thing keeping me from drowning in despair. I could turn my hurt and anger into art. Now I want to do the same for other people. Art can save lives.

The waiter comes then for our orders. Since Jace and I haven’t even glanced at our menus we quickly open them and pick something.

Once he’s gone, I turn to Thea. “Night out without Xael, huh?”

She groans. “We left the demon with his mom.” She points at Xander. 

Xander spits out his drink. “Don’t call my daughter a demon.”

Thea glares at him. “Easy for you to say, you don’t have to deal with her all day. All she does is scream, eat, scream, poop, and did I mention scream? I swear she hates me.”

Thea may joke about her daughter being a demon, but it doesn’t take long to watch her with Xael to know she’s completely in love.

My phone buzzes in my back pocket and I sit up to pull it out.

My brows furrow.

Owen: Hey

“What’s wrong?” Jace asks, picking up on my tense body language.

I want to say nothing but I can’t lie. Not to him.

“It’s Owen.”

Jace rolls his eyes, shaking his head. “That fucker,” he mumbles. “I swear he never bugged you this much a couple years ago.”

He’s right, he didn’t. It’s like when Owen moved to New York City and truly got out from under his parents’ hold he’s made it his mission to … to what? I truly don’t understand his motives.

I can’t ignore him, because that’d be rude, and since he’s the father of my son I do have to deal with him on occasion.

Me: What’s up?

The bubbles immediately appear, indicating he’s responding.

Owen: I’m coming into town next week. I thought we could meet up for lunch.

Jace is reading the texts beside me and he snorts. “I told you the guy was still in love with you.”

I look up at Jace. “I don’t love him. You know that, right?”

He grins wickedly. “Why would you love him when you have all this now?” He lifts the bottom of his shirt, teasing his abs. 

I roll my eyes. “Keep it up and you won’t have a girlfriend.”

He drops his shirt. “You love me—sarcasm and all.”

He’s right, and let’s face it, his sarcasm is one of the things that drew me to him in the first place.

Me: Sorry, can’t. I’m going to be out of the country.

Owen: Out of the country?

Me: Yeah, Jace and I are going on vacation. Paris.

Owen: Oh.

Owen. Have fun.

Me: Thanks. I’ll catch you next time.

Owen: You know, you could always visit me in NYC. I could sleep on the couch and you could take my bed.

Jace snorts beside me. “The guy is seriously desperate to get you in his bed.”

I smack his shoulder. “He didn’t say he’d be sleeping the bed too—besides, it’s not like I’m actually going to go.”

Me: Thanks for the offer. Maybe I’ll take you up on it sometime.

Lies. 

Hell would have to freeze over before I went to New York City and stayed with Owen.

It’s not that I don’t like Owen, but if Jace is right then I don’t want to give him false hope.

Jace is who I’m with now, and he’s who I choose to spend the rest of my life with. Nothing could change that.

Owen: You’d like it here.

Me: I have to go. I’m at dinner with friends and I’m being rude.

Owen: Right. Of course. I’ll talk to you later.

I don’t respond and put my phone away. 

Jace snickers beside me. “The guy has it bad. I’d feel sorry for him if it wasn’t my girl he was after.”

I roll my eyes. “It’s never happening. He’ll figure it out eventually.”

“I kind of feel bad for him,” Rae admits.

We all look at her and she shrugs. “Look, he loved you when you were teenagers, then his parents forced him to stay away, and then took the child you made together. You can say or think what you want but you two are bonded for life.”

I know she’s right. We are bonded, but for me I look at Owen with fondness and nothing more. He was a huge part of my life once upon a time, and since we share a child he’ll continue to be in my life, he just doesn’t play the same role. Things have changed.

I shrug. “He probably feels guilty for how things went down. That’s all it is.”

Rae looks at me with pity. “Think what you want but I’m with Jace. He’s still head over heels in love with you.”

Thankfully, I’m saved from the conversation by our food being brought out. Jace and I both ordered burgers. They smell delicious and my stomach growls.

I didn’t realize how hungry I was. I skipped breakfast and lunch waiting for the doctor to call. I was so nervous I couldn’t eat.

I take a bite and suppress a moan. It tastes as delicious as it smells and looks.

We continue to chat as we eat. It’s not often we can get together like this with all of us. Not with Xander’s schedule, the baby, and all our jobs. Adulthood is hard. You have to make time for friends.

We finish and split the bill between all of us before heading our separate ways.

Jace starts to lead me to his truck but I shake my head.

“Let’s walk around for a little bit.”

Jace takes my hand and we start walking down the street.

The sun is setting—my favorite time of the day. It casts the world in a beautiful golden glow. It’s like the world’s touched by fire, but instead of burning it comes to life.

There’s a slight chill in the air. Fall is definitely here. 

Leaves scuttle across the sidewalk and I kick them with my sneakers.

My hair blows around me, tickling my cheeks. 

There’s a calmness in the air, and I breathe it in, reminding myself everything will be okay.

Jace stands tall and resolute beside me and I smile up at him. He’s oblivious as I study his profile. Sharp nose, cheeks like ice, and pouty lips that soften his features. He’s my rock. He’s been the one holding me up since before we were a couple. Without him I would’ve crumbled and fallen so many times.

I don’t think he has any comprehension of what all he’s done for me—and if I tell him he doesn’t believe me.

He has a hard time seeing the good in himself. 

“Are you ready for Paris?” he asks after a good ten minutes of walking in silence.

“Surprisingly, I am.” At first, I wasn’t on board when he brought it up months ago, but I realize now he was right. We need this. We haven’t left Colorado at all since we’ve been together. 

Besides … Paris. 

It’s a photographer’s dream. 

The architecture.

The history.

The people.

I’m sure I’ll drive Jace nuts taking pictures of everything, but he’ll never complain. He’s honestly probably more amused by it than anything.

We come across a busker on the street and we stop, listening. The guy is good—though not as good as Jace in my opinion, but I’m biased. 

Jace turns to me and offers his hand. “Can I have this dance, milady?” He bows slightly, a grin lighting up his face.

I nod and slip my hand in his. 

He pulls me against his body and we sway back and forth. I look up at him and he smiles down at me, his eyes crinkling at the corners. 

He twirls me away and as he brings me back he presses a kiss to my hand, a devilish glimmer in his green eyes.  

People clap, whether at the busker or us I don’t know and I don’t care. It doesn’t matter. This moment belongs to us. 

He gives me another twirl and I let out a laugh of delight before I crash back into his arms, my breasts pressed to his chest. 

We fit together perfectly. 

We always have.

Two halves of a whole.

He’s my person.

With our hands clasped, I lay my head against his chest. His heartbeat sounds like a drum, adding to the music around us.

I feel his lips brush the top of my head and sigh, letting my eyes drift closed as we continue to dance.

The song ends and people clap. Jace and I separate, but he keeps ahold of my hand, not letting me get very far. He grabs a couple bucks and drops them in the guy’s open guitar case. The man nods in thanks and Jace waves before we depart, heading back to his truck. 

When we get there he opens the door for me and I slip inside before he jogs around the front and gets in the driver’s side. 

He looks over at me and there’s so much love in that single glance . It hits me like a two-ton truck. I never thought I’d be worthy of such love. All my life I was knocked down time and time again, until I met Jace. He built me back up bigger and better than ever before.

Now I’m strong enough to weather any storm.