Page 81 of No Way Home
“Just today.” He nudged me in the side. “I didn’t know you and Nova were back together.”
“What?” My head gave a little shake. “We’re not.”
He tipped his head, and I followed his gaze. Sure enough, Nova was here. Skipping down the hill in a floral tankini, matching cover-up, a hat the size of a beach umbrella, with sunglasses almost as ridiculous. It would’ve looked comical on anyone else. But, like my mom always said, Nova could wear a burlap sack and make it look intentional.
She gave me a huge wave, arms making a wide windshield wiper motion. “Hiiii, Bowen!” she yelled.
Everyone turned to look at her, including Magnolia.
I tugged at my hair. “Who invited her?” I said to no one in particular.
“Uh…” Theo timidly raised his hand.
“Why?” I flinched, jaw pulsing. “Like what in the world possessed you to do that? I’ve been avoiding her for weeks.”
Magnolia couldn’t possibly want to see the woman I’d snubbed her with on nighttime TV. Yup. She was side-eyeing Nova likeYou did not just show up here. Or maybe she was planning her escape. I couldn’t quite tell.
Theo shrugged likeIwas being a douche. “Because shedoesn’t have any friends here, bro. After they’re done filming for the day, she spends every evening in the hotel room alone.”
“And also because he has a crush on her,” Cash offered.
“Do not,” Theo protested, but his cheeks actually turned pink. I didn’t even know it was possible; he was so naturally tan. “I just don’t like excluding people, okay?”
“Yeah,” I said with a bob of my head. “But you’re not the one who has to deal with her following you around, hounding you to get back together all evening. I would rather re-fence an entire barbed wire field alone, with no gloves.” Maybe I’d go and do just that.
But Nova wasn’t the plot twist of the day. Liam was. His thick arm put me in a near headlock. He turned me to face Magnolia. “You’re over that, right?” He took her in appreciatively, head to toe.
Um, what?
And all the while, Nova kept skipping closer and closer and closer.
Oh, this day was turning into a disaster. And where was Fletcher?
“The man asked you a question,” Cash reminded me.
My mouth opened and closed a few times. Finally, I managed to spit out, “Uh…ye-ah,” my voice cracked. “Yes. I’m way…over that.”
IDIOT.
Charlie shook her head, disappointed. Cash just chuckled like he was excited to watch this go down. Theo grinned and offered me a thumbs-up.
“Good.” Liam gave my shoulders a hard squeeze. “Then you won’t mind if I shoot my shot.” He wasn’t asking. I would’ve reminded him that she was Griffin’s ex, but that would’ve made him go harder. Liam had harbored serious resentment towards Griffin ever since he left.
He sauntered toward her, and it felt like my life was over. Liam was in the freaking NFL. He kept NDA forms in hisglove box the same way most people kept a stash of fast-food restaurant napkins. And he had a stupidly pretty face, just like his dad.
I. Was. So. Screwed.
Nova bounded over and threw her arms around me, oblivious when her hat whacked me in the face. “Hey, you,” she murmured. “Long time no see.”
I patted her stiffly on the back, gaze trained on Liam. “Hi.”
Magnolia’s eyes narrowed.Is she jealous? The thought made me way too happy.
But then Liam stepped in front of her, blocking my view, and stole her from Gramps. Arms crossed over his chest, making his biceps look even bigger than normal, he said something I couldn’t quite hear. She smiled, eyeing him curiously, like she’d never thought about him as a possibility before. But she was definitely thinking it now.
I swore in my head.
Cash chuckled. “Oh, I think you’re going to regret that.”
