Page 26 of In the Light of Day

This is home.

Sheis my home.

“Yes, Ace. It's always, yes.”

Chapter 21 - Nova

Lying on Mila's couch, I stare out the large windows of the living room, looking at her take a phone call on the outside deck. She smiles, giving me a small wave before turning away. If I wasn't already on edge from leaving this afternoon then I would have considered her behaviour a little odd. But, for the last two weeks, after Ace proposed in the middle of my kitchen floor, everything has felt more like I’m living in the Twilight Zone.

It was like we were back to normal but different at the same time. He insisted I call my sister and let her know we would be there to support her on her big day ... and then nothing.

I've opened Beans, my coffee shop, each morning and as usual he's come with me, the same excuse ofjust in casestill being used over a year later. I'll admit the last couple of years have been eventful enough in our small group, between Mila's psycho ex basically stalking her, and then everything that went down with Porter and his old life in the mafia. I tried to act surprised at the time, but I understood more than my little friend group could ever know, that when the drama settles, we all just want to carry on living our mundane, boring lives.

Sometimes, living a simple life is just as big and important of a dream. I don't want to conquer the world, travel to every country or make any real difference out there. I want to live a good life and be good to those around me, be kind to others and hope they can do the same to me. I just want to continue to exist without surprises or fear. I've had enough of that to last a lifetime. But since Ace saw my sister's wedding invitation he’s been busy working away on logistics for our trip, or at least that's what he tells me. I've tried to look over his shoulder a few times and he just slams his laptop down saying I’ll ruin the surprise, that I need to trust him.

Of all the people in this world, he is the one person I trust explicitly, it still doesn't stop me feeling nervous though.

The sound of the front door opening and closing draws my attention and Charlie's head pops out from around the corner.

“Oh, there you are. Why is it so quiet in here? I thought we were celebrating your engagement,” she says, wiggling her eyebrows at me. I can't help the groan that escapes as I grab a cushion to cover my face.

“He was just doing it so we didn't have to lie if someone asked how we got engaged. It isn't real,” I mumble into the cushion. I can hear Mila come back into the room, pulling the pillow down slightly to reveal her sly smile.

“It's ready,” she says grinning at us both.

Looking at Charlie, she hunches her shoulders slightly as she taps her fingers together, wyly sayingexcellent, exactly like her favourite GIF of Mr Burns.

“It's bad enough I’m subjected to your lame GIFs in our group chat. Can we not act them out in real life please.”

Here I am, wallowing over having to see my family tomorrow, all the while being fake engaged to the man I want. We’re affectionate anyway, but we had a conversation over that increasing during the wedding and reception. If I'm honest that's what I'm worried about. What if Ace kisses me? Truly kisses me. I want him but I don't want to cross that line in case he doesn't want me like that. The reality is while my past is not an issue for him in our everyday life, what if the reason he's never made a move is becauseI'm tainted?

I relive when he got down in the middle of the kitchen floor and asked for my hand. Repeating the words over and over,those feelings grew and changed...you’re my person, love. For better or worse, you’re it for me. My breath hitches every time I think about it, that maybe there is a small part of him that feels this way. That a man like him could truly wantme... and that I want him just as much.

Looking up, I see Mila fling her arms up in the air like the evil Elmo GIF she favours, cackling to no one.

“You guys are losers, you know that. Grown women shouldn't act like this,” I say, rolling my eyes at them.

“Do the face, Nova. Do the damn face and have fun with us. Then you get your surprise,” Charlie says, still tapping her fingers together.

“Do I want this surprise?” I question.

“Trust me, I swear on all the gods youwantto see this.”

Colour me intrigued.

Standing from the couch I was lying on, I shimmy my shoulders, pinching my fingers as I swipe them in front of my face to collect myself. Tilting my head slightly to the floor, I look up at them both with an evil grin on my face as they both laugh at me, knowing they’re seeing a perfect example of the disaster girl meme.

“I guess this makes me a loser too,” I sigh. “Do other grown women do this shit when they get together? Surely this is not normal.”

“Who gives a fuck if it's not, I think we're hilarious,” Charlie says, flinging her arm over my shoulder and guiding me toward the front door.

Charlie took my bags back to Ace's house this morning. Apparently, the men have been working on a project and I'm not allowed to see it. I'm assuming this is part of the surprise I'm about to see. Knowing Ace, he has some new secret place to put weapons in his truck. I'm fairly confident he's going to show me some sort ofJames Bondtype gadget.

We’re just about to top the small hill that blocks Ace's house from view when Mila pulls her truck over to the side of the road.

“Nova? I need you to put this blindfold on,” she says, trying to control her excitement. Small memories flicker behind my eyes. The sound of trees creaking, the smell of dirt, and the warm hand of a person I thought I could trust.

I shake my head at the idea, “No blindfolds but I’ll cover my eyes and promise not to look.”

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