Page 48 of Give & Take

“We’re good, thanks,” I say. “I’ll call you, okay?” If I had any sense left, I’d kick myself. I don’t promise to call women I have no intention of calling. “Please. I’ve got this.”

I don’t really. And Jenna looks wounded at my dismissal, but I don’t have time to feel bad about that. They go, but not far, Jenna still staring at us.

“Nova, are you okay?” I ask as a wet, shivering Aurora slumps on my shoulder again.

Nova stands up wearily, nodding.

“Can you bring me a towel?”

“Here,” Jenna says, still fucking here.

She walks over and lays a towel on Aurora’s shoulders.

“Thank you,” I say stiffly. “But please, I just need you to?—”

My words drop off when I spot a flash of someone running toward us, sexy messy bun bouncing on her head. “Aurora?”

My chest hollows out.

Lana reaches us, practically tearing Aurora from me, her eyes slanted in concern at her daughter’s expression.

“Honey?”

Lana shoots me a feral look. “What happened?” she demands. “What did you do?”

“Donuts,” I say. “Just too many donuts.”

Lana’s expression goes from terrified to relieved to…I’m not sure what. A cool, neutral mask. I’m still learning all her faces, but I think that means she’s pissed. I hope that’s what it means. I deserve it.

She glances over at Jenna and her friend, who are openly staring at us. Then at me. And the next expression is one that ties my insides in knots.

Her jaw tightens. “Come on, girls. Time to go home.”

She reaches for Nova’s hand, but Nova shrinks away, taking mine instead. “He let us do what we wanted. Unlike you!”

Oh no. “Nova, no.” I don’t let go of her hand. But I exchange a look with Lana telling her I’ve got this one. Lana wraps her arms around Aurora, eyes on me.

“I shouldn’t have said yes to the extra donuts today,” I tell Nova. “That was my fault. I don’t know half as much as she does about how to take care of you.” I hesitate, then squat down beside her. “Remember how earlier we talked about how everything parents do, it’s to keep you safe and healthy?” That afternoon she’d asked me to put her to bed at night, saying she knew I’d let her stay up later than her mom would.

Nova rolls her eyes.

“I’m serious, Nova. Your mom loves you more than all the sand on this beach, remember?”

When I meet Lana’s eyes again, she quickly looks away, heading toward the parking area.

I reach over and pick up Lana’s backpack, which she tossed to the ground as she ran over here. I sling it over my shoulder, and, looking at Nova, point my chin at the minivan and start to walk.

“If you start to act like Mom you’re gonna be so boring,” Nova says sullenly.

“Hey,” I say, my tone stern now. “We’re not going to talk about your mom like that. Ever.”

Lana’s still furious. I can feel it. But as she walks ahead of us, Aurora in her arms, I know she can hear me.

Nova’s jaw is tight just like her mom’s was, her scrawny arms folded over her chest as she begins to stalk more than walk. “I can say what I want.”

“But you can’t disrespect the woman who’s doing everything in her power to raise you right, on her own.”

Nova huffs.

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