Things That Break Us

Chapter 1 Nova

Nova

I stare at the peeling wallpaper in the cheap motel room until my sight begins to blur. When I blink, my eyes sting, so I keep them closed while a deep breath shudders from my chest.

Like a thief in the early morning hours, I ran from the place I’ve called home for the past three years. Except for a single bag of luggage, I left everything behind. I’ve heard the words “I’m sorry, it will never happen again” one too many times.

God, why did I stay so long?

In my defense, Trent wasn’t always abusive. Our first year together was good, but then he lost his job. With him being unemployed and my meager income from my part-time jobs, we struggled financially, and it brought out a mean streak in him.

With the despondent thoughts milling in my head, I open my eyes and glance around the room. There’s only a bed, a TV, and a small closet. Even though everything is old, it’s clean, at least.

When I suck in another deep breath, my ribs ache from where Trent kicked me the night before, but I know from bitter experience nothing is broken.

Glancing down, I stare at the angry handprint on my bicep. Unable to stomach looking at it any longer, I get up, and grabbing a sweater out of my luggage, I quickly put it on.

As I let out another heavy sigh, I sit down on the edge of the bed again, the hopeless feeling in my chest growing.

God, what am I going to do?

My life hasn’t been easy. Living in the small town of Verona in the Sugar River Valley area, it’s hard to find a decent job that pays well.

At least, that’s what it’s been like for me.

I also seem to attract the worst kind of men.

Trent wasn’t the first one to abuse me, but I’ve had enough, and I’m swearing off all men from now on.

Why do I end up with men who beat women?

It’s time to make peace with the fact that a healthy romantic relationship isn’t in the cards for me.

It doesn’t look like anything good is in the cards for me.

My mind keeps jumping from one thought to the other, and I’m unable to focus on anything long enough to come up with a plan for what I should do next.

My phone rings, scaring the ever-loving crap out of me. I turn my head, and for a few seconds too long, I stare at my handbag that’s lying beside me on the bed.

I don’t want to talk to Trent. He’s probably calling to tell me to get my butt home.

I consider letting the call go to voicemail before I tentatively dig the device out of my bag.

I suck in a quivering breath while my hands tremble, and I brace to see Trent’s name, but when Rachel’s shows on the screen, I answer as quickly as possible.

“Rach?” My voice is hoarse from all the chaotic emotions warring in my chest.

She sobs, and it takes a moment before she gasps, “Nova.”

Instantly, my own problems vanish, and with urgency and worry lacing my tone, I ask, “What’s wrong?”

“I need you.”

“Are you okay?” I rush to grab my handbag and the luggage I haven’t unpacked yet. “Did something happen to Lainey?”

“No, Lainey’s fine,” she replies, her voice strained.

I suck in a deep breath before I dare to ask, “Easton?”

It would’ve been all over the news if something had happened to him.

“Easton is fine. I’ll tell you once you’re here. I don’t want to talk about it over the phone.”

“I’m on my way.” I take one final glance around the room before hurrying to yank the door open.

“Thank you.”

“Is there anything I can do right now?” I ask, heading to the beaten-up truck I bought four years ago after saving my butt off. It’s so old it’s a miracle it hasn’t given up the ghost yet.

“No. Just hurry.” Rachel sobs. “I’m sorry to ask you on such short notice. I’ll pay for the flight and send you the address.”

“Don’t worry about anything. I’ll drive.” My breaths rush over my lips. “I’ll be there soon.”

“Okay,” she whispers. “Drive safely.”

I stop walking and shut my eyes. “I love you.”

“Love you too, Nova,” she squeezes the words out before she sobs again. “Please hurry.”

“I’m already on my way, Rach,” I tell her as I open the passenger door and haul the luggage onto the seat. Shutting the door, I rush to the driver’s side. “I’m coming.”

“Let me know when you’re close so I can notify security.”

“Okay.”

Rachel ends the call, and I drop the cell phone on my lap. Starting the engine, I glance around the area for other vehicles before I reverse out of the parking bay.

Thank God I paid up front for the motel room, so I don’t have to waste time settling the bill right now.

Worry for Rachel tightens its grip on my heart as I drive away from the motel. She’s been my best friend since our first day of elementary school. Besides my grandfather, whom I hardly get to see because he’s a grumpy recluse who doesn’t care about me at all, Rachel’s the only constant in my life.

Since moving to LA with her older brother, Easton, I’ve only seen her on the few occasions she’s come to visit me in Verona. Apart from seeing Easton on TV or in a movie, I haven’t laid eyes on him since they left.

God, it’s the first time I’m leaving Verona.

The realization suddenly hits, and it makes nerves spin in my stomach as I steer the truck onto the interstate. I glance in the rearview mirror at the only home I’ve ever known. My heart beats faster because I’m not just driving toward Rachel but away from a life that’s never been kind to me.

Reaching for my phone again, I quickly program Rachel’s address into Maps so I can keep an eye on where I need to go.

Looking at the directions, I notice the distance between Wisconsin and California is a twenty-eight-hour drive. That’s not including the time it will take to stop for gas.

My teeth tug at my bottom lip while I quickly do a calculation in my head. I should reach Rachel around lunchtime tomorrow if I don’t sleep and stop as little as possible.

Please, let me get to Beverly Hills in one piece without the truck breaking down.

After sending up the quick prayer, I settle in for the long drive. As I put one mile after another between Verona and me, I remember when I got a call from Rachel similar to the one I received today. I rushed over to the apartment she shared with Easton as if hellhounds were chasing me.

