Page 60 of The Inn Dilemma

Chris chuckles. “Don’t get too emotional, my friend. It’s just money.”

“Says the billionaire CEO.”

I’m financially stable, but I’m no billionaire. As much as I don’t want to ask for help, getting investments from people like Christian will help this plan thrive. I have to remember it’s not about me. It’s about the kids this program can help.

“If you need anything, just ask,” Chris says.

Des strides out. “What secrets are you two whispering about?”

My focus snaps to Des. “Actually, I think it’s something you might be interested in too.” Before I can give him the rundown, Thor comes out, and Caius and Tallulah meet us at the door.

Caius tells Tellulah he’ll find her inside, and she heads in to hang out with the other women.

“So, what’s this meeting all about?” Thor asks, leaning against the side of the building and tapping a beat only he can hear on his leg.

I scrub my scruff and laugh. “Well, it wasn’t supposed to be a big thing and there’s nothing set in stone, but I think I know what God is calling me to do with my life.” I go through the rough outline of my plan. The guys nod along and throw in their own ideas. Each of them tells me they want to help in some way. The more I talk about it, the more right it all feels, as if their encouragement is a confirmation from God that I’m on the right path.

We head back inside once we’ve discussed everything we can on the subject. As the guys take seats next to their women, I realize Nova and I are the only non-couple at our table.

I take a detour to the bar to get another drink for Nova and me both. I rest my phone on the counter next to me and tap the screen to check the time. The picture I took with Nova at the overlook is my new background.

Roxy sidles up next to me as I wait at the bar for our drinks.

“So, you and Nova?” She gently nudges my shoulder as she points at the picture she catches on my screen.

This is exactly why I came to get our drinks first. To avoid this conversation with the women. Talkingto Chris about my feelings for his sister is awkward enough, but talking to his wife is a whole new level.

“We’ve been friends for a long time,” I answer.

“It looks like there’s more between you than friendship now.”

I don’t dare look at her head-on, afraid that she’ll see through my partial lie. “I’m protective of her. I’ve always been protective of her. Just ask Chris.”

“Oh, I did. And he’s suspicious of the two of you too. Has been since he found out you knew about Nova’s return before he did.”

My stomach sinks. “She showed up on Aunt Birdie’s doorstep not even knowing I was back. It’s not like she came back for me.” For some reason, the words taste bitter.

Roxy looks over at the table where Nova is laughing with our friends. “No. She came back for herself.” Roxy pierces me with a look. “Make sure you don’t forget that.”

Roxy’s words stay with me long into the evening. She’s right; Nova did come back for herself. Leaving for Paris was a way she tried to take back her life from her dad. But it only led to another controlling man. No one has let her just be herself. Very few have seen the side of Nova I’ve seen—that I’ve had the privilege to see. They think of her as the little rich girl who gets everything she wants, not knowing that the only thing she wants is freedom to be herself—something she’s experiencing for the first time in her life.

We got back pretty late after spending the night with the crew. Nova was quiet the whole way back, and I’m pretty sure that if we were in my truck, she would havefallen asleep. I almost had to carry her into her parents’ house after parking my bike in the drive.

I’ve been lying in bed for the last several hours, dozing in and out of sleep. Getting out of bed, I walk over to the window facing what used to be Nova’s cabin; seeing all the lights off puts a dull ache in my chest. She’s only a mile away, but I wish I could just pop over and talk to her late into the night like we’ve done before.

Without a second thought, I slide on my T-shirt, jeans, and boots and drive to Nova’s house, taking the pups with me.

I end up in the Prices’ backyard and look up at her window. A relieved breath leaves my lips when I see her light is still on. Which is slightly surprising since she almost fell asleep on the way home.

I toss a few pebbles at her window. It’s not long before she walks over to her window and peeks down. Even from here, I can see the smile lifting her lips. She lifts a finger as if to sayone minute, and less than a minute later, she’s coming out of the sliding glass doors that lead onto the patio. Nova stands there in her leggings and a threadbare Phantom Echoes T-shirt.

Her eyes dart to the patch over my eye, sympathy blending with the confusion in her expression. “Holt? What are you doing here?”

“I don’t know.” The honest answer surprises me.

“Well, come sit anyway.” She bends down to the two dogs obediently sitting on either side of me. “Hey, pups. You can come hang out too.”

She heads over to the outdoor fireplace and turns on the gas. Flames immediately cover the fake wood, but the heat emanating from it is very real.Nova presses a buttonon a small remote and LED lights turn on, casting a cozy light from the patio's ceiling.

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