Chapter 3
Nova
Shame burns in my gut as I pace the cramped office, waiting for Phoenix”s return. Six months ago, I had a home and a family. And now?
I trusted that lying snake, and spilling every ugly detail to Phoenix left me feeling like the world”s biggest loser. Baring my soul to him and admitting Derek abandoned us was one of the hardest things I”ve done.
I swipe my hands over my face and inhale deeply, willing my racing thoughts to slow down. Phoenix has been there for me since we were kids. He won”t let us down.
I tangle my fingers in my hair, tugging at the strands like I can pull the humiliation out of my head. I gather it into a tight ponytail, needing that slight sense of control.
Maya is sitting on the worn couch, her eyes glued to the tablet screen. Since everything fell apart, she”s been so quiet and withdrawn.
I sit beside her and gently brush a stray curl from her face.
“Maya, honey, are you hungry?”
She looks up from her tablet, those big eyes so trusting, and nods.
“Let me see if I can find us something to eat.”
I head to the small kitchenette, opening and closing the cabinets before finally finding some crackers and peanut butter.
My mind races with the logistics. Security deposits, first month”s rent, and daycare costs for Maya. It all adds up to an impossible sum.
Phoenix”s words echo in my head. I”ll figure something out with the Prez.
Fear churns in my gut. Will this be another dead end, leaving Maya and me adrift?
I set the crackers and peanut butter in front of Maya, forcing a reassuring smile. This isn”t the bright, bubbly girl who used to fill the house with laughter.
She nibbles on a cracker. “Thanks, Mommy.”
I swallow hard against the lump in my throat and sink onto the couch, gathering her into my arms. I press a kiss to the top of her head, looking over her shoulder as she plays on the tablet.
The weight of my predicament threatens to crush me. Derek has drained our accounts, his promises of money completely hollow. The house is empty, and we have no family to lean on.
How can I support Maya alone while working full time? My part-time cafe job barely keeps the lights on and food on the table. I need to find a home and a better job.
The door creaks open, and Phoenix steps inside, his rugged features etched with concern.
“Hey,” he says softly, his gaze flicking to Maya before settling on me. “I talked to Aldis. There”s a two-bedroom apartment above the motorcycle repair shop on club property. He says you and Maya can stay there for as long as you need.”
A dizzying wave of relief washes over me. We have a place to stay, a roof over our heads. I blink rapidly against the fresh onslaught of tears. Crossing the room, I throw my arms around him, hugging him tightly.
Surprised, he stiffens briefly, but then his arms wrap around me, solid and secure.
“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “Thank you so much. I don”t know what we would do without you.”
He rubs my back gently, his touch soothing. “You”ll never have to find out. I got you, Nova. Always.” His calloused thumb brushes across my cheek, catching a stray tear.
Maya”s voice breaks through my thoughts. “Mommy, why are you crying?”
I pull back from Phoenix and wipe my eyes with my hand. “I”m happy, baby. Uncle Phoenix found us a place to stay.”
Maya”s face lights up, her first genuine smile in ages. “Can we go see it?”
His lips curve into a gentle smile. “Sure thing, kiddo. Let”s go check out your new digs.”
I lead Phoenix to the car and pop the trunk, revealing a few boxes and bags.
Phoenix frowns. “Is this all of it?”
I nod, letting out a weary sigh. “Yeah, this is everything. We didn”t have much left after the bank foreclosed on the house. Most of our stuff is in these few boxes.”
Phoenix”s warm hand lands on my shoulder, his touch reassuring. “We”ll get it all upstairs and see what we can do to make the place feel like home.”
I lift a box from the trunk, the weight settling heavily in my arms. Phoenix reaches for another, his muscles flexing. He leads us through the maze of buildings that make up the club property.
My heart pounds with nervous anticipation as we approach a small two-story structure above the motorcycle repair shop.
We make our way up the metal stairs to the apartment, each step seeming steeper than the last. When we reach the top, Phoenix shifts the box to one arm and uses his free hand to fish for a key from his pocket.
He unlocks the door and gestures for us to enter first. “This is it. The place has soundproofing, which limits the noise from the workshop below. Make yourselves at home.”
I step inside and take in the surprisingly cozy space. The apartment is modest but well-furnished, with a comfortable-looking couch, a small dining table, and a kitchenette. It”s more than I could have hoped for.
My eyes well up, and I quickly brush a tear away, not wanting to break down in front of him again. I turn to face him. “It”s perfect. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
Phoenix steps into the room, closing the distance between us. “I’m happy I could help.”
