Page 37 of Searching for Nova

“Fuck no.” I huff. “Are you kidding? She would’ve grounded me until graduation.”

“I can’t believe we didn’t get shot that night,” Jace says.

“It wasn’t that bad,” Kevin says. “That diner was fun. That shit we did to the girl bussing tables? Fucking hilarious.”

I look at him. “You really think that was funny? She was working her ass off. The last thing she needed was to be sexually harassed by Jace.”

He laughs. “C’mon, it was funny. And that girl didn’t care. I’m sure she gets guys doing that shit all the time.”

“I guarantee you’re the first guy to shove a giant fucking pickle in her face,” I say.

“I meant having a guy flirt with her. That girl was hot. You know guys hit on her. I’m sure it happens all the time.”

“You thought she was hot?” I ask, wanting to see if he’ll say anything else about her.

“Yeah. Didn’t you?”

“I did,” Kevin says, smiling at Jace. “Did you see her ass? So fucking tight.”

“Her tits were good too,” Jace says. “All perky and shit.”

I look at both of them. “You guys still have girlfriends, right?”

“Doesn’t mean we can’t look,” Jace says. “You’re single. You could have her.”

“Who?”

“The girl at the diner. You should go back there. Ask her out.”

“He’s technically still with Paris,” Kevin says. “She told everyone they’re on a break.”

“Which is short for breakup,” Jace says. He turns to me. “Would you do it?”

“Do what?”

He slowly smiles. “Fuck that girl at the diner.”

I’m getting pissed hearing him talk about Nova like this, but showing my anger will make him question why I’m reacting like that. I can’t tell him who she is and how I know her. Telling him that would mean telling him I was in foster care and that my parents aren’t really my parents, which is something I’m supposed to keep a secret. Even if it wasn’t a secret, I’m not ready to tell people. I’m not sure I want them knowing about my past. They wouldn’t understand. Only Nova does, and now she won’t talk to me.

11

Easton

“Why are we talking about this?”I say. “I’m not going back to that diner.”

“I think we should.” Jace looks over at Kevin. “You want to go now?”

“Might as well. We got nothing else to do.”

“We’re not going to the fucking diner,” I say. “We said we were having a guys’ night. Let’s just watch a movie and drink.”

“We can do that later.” Jace gets up. “Kevin, you drive. I don’t want my car getting stolen.”

“AndIdo?” Kevin remains on the couch. “Forget it. I’m not going.”

“I was kidding,” Jace says. “No one’s going to steal your car.”

“I’m still not going,” Kevin says.

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