Page 127 of Give & Take

Nova lets out a little scoff. She stuffs her hands under her legs, then picks at something on the floor with her toe.

“But I’d really like tochange that.”

Her eyes briefly meet mine, before disappearing under her lashes again.

“I know you guys have a life here, just the three of you. And I know you’re protective of your mom. I’d never get in the way of any of that. But you’re right, I do have kissing feelings for your mom.”

I want to kiss her all the damn time.

“But more than that, I have big, big feelings about you and your mom and Aurora all together. But Nova, those are my feelings. And your mom, she won’t do anything she doesn’t think aren’t in your best interests. Or mine.”

I’m not sure Nova’s getting it. I need to know that whatever happens, if I can’t stay—and even the thought sends a knife into my gut—Nova won’t blame her mom. I won’t have them resenting her for acting in everyone’s best interests.

“Your mom—she thinks very carefully about things, and she’s usually right. I trust her completely. So I need you to as well. No matter what happens, I want you to listen to her, okay?”

Nova pinches her lips.

“Be kind to her, and know that she loves you so much. Forget me, I?—”

“Forget you?” Nova looks aghast. Then furious. “You’re my best friend, Raphael. I can’t just forget you.”

Now this I wasn’t expecting. This makes me stunned.

“I don’t have many other friends. Tiffany told me she doesn’t want to play dolls anymore, and I’m a baby. Maisley says her mom doesn’t like my mom, so I stopped being friends with her. You’re the only one who listens to me and likes the stuff I do and I’m going back to schooland you’re gonna be gone. Then you ask us if we want you to stay when you’re not staying! You’re not even going to be here for four days!”

I told Lana last week I’d need a couple of days off at the beginning of next week. I told her it was a meeting I couldn’t miss with my advisors. I considered telling her what I was doing, but just like I haven’t told her I’ve finished my dissertation, I want it to be a surprise. One less thing in the way of us being here.

She’d just said of course, and Mac covered her shifts for her.

I promised her I’d be back for her birthday on Wednesday.

“You better not be planning anything,” she said, though she couldn’t meet my eye when I asked her if she wanted us not to celebrate it at all.

I hear a patter at the door. Aurora is there, still licking cake crumbs off her lips.

“Go away!” Nova snaps.

Aurora pouts, not upset—she’s used to her sister—but at me.

I stand up. “How about she sits outside the door with a book while she waits for us, okay?” I ask Nova.

Nova huffs. A tear streaks down her cheek. But she’s not saying no, which is how this usually goes when she’s upset. Aurora’s allowed to stay near her while we talk through things if she’s not within a certain radius.

I point Aurora to her room to get a book and she skips away.

“Can I sit next to you?” I ask Nova.

Nova shrugs.

I sit down, giving her a few inches of space. Close enough she can lean on me if she wants or avoid me if she prefers.

“Nova, you’re right. We’re not the only decision-makers in this house. We’re not even the main one. The main one’s your mom, and I’m going to have to talk to her about what happened today.” I hear footsteps freeze behind us, and turn to see Aurora clutching a giant Richard Scarry book, looking alarmed. “Not about the cake, that’s still a surprise.”

“Phew!” says Aurora.

“She’s reading now,” I whisper to Nova once I turn back. “She won’t listen in.”

Nova hunches over, still working at the floor with her foot like she’s very interested in the level of buff on the wood floors.

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