Barreling into Rachel’s bedroom, the words burst from me. “What’s wrong?”

Her face is blotchy with tears, and for a moment, I worry something’s happened to Easton. The last time I saw Rachel in such a state was the night we learned their parents died in a car accident.

Sobs make her body jerk as she cries, “I’m pregnant.”

Shock shuddering through me, I drop down beside her on the foot of the bed. “Oh God.” I wrap my arms tightly around her, and at a total loss for words, I comfort my friend.

After a few minutes, her voice is filled with fear as she admits, “I don’t know what to do.”

“We’ll figure out something.” I pull back a little, and using my thumbs, I wipe the tears from her cheeks. “Have you done more than one test? Are you sure?”

She nods and points at her dressing table. “I peed on three sticks.” Another sob bursts from her, then she whimpers, “They’re all positive.”

My mind races for the right thing to say. Not coming up with anything better, I mutter, “At least graduation is only two months away.”

“Easton is going to kill me,” she groans.

I shake my head. “He won’t.”

I’ve been in love with Easton since I discovered I had hormones, but he’s seven years older than us and hasn’t noticed me. It also doesn’t help that I’m painfully shy.

It’s been a constant battle to bury my feelings for him deep down so Rachel won’t notice.

“He won’t what?” Easton asks, suddenly appearing in the doorway and startling the ever-loving crap out of us.

My eyes widen, and for several seconds, Rachel and I just stare at him.

Every time I see him, it feels like an intense punch to my heart.

The stubborn organ only beats for my best friend’s older brother and refuses to acknowledge any other man.

With his dark-brown hair, stormy-gray eyes, and features that were clearly chiseled by angels who were in one heck of a good mood when they made him, Easton is the epitome of handsome.

His eyes flick between us as he steps into the bedroom and asks, “Why are you crying, Rach?”

She grips my hand as she shakes her head, a pleading expression tightening her features. “You tell him,” she whispers as she partially hides behind me.

Easton’s worried gaze locks with mine, and there’s a fluttering in my stomach while my heart beats faster and faster.

My tongue darts out to wet my lips, and I clear my throat. “Don’t get angry . . .”

He tilts his head, and when his eyebrows draw together in a frown, my insides spin with nerves.

“Rachel is pregnant,” I blurt out the news.

Shock flashes over his way-too-attractive face, and I quickly wrap an arm around Rachel.

His gaze flicks to his sister. “You’re what?”

“I’m sorry,” she sobs. “I don’t know how it happened. We used protection.”

“Who?” Easton growls.

“Who what?”

“Who got you fucking pregnant?” he snaps, anger tightening the lines around his mouth.

Rachel shakes her head and presses her lips together, which has Easton turning his angry gaze to me.

Oh crap.

I quickly shake my head as well. “I don’t know.”

He glares at his sister again. “Tell me, Rachel!”

She looks downright miserable as she admits, “It was a one-night stand at the end of January. He doesn’t go to our school. We hooked up after one of the games.”

I remember the guy. Rachel was so upset when he didn’t call her the week after the basketball game. But that was months ago, and she’s gotten over him since then.

“Christ,” Easton grumbles while pulling his fingers through his hair.

He stares at his sister until she begins to ugly cry, sobs shuddering through her body.

Shaking his head, he lets out a heavy breath before he moves closer to us. He crouches in front of Rachel and places his palm against her cheek.

She throws her arms around his neck and whimpers, “I’m so sorry.”

I scoot to the side, so they’ll have some space, and watch as they hold each other.

“We’ll find a way through this,” Easton says. “I’ll get a better job that pays more.”

Rachel cries harder, and I reach over to pat her back, my heart breaking for my friend.

Not even a month after Rachel learned she was pregnant, they moved to LA, where Easton got a better job while trying to pursue a career in acting.

It’s been ten years since they left Verona.

Besides the four times Rachel and Lainey have come to visit me, we talk regularly on the phone and sometimes have video calls. I never ask about Easton, and Rachel doesn’t tell me anything about him. It’s been an unspoken rule since Easton became a famous actor.

I haven’t talked to Easton in over a decade, and now I’m heading to his house. He was my first and only love, and watching him turn into a devastatingly handsome movie star, my feelings for him have never died. If anything, they’ve intensified.

My mouth grows dry, and goose bumps spread over my body when I realize I’ll be at Easton’s place this time tomorrow.

When my heart starts to pound in my chest, I shake my head and focus on the reason why I’m driving to LA.

You’re going for Rachel.

I wonder what happened. It has to be serious because Rachel wouldn’t ask me to travel so far for no reason.

But crap, what do I do when I see Easton? Do I greet him like he’s nothing more than my best friend’s older brother?

Well, whatever you do, just don’t fangirl and faint.

After I stop for a quick toilet break, I buy a bottle of water and sip on the cool liquid while putting in gas.

The impromptu trip to California is going to take a big bite out of my meager savings.

Crap, I forgot about work.

Letting out a sigh, I lean into the cab and grab my phone.

Opening the Messenger app, I type out a text to Sadie, my boss, so she’ll know I won’t be returning.

I’ve been helping her part-time, but the pet grooming business isn’t doing too great to begin with, so I’m sure she’ll be relieved to be rid of me.

After I press send on the text, I drop the device back on the passenger seat and finish putting in gas. When I make the payment, I do a mental calculation of what should be left in my bank account.

I’ll have to get another job soon. The money in my savings won’t even last another two weeks.

Climbing back into my truck, I start the engine while thinking maybe I can find a good job in LA. That way, I can stay close to Rachel and Lainey.

It would be a dream come true.