Page 26 of Searching for Nova

Her hair is wet and she has on a faded pink sweatshirt and jeans. Even with wet hair and no makeup, she’s still beautiful. I never told her this, but when we were five, I had a crush on her. I wasn’t interested in girls back then, except for Nova. I loved her pretty blue eyes and silky brown hair and her smile that made my heart go faster.

I still have a crush on her. I’m not sure it ever went away. I just tried to stuff those feelings away. But when I saw her again, all those feelings came back, even stronger than before. But I can’t tell her that. She’s hesitant to even be my friend, so I wouldn’t dare try for anything more.

“Ted, just give me a minute,” she says to him. “Your lunch is on the tray.”

He narrows his eyes at me before turning and walking away.

“I can’t go,” Nova whispers, glancing back at Ted. I look past the door and see him sitting down in a brown plaid recliner. There’s a fold-out metal tray next to it holding a plate of food and two cans of beer.

“Why can’t you go?” I ask.

Nova comes out in the hall and quietly shuts the door. “I have stuff I need to do. I can’t leave.”

“What stuff?”

“Just stuff around the apartment.” She looks down. “Easton, it was really great to see you, but I don’t have time to hang out.” She looks back at me. “I think it’s best if we just go back to our own lives.”

“I’m only asking you for a few hours, maybe not even that. I’ll take you to eat and then take you home.”

“But that won’t be the end. You’ll want to see me again, and I don’t have time.”

“Why? Because you have to make his dinner?” I point to the apartment. “He can make his own dinner. Why are you letting him tell you what to do? You’re almost 18. You should be able to go out with your friends on a Sunday afternoon, especially after spending the whole morning at work.”

“Easton, please,” she says with a sigh. “Just go.”

“What will it take to change your mind?”

“I’m not changing my mind. I can’t. Please, Easton, just go home.”

“Do you want to go out? If you could, would you want to?”

She doesn’t answer, but I can tell from the sad look on her face that she wishes she could go.

I walk around her and open the door.

“Easton, what are you doing?” Nova says, following behind me as I go in the apartment.

I stand in front of Ted, who now has his chair fully reclined and is staring at the TV, a can of beer in his hand.

“Why can’t she leave?” I ask, moving so I’m blocking the TV.

“Nova!” Ted yells. “Get this fucker out of here! I’m trying to watch the game.”

“Easton, come on,” Nova says, pulling on my arm.

“I’ll leave if she can come with,” I say to Ted, not moving out of the way.

“If it means I can watch my damn game, then fine, get the fuck out of here.” He looks at Nova. “But you clean up the dishes first, and be home by six. I ain’t waiting around for dinner.”

Nova takes the dishes from Ted’s tray and races to the kitchen. I follow her in there, grabbing a towel to dry as she cleans the dishes in the sink.

“You don’t have to do that,” she says, setting a plate in the dish rack.

“The faster we finish, the sooner we can go.” I pick up the plate and dry it.

Her lips tick up just enough to tell me she’s happy about what I did. I thought she’d be pissed that I showed up here after she told me to go, and even more pissed when I stood up to her grandpa, but her smile is telling me she wanted this. That she wanted to go out with me.

That’s all I need to know. It’s not much, but it’s a start. Even if I only get today with her, it’s better than nothing. But I’m going to keep trying for more. I want Nova back in my life. I feel different when I’m with her, like the part of me that was missing is back. I’m not giving that up without a fight.

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