Page 6 of Mocha Kisses

“He doesn’t likeyou. Now, I’m sure you can find your way home. We’ll let Maximillian know that we’ll be needing a new editor.”

Her eyes widen at the threat, her fists balled at her side. She stomps her foot like a fucking toddler before she speaks. “Seriously? He started it!”

Nova tenses beside me before rounding the couch and stepping toward Casey. She trembles and takes a step back as he folds his arms across his chest again. “Casey, you were hired to edit a book.A book.The chance to work closely with the author was an opportunity, not a given. However, you’ve been here for what—four days? I haven’t seen one line edit, not one professional discussion aboutthe book. You’ve come in here asking all sorts of questions about his private life, demanding to know his favorite color and whatever other bullshit the fans want to know. And then we share a few drinks, trying to relax and you see that as flirting? Casey, I’m not sure what they’ve been teaching you or what they’ve been telling you—whoevertheyare—but it’s wrong.”

She swallows nervously, sparing me a glance. “There’s been talk. You’ve been through a few editors and they-”

Fuck. I knew Shepard’s Press was going to spin some shit like that to up my bad-boy persona. Maximillian is a straight shooter but his PR manager, Yana, is a chaos magnet. She enjoys the drama and while it does sell more books, I don’t want to deal with that. My book launch last year was overshadowed by a possible pregnancy even though I had never even met the woman. It didn’t matter. It sold books and everyone was happy, although Maximillian kept trying to dig up details about our first meeting.

It was about time I put my foot down, though. Maximillian would understand. He would have to because I’m not sure Nova was going to take this much longer.

Nova leans down, those blue eyes blazing into hers, a nasty sneer on his lips. “Casey, your presence isn’t needed here anymore. Not as an editor and definitely not in my apartment. See yourself out.” Casey waits a few seconds to see if we are serious before fumbling with the doorknob and throwing herself out the door. I’m pretty sure she was sniffling as she left but I am just grateful that the intrusion is gone.

I slump against the cushions just as Nova’s attention switches to me. Whatever he is about to say is cut off by Rome appearing from his bedroom just off the left of the living room. “Is she gone? God, she was weird. I guess I’m calling Max, yeah?” We all nod knowing that I don’t want to deal with it and Nova is too wound up to say anything professional.

Nova stalks toward me, hands placed on the back of the couch as he bends over me. “Want to tell me why you’re sleeping out here?” Venom drips from his words but I know it’s only because he cares. Nova wants the best for us but has a harder time with me because I’d run myself ragged before giving in. Case in point, staying up rather than talking through my demons and sleeping. He searches my expression before his softens, one of his tattooed hands moving to cup my cheek in his large palm. “Babe, you have to deal with this. Not just because of the book but in general.”

Nova has been watching me fall apart for years around this day and it never gets any better. With a book launch in the next month or two, I don’t have time to disappear into my head. “I know,” I whisper. “I know.”

He places a gentle kiss on my lips before standing back up and gesturing to his room. “You’re coming back with me to talk and then sleep.”

“No talking,” I grunt. What happened to the absolute angry pounding I thought I was getting?

“Fin, we have to talk eventually. You’ve been dealing with finding that letter for years and I will not let you stand by and run yourself into the ground over it.” Nova isn’t angry at me for never getting over Luna. In fact, he has offered to find her once or twice but I’m terrified. What if her goodbye really meant she no longer wanted to speak with me? My heart would shatter.

It isn’t like I haven’t tried doing my own searches but I always come up empty. The one time I found her–or at least someone I thought was her–I was told that she wasn’t available to speak with me.

Still, I stand up and share a silent nod with Rome as we pass him before stepping into Nova’s room. The heavy thud of his door sends shivers down my spine as Nova steps up behind me, placing a kiss on my shoulder. His hands fall to my waist, bringing me flush against his chest. In the next second, he turns me around to face him, his lips hovering over mine. “I love you, Fin. I willalwayslove you. However, the hole in your heart can’t be repaired by ignoring it.”

“What are you saying?” I hiss.

“I’m saying that it’s time to find her, to figure out what happened, to put it to rest.” Nova presses a kiss to my lips, another one of those delicate ones. His gentle touch is vastly different from how he usually handles me. “And if that means that I share you with that woman in your head, I will. Or if I have to hold you until it stops hurting, I will. You won’t lose me Griffin but I can’t lose you either. Not to her and not to the demons in your head.”

Having both NovaandLuna? That fantasy has never crossed my mind. I just wanted to know that Luna was safe, that she had made it to whatever her destination had been. As much as her disappearance hurt me, I just want to know that she is okay.

“Come on, let’s sleep. I’m sure a new editor will be here in the morning that we’ll have to field off and you need your strength.”

“Why do they keep sending them?”

Nova chuckles as he pushes me toward the mattress and shoves me onto the bed. I fall with a plop before scooting under the covers, Nova sliding in after me and dragging me to his chest. “Because you are the most loveable, neurotic, chaotic writer I know. You need a little push in the right direction and you’re notorious for avoiding editors because you don’t like dealing with them. However, after this last one, I’m not sure this is working any better.”

I stifle a laugh, pressing my nose into his chest. He always smells like lemon and musk, a scent that is naturally his mixed with his bodywash. “Thanks for putting up with me,” I mutter.

A firm hand slides around the back of my neck and squeezes, demanding my full attention as I look up at him in the darkness. “Griffin Solace, I am not putting up with you. I’m in love with you. I have loved you for a while. I am here in this bed not as your lawyer or your friend or a pity fuck. You hold a piece of my soul, Griffin Solace and I need you to remember that.”

My face flames with his declaration. “But-” His brow raises, daring me to push back but there isn’t anything to say. I might feel like a burden but Nova reminds me every goddamn day that that isn’t the case. “Fuck, I love you too, Nova Barlowe.”

Luna

Arumblygrowltearsfrom my throat as I roll over and smash the ancient alarm clock ringing on my nightstand. When it doesn’t stop, I make a rash decision and tear it from the wall before chucking it across the room. The sound of plastic splintering brings a smile to my lips until I remember that I’m at the motel Max bought for me and I just damaged property that I can’t afford to replace.

Shit.

Well, I’m awake now.

As I sit up, the sheets flutter down to my waist, revealing an expanse of bare skin. I should stop sleeping naked with the multitude of problems I’m dealing with but if it gets too hot, I just thrash all night. Besides, I can always wrap myself up in a sheet and deal with the humiliation later. Pain shoots down my leg, reminding me of yesterday’s impromptu chase. Max procured a first aid kit and several bags of ice without asking so much as a question. Well, he offered to call the police for me but I waved that shit off.

The police are a fucking joke. They can’t do anything for me and unless I somehow miraculously stumble onto my father’s whereabouts, I will be stuck paying off his nearly one million dollars of debt.

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