Page 20 of Mocha Kisses

Nova and I walk in silence as I catch up to him, his head bowed and hands in his pockets. Neither of us speak until we step into the café, pleasantly surprised no one is waiting for anything. There’s a few 20s on the counter and a handful of muffins missing which means that Miss. Heather stopped by to grab a half dozen for the elementary school staff. That’s one nice thing about Spring Haven–there’s no real need for security.

I grab the money and deposit it in the cash drawer.

“Hey, you alright?”

Am I alright?“Me?” Of course, Nova is asking me. “Not even close. There’s so much history between those two that I thought I was going to suffocate. Luna wanting me to kiss her in front of him nearly had my damn heart exploding out of my chest. And she’s running from creditors? This sounds like a bad fucking movie.”

Nova nods, taking up a seat at the counter before rolling up his sleeves. The spirals of ink covering every inch of his flesh have me pausing. We’re all heavily covered, trying to forget years of pain through art and displaying the hurt along every inch of skin. It hasn’t worked but the personas we’ve donned because of it ward away most people, leaving us to wallow alone. I’m sure there’s a healthier way to approach life but we manage.

“Do you believe her?” Nova asks and then snorts. “I’m not asking for details, Rome.” His eyes heat anyway and I’m not even sure he noticed how taken he is with the woman who just stumbled into our lives.

I can give him a few tidbits though. Occupying my hands with a few dishes that have to be dried, I explain. “She was fucking terrified, wouldn’t leave that backpack anywhere that wasn’t in her eyesight. Like she was ready at a moment’s notice to jump.” My shoulders fall and I know that the information I’m about to give Nova is privileged but he needs to know that whoever Luna is running from isn’t just a figment of her imagination. “She’s covered in cuts, Nova. Whatever she’s been doing for the last six years-”

Nova pushes out of his seat with a growl, his face twisted with anger that I know is going to get us all in trouble. “Fuck. I only know what Griffin has told me but her mother was an alcoholic and her father was absent. Her mother skipped town around the same time I officially moved into the apartment.” His hands curl into fists at his side as his jaw clenches, muscles tightening in his neck. Those baby blues of his darken considerably and I sigh knowing that Luna is absolutely safe between the three of us but she’s probably gotten more than she bargained for.

“You going to help her?” I prod.

“Absolutely. Griffin deserves his happy ending.”

I decide to play the devil’s advocate because honestly, I’m hoping that she chooses me too. “And you?” I ask.

“What about me? I always knew there was a possibility that I wouldn’t be in it.”

“And if she chooses you?” I set down the cup I’m working on and lean forward, searching his expression for a reaction. The darkness in his eyes clears slightly giving me my answer.

“The poor woman doesn’t need that.”

Which means that Nova was thinking about it, that it’s been on his mind. What would Nova do if he knew that Luna has been my own personal obsession for just over six years? That while I haven’t known her like Griffin has, that she has been the light that keeps me going? I can imagine that it’s a similar thing for Nova. How could it not be?

“Nova, you have your own charms. You want to protect and nurture. Luna needs that and god knows I’m not that. She’s going to turn to you. Not today. Probably not tomorrow. But in one day you gave her hope that no one else has been able to give her in six years. You broke your rules for someone you mettodayand don’t give me that bullshit about the fact that it’s Griffin. We both know it’s not.”

Over the years, Nova has picked up a few damsels in distress and helped them along their way. He’s a fierce protector of me as well, helping me out of my relationship with ease. A divorce proceeding that should have taken a harder toll on me was dealt with seamlessly because Nova made sure that it was. Aside from me and Griffin, Nova maintains certain rules so that he doesn’t fall into the same traps that he used to—trying to help every person who’s fallen and can’t get up.

Research. Report. Assess.

Those three things have kept Nova from taking on every little problem without even knowing what he’s about to get himself into. With Luna, all of that went away. He knows nothing of her problem and the only assessment he’s done is ensuring her comfort—going so far as to change out of his suit to help her relax.

And I can’t even ignore the way he kissed her head.

“I’m happy with Griffin,” Nova says but I call bullshit.

“And that little ray of sunshine I experienced last night won’t know what to do with the protective ass that’s about to squeeze into her life. Right now, she’s terrified but she won’t be forever.”

“Forever, huh?”

My words surprise me. One night with Luna and I’m planning further than just the two weeks I’ve been promised. “I’m just saying two weeks can be a lot of time or it’ll go away in the blink of an eye.”

Nova sees right through me though. “Let’s not lie to ourselves, shall we?”

I nod. “Let Luna direct it. Let her tell us what she needs.” Nova silently agrees before stalking out of the café, no doubt about to dive into Luna’s issue. I’m sure he’ll come up with information none of us want to hear but for the time being, I can get lost in pastries and brewing fresh coffee. The mid-morning rush as college students finish their exams should be in the next half hour giving me a reprieve from worrying over a certain doe-eyed girl who’s captured my attention.

Luna

We’realonebutIhave no idea what to do—with my words, my hands, my eyes, so I just stare at my lap, content to have Griffin hold me against his side, his lips on my forehead as he rocks me back and forth. I don’t feel like I deserve this after everything I’ve put him through, not to mention the protection that Rome and Nova are now offering.

“I don’t bite, Luna.”

“I know. I just…” I cut myself off, not sure where I was going with that statement.

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