Page 107 of Searching for Nova

The next day,I avoid my parents by staying in my room all morning until it’s time to meet with my skating coach. If my parents knew Nova’s the girl I’ve been seeing and that she works at the rink, they probably would’ve cancelled my coaching session. They wouldn’t want me even talking to her. She’s my past, and they’re determined to erase that part of my life.

“Hey!” Nova sneaks up behind me as I head to the locker room.

I turn around. “Hey.” It comes out sounding angry, which is not what I intended. I’m not angry at Nova. I’m angry at my parents.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, backing away.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to say it that way. I’ve been fighting with my parents and it put me in a bad mood.”

“What are you fighting about?”

“Being grounded. I don’t want to talk about it. It’ll just piss me off.”

“So you can’t come over tonight?”

“I don’t know yet. I’ll see what happens when I get home.”

“Okay, well, I should get back to work.” She hurries off, probably assuming it’s over between us. I finally got her to trust me enough to date me, and my parents are trying to ruin it. I’m not letting that happen. Nova’s used to people letting her down, but I’m not going to be one of them.

After my coaching hour is up, I look for Nova but can’t find her.

I text her.Where are you?

Taking out trash, she texts back.

I find her outside by the dumpster.

“I need to go.” I walk up to her. “I’ll call you and let you know if I can come over.”

“You should probably stay home. I don’t want you fighting with your parents.”

“And I don’t want to be stuck at home when I could be with you.” I kiss her. “I love you. I’ll call you later.”

She nods, then watches as I walk to my Jeep. She’s still watching as I drive away. She thinks this is it. It’s over. I’m so damn pissed at my parents for doing this.

“I need to talk to you,” my dad says as soon as I walk in the door. He must’ve been standing there, waiting for me.

“What else is there to say?” I drop my gym bag on the floor. “You’re going to lock me in my room? Put a guard outside it to make sure I don’t leave?”

He sighs. “I may have been a little harsh with my punishment. You’re almost an adult now, and until just recently, you’ve given us no reason not to trust you.”

“So what are you saying?”

“You will not be grounded if you agree not to move out.”

“And you’re not going to follow me wherever I go?”

“No, but we do expect you to be home by curfew.”

I guess that’s fair, although it ruins any chance of having another sleepover with Nova.

“This girl you’re seeing,” my dad says. “She’s really just a friend?”

I’m not going to tell him the truth. It would just make him try harder to keep us apart. He doesn’t need to know I’m dating her.

“She’s not my type,” I say. “I wouldn’t date her.”

He cocks his head, seeming confused. “What’s the story with this girl? Why do you keep going to see her?”

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