Maya darts past me, exploring the apartment with unbridled enthusiasm. She tugs my hand. “Can I go pick my room?”
I smile. “Of course, honey.”
I follow her, and my heart swells as I see the small bedroom with a twin bed and a dresser. It”s not much, but it”s a haven for my little girl.
Phoenix watches our reactions, leaning against the doorframe. “If you need anything else, just let me know. I can grab some groceries or extra blankets if you want.”
I shake my head, my vision blurring with tears of gratitude. “No, this is more than enough. I don”t know how I can ever repay you for this, Phoenix.”
He pushes off the doorframe. “You don”t owe me anything. I”m here for you, always.”
I take a deep breath, keeping my voice steady. “Let me take you out to dinner tonight. As a thank you for everything.”
Phoenix arches an eyebrow, but then a soft smile spreads across his face. “All right, dinner it is. I won’t say no to free food.”
For the first time in what feels like forever, I laugh—a pure, joyful sound that echoes through the room. “It’s a date.”
* * *
Destiny, one of the club”s girls whom Phoenix vouches for as a trustworthy babysitter, agrees to watch Maya for the evening.
She”s a lovely girl trapped in a tough situation, but her warm smile and gentle demeanor instantly put me at ease.
Maya immediately bonds with her, giggling as Destiny plays a silly game of peek-a-boo. A wave of relief washes over me.
For the first time in ages, I can relax, knowing my little girl is in caring hands while I take this rare opportunity to unwind.
After getting Maya settled into her new room that night, I pull on jeans, a simple blouse, and sandals.
Destiny gives me a quick up and down. “You look hot!”
I thank her before kissing Maya and heading out.
Phoenix is waiting outside, leaning against his motorcycle, wearing faded jeans and a leather jacket. My breath catches at how effortlessly rugged he looks.
He grins and straightens as I approach. “You look good enough to eat.”
“Thanks.” I blush as I tuck a stray curl behind my ear. “Should we take your bike?”
His grin widens as he grabs the spare helmet. “You read my mind.”
The roar of the engine vibrates through me as I settle on the bike behind him, my arms circling his waist.
I rest my cheek against the broad expanse of his back and draw in a calming breath. For the first time in what seems like forever, I feel safe.
We ride across town to a local diner famous for its burgers. The corner booth feels like a cozy sanctuary.
Phoenix sits across from me as we share a basket of fries and sip our drinks.
I can”t remember the last time I felt this relaxed.
While we wait for our burgers, conversation flows easily, drifting from topic to topic as we trade stories and tease each other like we did as kids. Phoenix has a way of making me feel at ease.
He regales me with stories from the club, his deep voice washing over me with each animated tale of brotherhood and adventure on the open road.
At this moment, I”m not a struggling single mom, and he”s not some feared biker; we”re just Nova and Phoenix, two friends sharing a connection.
With the easy banter and the comfortable silence, it”s as if no time has passed at all. When he recounts stories from our childhood, I get lost in the little details I”d long forgotten but now feel like coming home.
Phoenix tells a funny story about when they were kids and in trouble for getting muddy and sneaking into the house without getting caught.
Nova throws her head back and laughs at the vivid memory.
Phoenix grins, leaning back in the booth, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Do you remember when we tried to sneak back into your house after playing in the mud pit behind my place?”
I throw my head back and laugh at the vivid memory rushing back. After an epic battle, we were covered head to toe in thick, gloppy mud. “Oh my god, yes!”
“We thought we were being so stealthy, trying to sneak in through your backdoor without your mom catching us.”
“But she was waiting right there in the kitchen!” I clutch my sides, laughing until my cheeks ache. “The look on her face when she saw us dripping mud all over her clean floors.”
Phoenix slaps the table, grinning from ear to ear. “She was so pissed! She yelled at us to go straight to the bathroom and not to track dirt anywhere else.”
“We left a trail of muddy footprints down the hallway.” I wipe away a tear. “I thought she would ground me for life after that.”
Phoenix shakes his head. “Your mom didn”t talk to me for a week. All because I got her perfect daughter filthy.”
I meet his warm gaze across the table, my cheeks flushed from laughing so hard. Any worries or doubts have melted away, replaced by the easy comfort of being with my oldest friend.
Phoenix grins, shaking his head. “But you know what? Those were some of the best days of my life.”
