Page 47 of Make Your Move

The doorknob in the mudroom jiggles as the lock clicks. My eyes widen as I stare at Lincoln, not wanting to leave him yet. “I owe you.”

“I have every intention of collecting,” he promises as he winks. He glances toward the kitchen and back to me. “Go. Unless you feel like explaining this to your brother.”

Fuck.

Tonight is not the night, and this is not the way for Nash to find out. I don’t want to run, but I know I need to. We’ll cross this bridge if we have to. Lincoln has been clear about his aversion to relationships. The last thing I want to do is make him feel backed into a corner. I don’t want him to feel any pressure or obligation.

I don’t want him to feel like he has to be with me.

I want him towantto be with me.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

LINCOLN

“Well, this is just great.”

My eyebrows pull together as I hear the sound of her voice drifting from the kitchen. It’s still early in the morning. Nash is in bed, and Nova is downstairs getting ready for work. I see Posey’s room is empty, and I hear the small amount of commotion coming from the living room that is her playing with her little stuffed hockey player.

As I walk into the kitchen, I see Nova holding her hand against her forehead as she lets out a frustrated breath. I pause in the doorway, studying her for a moment in the silence before I step deeper into the room. “Hey.”

Nova lifts her head, her blue eyes meeting mine in a rush. “Hey,” she says, the word coming out a little breathless. “You’re up early.”

I shrug with indifference. I’ve become a morning person over the years, although I don’t usually crawl out of bed with the sun. I prefer to wake up slowly, unless I have somewhere I need to be. “I was heading into the bathroom when I heard you down here. Is everything okay?”

She lets out an exasperated sigh, her chest deflating with the breath. “They had to close the day care today.”

“Why? Did something happen?”

“They had an issue with the plumbing in the building. They anticipate opening it tomorrow, as long as they’re able to get everything cleaned.” Nova pauses, her lips pursing as her nostrils flare. “We have a big exhibition we’re getting ready for the museum to open this winter, so I’m supposed to be there today because we’re beginning the planning for where it’s going to go. I need to see if we can push it until tomorrow, and I’ll just work from home.”

I shake my head at her. “Go to work, Nova. I’ll watch Poe.”

She stares at me for a moment, her gaze hopeful, but her eyes a tad wider. “I can’t ask that of you, Lincoln. You have your own things going on and?—”

“You’re not asking me, Nova,” I interject, abruptly cutting her off before she spirals into the reasons why she thinks this is going to burden me. “I’m telling you I want to watch her. She can come along with me for whatever I end up having to do.” As if the universe tapped on Posey’s shoulder and whispered to her to come in, she comes strolling into the kitchen. “What do you say, Posey? Do you want to hang out with me today?”

Posey’s face transforms, lighting up as she eagerly nods. “Yeah!” She runs over to me, her arms outstretched for me to pick her up. I bend down, scooping her up, the motion becoming an instinct now. I hold her against my chest, and she turns to look at her mom. “Bye, Mommy!”

Nova stifles a laugh while fighting to hold back her grin as her eyes trail over Posey and me. “Okay, but only if you’re sure?” She raises an eyebrow at me, her expression guarded. “You don’t have to do this, Lincoln.”

“You’re going to be late,” I tell her, ignoring her comment. “We will be fine, okay?”

“Okay,” Nova breathes with relief washing over her eyes. She grabs her to-go mug of coffee and purse from the counter beforeturning back to us. She walks over, reaching for Posey as she plants her lips against her cheek. “You be good for Lincoln, little miss.” She steps back, looking up at me. “Thank you, Lincoln. I’m going to grab her car seat from my car, and I’ll put it in yours. I’ll write down my work number, my father’s, and Riley’s, just in case.”

I watch her as she walks over to the counter, pulling open a drawer before reaching in for a notepad and a pen. Her hand moves quickly as she covers the page in her curling handwriting.

“Here are the phone numbers and a rundown of her routine.” She pauses, looking around the kitchen until her eyes land on a backpack by the counter. “There’s a change of clothes in there in case she gets dirty or has an accident. Her lunchbox is already packed in the fridge and?—”

“Nova,” I interrupt, chuckling softly. “I got this, okay?”

“I just want to make sure you have everything you need.”

I do.

“We will be fine,” I assure her, picking up the piece of paper as I scan the list she left. “This is perfect. I got this.”

“Okay,” she says softly, half looking like she’s forgetting something. She just covered every damn base in less than five minutes. I think we will be okay to get through a day without her.

---