Page 40 of Somewhere We Belong

“Hi, let us know if you need anything else.” She smiled.

“How's your arm? I heard you had a nasty fall.” Jude turned to look at her.

“Oh, better, but still a little stiff,” she said.

“I thought the doctor said to keep the sling on for six weeks?” Colt asked, not hiding the anger in his voice.

“My physical therapist says I can keep it off for a few hours a day,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him.

“You look good,” Atlas said. “It must be awful having to wear that sling.”

“Yeah, it is.” Colt and Nova continued to stare at each other. “Let Iris know if you need anything.”

She walked away before we could say anything.

“Damn, was it just me or was there tension in the air?” Webber asked, grabbing a fried pickle.

“Read the room, dude,” Jude said, shaking his head.

“The room says…”

Jude glared at Webber, who shut up instantly, but looked over at me and winked. I had no idea what that wink meant, but I knew I had missed something. The rest of the evening we didn’t see much of Nova and the longer we were there, the angrier Colt became until I had had enough and said we had to leave. I had never been more grateful for the excuse of waking up early before.

The July sun was draining. By the end of the day, I felt wiped out, even if it wasn’t that hot. We usually hit the mid-eighties, but every year it seemed to be getting hotter and hotter. I wiped the sweat off my brow as I walked Maleficent to the barn.

“Teddy Bear!”

I turned around to see Sol running towards me. She threw herself at me and I caught her.

“I’ve missed you.” She squeezed me tightly.

“I've missed you too, Sunflower,” I said, putting her down, seeing Nova walk up to us.

It had been a week since I had seen her at the bar, and she was wearing those damn shorts again. They plagued my dreams.

“Hello, Nova,” I said, tipping my hat to her.

“Hi, sorry. She’s been anxious to come over and tonight’s the first night I have off.” Nova looked guilty.

“Well, I did say any time, so come on, Sunflower, let's go see Hula Hoop.” I held out my hand and Sol immediately took it. “I can watch her if you have things to do or you want to take a nap.”

Nova looked exhausted.

“Uh, I don't have anything to do,” she said.

“Momma, go nap!” Sol said, pulling me towards the barn.

“Lay down on the couch for a bit,” I assured her. “I’ll get you when she is ready or in forty-five minutes.”

Nova pursed her lips in indecision.

“Go, I got her.” I said, waving her away.

“Thirty minutes and we have to go back for dinner,” Nova said sternly.

“Ok, Ok!” Sol yelled, running to the barn.

I chuckled. “Have a good nap.”

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