Page 56 of While We Waited

He clears his throat. “Lucas is covering Smuggler’s Rest and I’m on my way to Rogue’s Landing.”

There’s only one other town on the island. “I’ve got Pirate’s Perch.”

“Let us know if you find her.”

I grunt and hang up.

I turn left toward Pirate’s Perch and start speeding down the road. I need to find Nova. I can’t stand the idea of her somewhere all alone grieving her mom.

Grieving her mom? Of course. That’s it. I know where she is. I do a U-turn and head back toward Smuggler’s Rest. There’s one cemetery on the island and it’s in Smuggler’s Rest.

I screech into the parking lot and search the area for Maya’s car. There. It’s here. I feel as if I can breathe for the first time today. Nova’s here. She’s safe.

But the urge to find her, to hold her in my arms, to comfort her still pounds through my veins. I jump out of my truck and rush through the cemetery.

When I finally spot her, I shout her name, “Nova!”

She glances over her shoulder and the devastation on her face nearly causes me to stumble. My sunshine should never be sad.

“What are you doing here?”

I don’t answer her question. I fall to my knees and haul her into my arms. She doesn’t protest. She melts into my hold. She hiccups and I realize she’s crying again.

I hold her while she cries. Until my shirt is soaked with her tears. When she’s quiet, I pinch her chin to lift her face. Her eyes are puffy and her nose is red.

“I’m sorry.”

I scowl. “What are you sorry for?”

She huffs. “For being a mess. I promise I’ll be happy tomorrow.”

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Act as if you’re happy when you’re not.”

She smiles at me. “I am happy. Most of the time at least. I promised Mom I wouldn’t let her death cause me to live in sorrow. And I haven’t.”

She’s amazing. She suffered more grief in her teenage years than most people suffer in their entire lives and yet she’s happy and smiling and my sunshine. No wonder I’m falling in love with her.

The realization doesn’t surprise me. I’ve always wanted Nova. When we were in high school and she was an adorable teenager who got blackballed from the cheerleading squad, I wanted her. Since I’ve returned to the island, I’ve wanted her.

I’ll always want Nova. She’s the light to my darkness.

“Do you want to sit a little while longer with your parents?” She grins up at me. “There’s my sunshine.”

“Do you want to meet them?”

I nod.

Her grin widens. “Mom, Dad, this is Hudson.”

I don’t know what to say but the problem is solved for me by Nova when she starts babbling to the graves of her parents.

“He’s my baby daddy. You remember him from high school. Don’t say anything, Mom. He doesn’t need to know how I crushed on him in high school.”

I chuckle and Nova gasps.

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