Page 82 of Hiding Forever

Me: Will do.Give me a few and I’ll get you what you need. Thanks.

He gives my reply a thumbs-up.

He also wanted to give me a new number, but I couldn’t part with this one. Nova knows it. I have saved texts from her. In the future, when the memory of her fades—if it ever does—I’ll get a new phone. For now, I need to hold on to something, even if it’s as silly as my own contact information and saved texts from a girl who can never be mine.

I explore the first and second floor, move my luggage to the main suite, and get the security information that Cooper needs. That was part of my reason for choosing this house to rent. I needed a place that had a high-end security system. The other reason was the location. I had two cabins in mind: one in Utah and one in this area. Nova and staying in the same state as her might have helped sway me toward this cabin. I liked the trees, too, and how green they stay during the winter months.

The view beyond the many large windows shows snow-covered ground. Longing for Gigi’s lush estate hits me. It hasn’t even been a day and already I miss the place and the people.

I stroll into the great room and find Itty-bitty curled up on the couch, near the TV remote. She must have sat on it because now the TV is off.

I join her and let out a long exhale. A wall clock sounds from the entrance hallway.

Tick, tick, tick.

This is solitude. I thought I kept myself isolated at Gigi’s—anti-social for the most part—but it was nothing compared to this quiet, empty house.

Unable to resist, I pull up Nova’s Instagram account, with the sole purpose of seeing her face. She hasn’t posted anything new in a while. Keeping off social media is the best thing for her right now, but what I wouldn’t give to see a new selfie of her.

Itty-bitty stretches a paw and touches my thigh. I rub her head, thankful for the companion.

---