Our laughter fades, and a comfortable silence settles between us. I take a sip of my soda, savoring the sweetness on my tongue as I study him over the rim of the glass.
Phoenix gets a thoughtful look on his face, his brow furrowing. “You”re working part-time at a cafe, right?”
I nod, my chest tightening. “I”ve been trying to get more hours, but it”s not enough.”
“I might have a lead on something better. One of my buddies from the club has a connection at a real estate office downtown. They were looking for someone to help with clerical stuff and maybe assist with some property showings.”
I lean forward, gripping the edge of the table. “That would be amazing.”
Phoenix pulls his phone from his pocket and stands, gently squeezing my shoulder. “I”ll call him and set up an interview,” he says.
I watch him through the diner window as he steps outside, his broad frame silhouetted against the neon lights.
There”s a quiet strength in how he carries himself, a confidence that never turns into arrogance.
Phoenix returns and slides into the booth across from me, a hint of that crooked smile playing on his lips. “All sorted. You have an interview at Heartwood Realty Group tomorrow morning at 10:30.”
I blow out a breath, trying to rein in my emotions. “Thank you, Phoenix. How can I ever repay you?”
When Phoenix”s gaze meets mine, there”s a sudden shift in the air—a subtle charge that raises the fine hairs on my arms.
He holds my stare, his eyes darkening. “Our friendship doesn’t work on checks and balances, Super Nova.”
I smile at his pet name for me. He always said I was like a supernova, one of the most energetic events in the universe that briefly outshines entire galaxies.
Odd how he always made me feel that way when Derek sucked the light and energy right out of me.
Phoenix has always been there for me, but his touch and how he”s looking at me now re-ignites that fire within me.
It”s familiar. It”s intimate. And it’s charged with an undercurrent of possibility.
Something is shifting between us. Or maybe it’s not shifting, as such. Maybe it’s always been there.
I set my glass down, my mouth suddenly dry. “Phoenix, I?—”
“You don”t have to say anything,” he interrupts gently. Reaching across the table, he covers my hand with his calloused palm.
The evening air is crisp and cool as we leave the diner, our laughter echoing in the quiet street. The meal was delicious, but the company was even better.
Phoenix walks beside me, his shoulder brushing against mine with each step.
I can let my guard down with him. Our easy camaraderie is natural and familiar, like slipping into a well-worn jacket.
The stars glitter overhead as we stroll toward his motorcycle, savoring the evening. I can”t remember the last time I felt this content, this at ease in my own skin.
As we approach the bike, Phoenix suddenly stops and turns to face me. His expression shifts, uncertainty warring with determination in his eyes.
My heart stutters in my chest as he closes the distance, his gaze intense and unwavering.
I swallow hard. The air between us crackles with tension. Phoenix reaches out, his thumb brushing across my cheek.
Time slows as he leans in, his lips a hairsbreadth from mine. My eyes flutter closed, my body humming with anticipation.
And then his mouth is on mine, firm and insistent, igniting a fire deep within me. I melt into him, my hands fisting in his leather jacket as I pull him closer.
His tongue sweeps across my lower lip, seeking entrance, and I open for him with a soft moan. He tastes like whiskey and desire, a heady combination.
Desire licks through my veins, spreading through my system like wildfire. I melt into him, my hands fisting in the leather of his jacket.
Phoenix”s arm snakes around my waist until every inch of him is pressed against me, solid and unyielding.
My fingers tangle in his hair, tugging him impossibly closer as our tongues dance and slide together.
A soft moan escapes me as his hands slide down my back, pressing me flush against his hips and letting me feel his arousal.
That’s when reality intrudes. Shit. What am I doing? This is Phoenix, my best friend.
I pull back, dropping my gaze to the ground. “I’m sorry, I can’t?—”
Phoenix lifts my chin, bringing my eyes to his. “Don’t apologize. I overstepped.”
I shake my head, blowing out a shaky breath. “That’s just it. You didn’t. Being in your arms, kissing you, it feels so right that it scares me. I’m a single parent with a young child to support. Why would you want to take that on?”
Phoenix’s thumb skates over my cheek. “Because it’s you.”
I fall into his eyes, wondering if what I’ve been missing has been right in front of my nose this whole time.
I tear my gaze from his. “I-I need time, Phoenix. I need?—”
He stalls me by pressing his thumb against my swollen lips. “I know. Take all the time you need, Nova. I’ll be here.”
He chucks me under the chin like he’s done a million times before. “Come on, Super Nova. Let’s get you home.”