Page 112 of Searching for Nova

“Hey! Diner girl!” Jace says as he stands by the couch, holding a can of soda. “What are you doing here?”

I look at Easton to answer, but he doesn’t. He keeps glancing back at his family, like he doesn’t know what to do.

Paris comes up beside Jace. “It’s not the girl from the diner. Why would she show up at Easton’s?”

“It’s her,” Jace says. He smiles at Easton. “I knew you and her were a thing. Is she the mystery girl you keep going to see?”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Paris says, shooting an angry look at Easton. “You’ve been cheating on me with HER?”

“And you gave her my coat?” the teenage girl yells, jumping up from the couch.

Tears sting my eyes as I realize what’s happening. Easton didn’t tell his family about me, or his friends. And he’s still dating Paris. He lied to me. I trusted him, and he lied. All this time, he was just using me. Nothing he said was true.

Rod was right. Easton’s just some rich guy who bought me gifts and took me out so I’d think he actually liked me, when the truth is, I was just some side action that he didn’t think his girlfriend would find out about because he knew she’d never go to my part of town.

I look back at Easton. “You didn’t tell them.”

“I…” He shakes his head. “I was going to. I just…”

“Are you ashamed of me?” I ask, my voice cracking.

“No! You don’t understand. I was trying to—”

“You’re still with her,” I say, glancing at Paris, tears streaming down my cheeks. “You said it was over.”

Paris laughs. “And you believed him?”

“Easton, tell her to go,” his dad says. “Holidays are for family. She shouldn’t be here.”

Easton’s eyes shoot to his dad. “Sheismy family! She’s just as much my family as any of you.”

“Easton, stop!” his mom yells as she shoots up from the couch.

“No.” He looks at her. “I’m done keeping this a secret.”

The old lady goes up to him and grips his arm. “Stop this, right now! The family decided this was for the best.”

“It’s best for all of you, but not me. I hate keeping this secret.”

“What secret?” the teenage girl asks.

“I’m not your real brother,” Easton says. “Mom and Dad adopted me when I was five.”

“Wait—what?” the girl looks at Easton’s mom. “Is that true?”

“You’re adopted?” Jace asks.

“Yeah,” Easton says. “And my name is Sean. Easton is my middle name.”

“Wait.” Jace laughs. “Is this another one of those family games?” he says to Easton’s mom.

“Enough of this!” Easton’s dad races over to Easton and me. “We are not ruining Thanksgiving with this! Outside! Both of you!”

“Go ahead with your dinner,” I say to him. “I’m leaving.” I run out of the house and down to Ted’s car.

“Nova, wait!” Easton runs after me.

“I knew I couldn’t trust you!” I yell. “Go back to your perfect little family!” I get in the car and speed off. Easton doesn’t follow me. He couldn’t even if he wanted to. His Jeep is trapped in the garage with four cars behind it.

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