Page 5 of Searching for Nova

“Tell that to Easton,” Paris says, turning her back to me.

Bridget, Kevin’s girlfriend, looks back at me and smiles. “Just buy her something pretty from Jaselle’s. That’ll get her over whatever you two are fighting about.”

Jaselle’s is a very expensive jewelry store. I get a generous allowance, but there’s no way I’m spending it on some stupid piece of jewelry for a girl who’s yelling at me for not showering her with attention. Paris gets more attention than I give anyone else and it’s still not enough. And she already has more jewelry than she could ever wear.

“We’re not fighting,” I say to Bridget. “I’m just tired and don’t feel like being out tonight.”

Actually, I was fine until I saw Nova. Something in me shifted when I saw her. All those feelings from the past came rushing back, and I no longer felt like the person I am now. Suddenly everything about tonight felt wrong, like I didn’t belong here, in the back of a luxury SUV with friends who never had to struggle a day in their lives.

“Just take him home,” Paris says to Kevin. “Tell Jace to drop him off.”

Kevin looks back at me. “Is that what you want?”

“Yeah, whatever,” I mutter, looking out the side window.

It’s not even ten, but I’d rather go home than spend the rest of the night listening to Paris whine about me being a shitty boyfriend while we all get drunk and high in Jace’s basement. We use his house as our party house. It’s huge, and the basement has a fully stocked bar and home theater.

“See ya, man!” Jace says as he pulls up outside my house. It’s a large brick two-story on an acre lot surrounded by trees. I don’t know what it cost—never really thought about until now—but I’d guess it’s more than million.

I get out of the SUV. Paris still has her back to me so I don’t bother telling her goodbye. Giving attention to her outbursts just makes her do it even more. I glance at Kevin. He gives me a look like he feels sorry for me, knowing Paris is a pain in the ass, and yet he keeps telling me to stay with her because she’s hot and loves having sex. It’s every guy’s dream, and yet I’m over it. That shift I felt earlier is making my feelings about her suddenly very clear, and yet other things seem more confusing.

When I go in the house, Jenna is in the living room with her friend, Elsa. The TV is on, but they’re not watching it. Their eyes are on their phones as they swipe over the screen.

“What about this one?” Jenna says to her friend.

“That’s so last year,” Elsa says. “And don’t get black. You look better in white, but not that sparkly white. You need a classic white.”

“What are you guys talking about?” I ask, walking up to them.

“Cars.” Jenna smiles. “I’m picking out what I want.”

“You’re only 15. You don’t even have your license yet.”

“Doesn’t mean I can’t pick out my car.” She turns her phone to me, showing me a picture of a white SUV with a price tag of $90,000. “What do you think of this?”

“I think you’re fucking insane. You really think Dad’s going to buy you something that expensive?”

She shrugs. “Maybe. He said he wants to get me something that’s safe, and something like this would be totally safe.”

“And have plenty of room for all her shopping,” Elsa says, smiling at Jenna.

“Exactly,” Jenna says, looking back at her phone. “It’s practicalandsafe.”

“Dad’s not buying you that,” I tell her, continuing to the kitchen.

“Easton!” Jenna yells.

I turn back. “What?”

“Why are you home so early?”

“Didn’t feel like being out.”

“Is that your costume?” Elsa says, scrunching up her nose as she looks me up and down. I wore a hockey jersey and jeans, and talked Jace into doing the same. Neither of us wanted to put on some stupid costume so we put on our jerseys and called it good. Our girlfriends were pissed, but they’ll get over it, except maybe mine. Paris will be mad about it for weeks.

“He wouldn’t dress up,” Jenna says, rolling her eyes. “Paris wanted him to be a pirate, but he wouldn’t do it.”

“Because it’s stupid,” I say. “We’re too old for this shit. Even you two didn’t go out for Halloween.”

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