Page 25 of Make Your Move

“Of course,” he agrees with a nod of understanding. “If you decide you want to help me cook, I’ll be here. There’s no pressure, Nova. Please know that.”

I smile at him, appreciating the sentiment. Lincoln has never been the type to apply any type of pressure, and I really do appreciate that about him. He’s always been kind and caring with more concern about everyone else around him instead of himself.

I don’t trust myself to speak any other words, so I spin on my heel, leaving him in the kitchen as I head toward the foyer. Just as I reach the doorway, he calls out to me.

“Hey, Nova.”

The sound of his voice is like an electrical shock to my body. I glance at him over my shoulder. “Yeah?”

“I do love it.”

My breath catches in my throat, and I stare at him like a deer in headlights. He leaves me speechless as he winks and turns back to the fridge. I watch him for a moment, frozen in place as he begins to pull things from the fridge.

It takes my brain a second to catch up before I force myself to leave the room. I’m walking on a cloud, my heart a mess inside my rib cage.

I’m fucked.

CHAPTER TWELVE

LINCOLN

Nash sits across from me at the table as he plays with his chips. He holds his hand over a small stack and runs his fingers along the sides of them, each one falling on top of the other, over and over.

“Must you do that?” I ask him as I lift my beer and take a sip of it. The glass clinks against the marble tabletop as I set it back down.

Nash tilts his head to the side. “It helps me to think.”

My nostrils flare in frustration, and I prop my elbow, resting my cheek against my fist. I flipped over the fourth card at least two minutes ago, and Nash is still trying to decide if he wants to fold, call or bet. We’ve been playing Texas Hold ’Em together for enough years I should know how Nash operates.

He has to go over every possible scenario in his brain, even though he has no clue of what two cards I’m holding onto. Nash doesn’t know how to count cards, but he sure acts like he’s doing some grand equation in his head every hand.

“Bro, what’s it going to be?” I question him as I lift my head and let my hand fall onto the table. “We don’t have all night.”

We have to leave early in the morning for a flight out to the West Coast for another week of traveling. I’ve been enjoying ourtime at home, playing locally and just being here. It shouldn’t bother me like it does, but after Nova admitted her dislike of being alone, I can’t help but feel like we’re both assholes for leaving her.

I need to get her a dog or security camera or something.

“I’m going to call,” he finally says as he lets out an exasperated sigh.

A smirk lifts my lips, and I begin to push my chips in. He’s already losing, and I know I have a royal flush. If he’s smart, he’ll fold before he loses everything he has.

Nash’s face falls. “Get the fuck out of here.” He pushes his two cards toward the center. “I’m out.”

“That’s probably the best decision you’ve made all night,” I tell him as I flip the cards over. I don’t have to show him, but I do it anyway because I don’t want him to think I just screwed him over with bullshit cards. I’m damn proud of the ones I have.

“Shit, look at those cards,” Riley whistles as she pops her head in through the doorway. She glances over her shoulder. “You didn’t tell me they were playing poker.”

I can hear the sound of Nova’s voice, but not the words she says to her friend.

Nash turns around in his chair, looking at Riley. “What are you doing here?”

“Hanging out with your sister,” she says with her eyebrows meeting in the center above her nose. “What else would I be doing here?”

There’s a weird awkward pause from Nash before he clears his throat and shrugs. It’s almost like he’s shaking whatever the hell that was off. I’m not stupid, and there’s a noticeable shift in the air. There’s some kind of tension lingering between them, but no one comments on it.

“Do you guys want to play?” Nash asks her, acting normal again as he recovers. “We can deal you both in the next hand.”

“Are you playing with real money?” Riley questions the two of us as she walks into the room. I see Nova hovering in the doorway, and a smile dances across my lips at the sight of her. It’s involuntary, and unfortunately, I have no control over the action.

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