Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
I looked down at myself in my scuffed work boots and dirty jeans, and the Aces MC cut that covered my T-shirt.
“I don’t know, Ava,” I said softly, running my hand down the front of my cut as I looked back up at her. “What was it about Samson that kept you away?”
Her eyes widened slightly at the insinuation.
Chapter 24
Nova
I’d spent the day and most of the evening reassuring Bird that no matter what Ava said or did, he’d still be staying with me and Rumi. He didn’t believe me. My brother, the little genius, couldn’t be placated by my bravado. He knew that the courts didn’t always do what was best for kids that were unfortunate enough to end up on their radar. By the time he went into Nana’s room to sleep in her bed for the night, I was wrung out like an old dish towel.
“It’ll be alright,” Nana said unconvincingly as I sat next to her on the couch. “Everything will work out.”
“Not sure how,” I muttered, laying my head on her shoulder.
“Even if, God forbid, she’s able to take him,” she said, patting my thigh. “Eventually she’ll do something stupid, and you’ll get him back.”
“It makes me crazy that just because it’s been seven years, all the shit she did when we lived with her doesn’t even matter anymore.” I closed my eyes. “She has to do some new fucked up thing for it to make a damn bit of difference.”
“That lawyer said you have a good shot,” Nana murmured consolingly.
“Me and Rumi are getting married,” I replied softly.
She didn’t say anything for a while.
“You sure, honey?” she finally whispered.
Up until that moment, I hadn’t been sure, but as soon as the words were out of her mouth, I knew that it was the right thing to do.
“Rumi’s telling his parents now,” I replied.
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“I love him, Nanny.”
“You’ve always loved him, baby girl,” she replied. “But are you sure you want to marry him? You’re only twenty years old.”
“When I see myself ten years down the road—” I looked at her. “He’s the only thing that’s perfectly clear.”
“I always thought the two of you would end up together,” Nana murmured. “But I didn’t realize it had already started.”
“I sleep in his bed every night,” I replied with a laugh.
Nana waved me off. “The two of you have always been overly affectionate.”
“I think we’ve hit max affection at this point,” I muttered dryly, making her scoff.
“If it’s what you want to do, Nova, then I’m behind you a hundred percent.” She smiled sadly. “Just wish I could see it.”
“I think we’ll just do it at the courthouse,” I told her. “We’ll wait to do the big thing until you can be there. Promise.”
“Your pop would be so proud to walk you down the aisle,” she said so softly it was almost inaudible. We hadn’t talked about Pop much, both of us too nervous to broach the conversation.
“I know,” I murmured. “Have they called yet?”
The county was doing an autopsy on Pop because of the circumstances he’d died under, and we were hoping that they’d be able to give us some answers about what had been wrong with him at the end.
“You know how it works.” She shook her head. “Everything takes so long.”
“Do you remember that day he let me do his hair?” I asked, the memory popping up out of nowhere.
“How could I forget?” she asked with a snicker. “There were so many of those little pink clips I was pulling them back out for half an hour.”
“He hated when people messed with his hair.” I chuckled. “Except you. He loved when you ran your fingers through it at night.”
“It was the only time he let it down,” she mused, a small smile playing around her lips. “He knew I liked it down.”
“Oh, gross,” I whined, staring at her in horror as I realized that Nana had only messed with Pop’s hair at night before bed.
“I miss him,” she said with a sigh. “Like half of me is gone.”
“I know.” I laid my head back on her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
“You know the only reason that I’m not forbidding you to marry that wild boy?” She kissed my hair. “Because I wish I’d found your pop when I was your age. It pisses me off that I missed out on those early years.”
“But then you wouldn’t have Ava,” I pointed out. “And even though she sucks, you got me and Bird out of it.”
“Thank God for that,” she said, setting her hand on mine so she could give it a squeeze. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
A couple hours later, I was lying in bed when Rumi finally came home.
“How did it go?” I asked quietly.
“Where’s Bird?” He looked around in confusion. “He wasn’t on the couch.”