Page 80 of Searching for Nova

“We can,” I say, wiping down the counter. I want to, but I don’t want to sound too eager. He’s not my boyfriend. He’s just a friend. A friend I’m hoping will do things to me later, but even if he does, we’re just friends.

Easton puts his skates on and gets on the rink. He’s really good, and fast. He whips around the ice, gliding past the people who are more like me, struggling to move on the ice without falling down. A little girl just did and now she’s crying. She’s probably eight and her mom just left to use the bathroom.

I watch as Easton skates up beside her and helps her up. He smiles and says something to her. She stops crying and nods, a smile lighting up her face. He takes both her hands in his and skates backward on the ice, taking her with him. He reaches the end of the rink and spins around so they’re going the other way. The girl is laughing and smiling and looking at Easton like he’s the coolest guy ever. It’s sweet that he’s doing this. He’s a good guy. Rod doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Easton isn’t using me or taking advantage of me. He’s not like that. His friends are, though. I could totally see Jace being the type of guy Rod described.

The little girl’s mom comes back and finds her with Easton. He talks to the mom, probably explaining what happened. The mom smiles and says something to Easton, then takes her daughter and they continue to skate.

Easton looks over and sees me watching him. His gaze remains on me as he glides over the ice, weaving between all the people. I’d like to see one of his games. He said they start the week after Thanksgiving. I check the calendar on my phone. His first game is only a couple weeks away. That means Thanksgiving is next week. I didn’t even think about that until just now. I won’t have to go to school, and the diner and skating rink are closed so I won’t have to work. I’ll have a whole day off! I wish I could spend it with Easton, but he’ll be with his family.

After my shift is over, I go out to the parking lot and see Easton waiting by his Jeep.

“Need a ride?” he asks as I walk up to him.

“Yeah. You offering?”

He pulls me into his arms and presses his lips to mine. I sink into his body, loving how it feels to be in his arms. His tongue slides over mine and my body fills with heat, instantly aroused by his kiss.

Maybe tonight’s the night we’ll finally go all the way. I really want that. I want to be with him that way. I know it’s not a good idea, but I have a long history of making bad decisions. What’s the harm in making one more?

21

Nova

The loud clankof the dumpster lid closing causes Easton and me to break apart. I look over and see Rod walking back to the building.

“Shit, he saw us again,” I say.

“Yeah? So?”

I look at Easton. “He thinks there’s something going on with us.”

“There is.”

“No, there’s not. We’re just friends. Who hang out.”

“And kiss in the parking lot.”

“Well, yeah, but friends can kiss.”

“They can, but it usually leads to more.”

I look at him. “What are you saying?”

“Nothing. Let’s go.” He opens my door and I get in the Jeep, wondering what he meant just now. Is he thinking we’re going to start dating? Or that we already are? That wasn’t supposed to be our arrangement. We said we’d only be friends, nothing more.

As we’re driving, I check my phone and see a voicemail from Ted. He doesn’t text. He only calls. His message says he’s at Elaine’s place and may not come home tonight. I don’t know who Elaine is, but I’m guessing she’s his new lady friend. Why any woman would want to date Ted is a mystery to me. He’s still got his hair, so that’s a plus, but I can’t think of any other reason a woman would go out with him.

“Where do you want to go?” Easton asks. “Are you hungry? We could get something to eat.”

“I don’t need to eat.” I turn to him. “You want to go to the apartment?”

“With Ted there?”

“He’s not home. He’s with his new girlfriend. He might even spend the night with her.”

“Ted has a girlfriend?” Easton laughs a little. “Who the hell would date him?”

“It’s not really his girlfriend. She’s probably just some lady he met at a bar. Do you want to go there or not? We’d have the place to ourselves and we wouldn’t have to freeze in the Jeep.”

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