Page 19 of Mocha Kisses

The lawyer narrows his gaze at her and had she been anyone else, he would have muttered ‘bullshit’. His soft tone is a testament to how much he cares for Griffin and how protective he now is of Luna. “Luna, creditors will bankrupt you or take you to court not chase you across cities.”

“He… it… the loan wasn’t from a bank.” Her shoulders sag and Griffin pulls her into his side as her voice breaks. “They show up in these suits and slicked back hair, telling me I have to pay. I’ve filed complaints. Hell, I filed one in Red Brook six years ago but the officer they put on my protective detail was one of them.”

Griffin’s touch is gentle but I can tell by the way his gray eyes turn stormy that he’s pissed off. “The police didn’t fucking help you? Wait… was that why you were running that day?” She nods and falls silent. I can’t imagine what Griffin must have been thinking that day, for her to merely tell him goodbye in a letter. I know that much of the story but little else.

“I didn’t want to bring any of this on you. I… I wanted to tell you what happened and then move on. Fuck, I wasn’t thinking. Rome, I shouldn’t have slept with you either.”

My cheeks heat and I stuff my hands into my pants, dipping my head when Nova throws me a glare. He already knew that we fucked last night so I don’t have anything to hide. Weirdly though, I feel ashamed. We’re now all tangled up with Luna and I can see that at the first sign of trouble, she’s going to take off. Spring Haven doesn’t get much excitement and a man with unpaid debts isn’t uncommon.

Being chased to pay off the loan, however, is.

Nova slides into a chair across from the two, clasping his hands on the table and leaning forward. He responds to Luna’s body language by relaxing his. “Luna, I assume you wouldn’t have come if you weren’t going to at least do the job Maximillian gave you, right?”

Where the fuck is he going with this?

“Yes.”

Griffin has a hand in her hair, drawing her closer as Luna welcomes his touch. I’m a little jealous but I can see that those two need it. It’s a kind of love I wished I had experienced.

“You can say no but I’d like to look into that loan. You need a place to breathe and Griffin’s manuscript desperately needs some love,” Nova offers. I’ve always known him to be a straight-laced businessman and lawyer. I also know that he reads people better than anyone I’ve ever met. Luna doesn’t need coddling or false words. She needs assurances in a world that has given her none.

It didn’t escape me last night and this morning how she seemed relieved when I offered information without her prodding or when I told her to do something. It took away the need to choose without all of the facts.

“I can’t stay long,” she mutters.

“I’m not going to say you’re safe or that everything is alright. I can see that you don’t believe those words. However, I will do everything in my power to ensure that this goes away.”

She perks up and sits forward. “What?”

“It’s not legal, Luna. This happens in movies, not real life. I don’t care what kind of crediting agency offered the loan but following you across state lines, physically and mentally harassing you? At this point, you would have been arrested if it was that serious of a problem.”

Luna accepts that, sitting back in her chair. I stifle a chuckle, watching Griffin literally pet the woman, obsessed with her. It’s going to be hard pulling him away from her, the same way it’s hard pulling him away from Nova when he needs a little more attention. God, this is messy.

“Thank you,” she finally says and then turns to Griffin. “I want to tell you everything and I wish we could go back to when we were just 22 but you have Nova and I… slept with Rome. I don’t-”

I perk up at my name, shooting Nova another glance. Ah, so he’s had the conversation with Griffin. Thank god, this won’t be as awkward then. “Sweetheart,” I begin, tearing her attention from Griffin. “We’re all adults here and while I would fucking love a repeat of last night, that doesn’t mean I own your choices. You deserve the entire fucking world for what you’ve been through.” I don’t notice my feet bringing me closer until I’m beside her chair, taking her other hand in mine. That’s when I decide to be a little presumptuous. “And if that means I have to share you with Griffin, I will.” Hell, I’ll share her with Nova when that happens because although Griffin is a charmer, Nova has a certain aura about him that draws in those who least expect it.

Luna needs a protector and Nova fits the bill.

Am I jumping the gun just a little? Maybe. But it feels right.

She twists around to face Nova and I can see hope lingering in her expression. Nova grants her a small smile. “His heart has always been yours, Luna. I’m merely renting a room.”

I’m about to say something, hating the way Nova downplays his relationship with my closest friend. Luna gets there first. “What you two have is special. I know—I knew Griffin and he doesn’t get that starry-eyed look for many people, Nova.” Griffin chuckles beside her and Nova is caught off-guard by her sudden confidence but she’s not wrong. Griffin rarely offers his attention to anything or anyone other than his writing. Between the three of us, we shared the much-needed attention of Nova’s grandmother when she lived in Spring Haven before moving into a nursing home.

Other than that, we don’t have any other family.

Griffin rarely glances twice at anyone during the few outings he does embark on and the fake smile he plasters for his release parties is painful to watch. He really does only smile here in this space and that lost-in-love look that he’s currently giving Luna, I’ve only ever seen that directed at Nova.

Nova lets out a deep sigh, his smile widening, and the spark of genuine interest flares in his expression.Interesting.“You aren’t taking him from me, Luna. His and your heart are so incredibly big and I love that.” He stands up and rounds the table, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. She melts beneath his touch even as Griffin and I are holding her hands. “Take the day to catch up with Griffin, alright? The writing can wait till tomorrow and I have a few things to look into.”

“But-”

“Luna, know that however this day unfolds, I’m okay with it.” Luna looks like she’s about to argue again as Nova raises an eyebrow, challenging her. “What kind of man would I be if I were selfish with Griffin?” Luna is still frowning and I’m sure she thinks there’s an underlying joke somewhere. “You mentioned what he and I have is special. Luna, your relationship is no different. Six-year gap or not.Whateverhappens.”

He shuffles away and I pull her hand to my lips. “Breakfast at the café tomorrow.” I wanted to pose it as a question but stating her agenda seems to relax her and she nods. She angles her head up just slightly and I hesitate, unsure of how this is supposed to work. Sure, I mentioned that I have no problem sharing her but how comfortable is Griffin with that, really? His wild, interested smile as his gaze flits between the two of us unnerves me but I’m not passing up a chance to taste her sweet lips again.

Gladly, I bend down and press my lips to hers, trying not to lose my heart to a woman I know can’t be mine. Too soon, I pull away and follow Nova out the front door, knowing full well he had no better place to be than in that office. Every other editor that has come through has required a serious process of onboarding to Griffin’s project.

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