Till Death Do Us Part: A Paranormal Why Choose Romance (Vows Duet Book 1)

Chapter 41

Present Day

Something is up with Nova.

Since yesterday, when Rhea had gotten Nova to stay home with her, she’s been quiet. Nova is already a pretty quiet person, but this is a whole new level. Like she is lost in her own thoughts and not really a part of the world around her.

Even my attempts to be playful with her last night had resulted in nothing but a tired smile.

I bet it has something to do with fuckstick—Rohan.

I saw their little make-out session. We all did. Theodore had gathered us up as soon as he left Nova and Rohan alone, so we could eavesdrop on their conversation. And Jesus, was it a heavy ass conversation. But that kissing? It was something else. I think each of us realized in that moment that whatever Rohan’s role was here, he held a slightly larger piece of the pie.

And yet, I feel no jealousy over that.

I lean against the house, waiting out front for Nova to return from school. This is her late day, which means she won’t get home until the sun is setting. Jimmy paces the front yard, his expression frustrated.

“Dude. Chill,” I call. “You look like a pissed off bull stomping back and forth.”

“I’m not pissed off!” he snaps back.

I give him a look, and he lets out an exasperated sigh, rolling his eyes. He goes right back to pacing, shooting me a dirty look every so often.

The sun starts to set and my worry kicks in. She should be home by now.

My mind wanders as we wait, going to that place it often does when I want to kick myself for not being alive for Nova.

It has been a whirlwind month, from that first training session with Rhea to being here with her in my bed. I press my lips to her bare shoulder and she cracks an eye to peer at me.

“What?” she demands, narrowing her eyes.

I laugh. “Jesus, woman. Can I not kiss you?”

She gives me a shrug. “I don’t really like stuff like that.”

“Kisses?” I lift a brow. “What chick doesn’t like kisses?”

“This one,” she snaps.

I watch her as she flops onto her other side, facing away from me. “What’s wrong, babe?”

“I’m tired,” she answers, still being short.

I lift her thick mane of dark brown hair, pulling it over her shoulder so it’s not in her face. I take a deep breath, tracing my fingers along her spine. Goosebumps rise in the path. “Rhea, I—I am falling for you.”

She doesn’t move. “No, you’re not.”

I bury my face in her hair, breathing deep and smelling coconut. “I am.” When she doesn’t respond, I nudge her with my head. “I wrote a song about you. It’s called Fool’s Gold. It’s about everything being fake but the one you’re meant to be with.”

It takes a moment, but then Rhea turns, facing me. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen her hesitant. “You’re serious?”

“Deadly.”

“People always leave though,” she murmurs, her eyes glazing a bit. “They don’t want to stay.”

I give her a puzzled look, but shake it away. “I want to stay.”

Her eyes bore into mine, unblinking. “I don’t know what to say,” she whispers.

I gather her into my arms. “You don’t have to say anything, babe. I just wanted you to know.”

I lasted a whole month after that conversation. Rhea had flown off the handle when I’d had a late show, accusing me of cheating on her. I’d been in her room, sitting on the bed as I tried to talk her down, to convince her I’d really just had a late show. She had ripped open that closet door and the sight of the hearts in her closet had frozen me in place until she came at with the hammer.

I’d fought back, but she’d had the advantage in my surprise. The first time the claw sank into my head, I screamed. She had quickly ripped it free and bashed it into my skull again.

Now you won’t leave me.

That is what she’d said over and over again, as she turned my brain to mush.

“Is Rhea gone?”

I blink, so busy watching down the street for Nova’s bobbing ponytail as she walks that I didn’t notice the car pull to a stop in front of the house. I release a pent up breath, relieved as I spy her leaning forward in the passenger seat of Tilly’s car.

“She’s gone,” Jimmy confirms, giving her an eager smile.

Tilly’s eyes scan the yard, then she nods at whatever Nova says to her, pulling down the street. She parks halfway down, and the two girls walk back.

Their chatter quiets as they step into the yard. Nova eyes me, the look in her eyes soft and warm. She locks eyes with Jimmy as well and, even though there’s tension there, she gives him the same look.

As soon as we’re all inside, I grab Nova’s hand, mostly so Tilly will be able to hear me. “What are you ladies doing?” I ask, my tone teasing. “Are you breaking the rules?”

Tilly snorts. “Rules are meant to be broken.”

“I’m not sure I like her influence on you,” Theodore pipes up.

“Oh, shut it, grandpa.”

Tilly cackles. “Grandpa must be the silver fox.”

I give her a look. “Don’t give him a bigger ego.”

He sweeps over, leaning down to press a kiss to Nova’s cheek. “Hi, baby girl,” he murmurs, keeping a hand on her shoulder. “How was your day?”

“Long,” Nova answers, stroking at his cheek and beard. “I’m glad I’m home.”

“You guys are so sappy,” Tilly says, collapsing on to the sofa. Theodore gives Nova another kiss on the cheek and then steps away. “And, if you must know, I told Nova I’d come over tonight so she can try to send the rest of the scary spookies to the other side.”

“Tonight?” I ask, my brows drawing together. “Andy didn’t say anything.”

“No, Andy didn’t,” Andy agrees, appearing in the opening to the room.

“I decided to,” Nova cuts in. “I decided to help them cross over tonight. Jeremiah and…and Rohan.” Tilly stiffens and glares at her, making Nova sigh. “I hadn’t told her about Rohan until earlier today, and she’s mad at me,” she explains.

“You mean the dick who won’t see what is right in front of his face?” she mutters under her breath, affronted for our girl.

I almost laugh. Rohan isn’t going anywhere. Anyone who watched the two of them would know that.

Andy studies Nova. “Are you sure?”

She nods. “It feels right.”

Pausing for a moment, Andy nods, then disappears.

Nova moves to the couch, sitting next to Tilly, and her eyes find Jimmy’s. She waves him over. As he moves, I study her face, noting the dark circles under her eyes.

She holds out her hand as he draws near and he takes it, sitting next to her. Tilly smirks at whatever she sees on Jimmy’s face, then puts her head back on the couch, closing her eyes.

“I went to see your friend,” Nova says, sighing. “The one whose name I asked for, that…stole your girlfriend. That’s why I was late tonight.”

Jimmy looks about two seconds from jumping up and running away. “And?” he asks tersely.

“And your friend is a dick,” Tilly supplies, eyes still closed as she rests. “He immediately tried to hit on your girlfriend. The current one.”

Nova throws a look her way, jabbing her in the ribs with an elbow. “And,” she says, her tone sassy, “I told him you had forgiven him for what happened between him and your ex-girlfriend. He didn’t really seem to believe me.” She shrugs. “He seemed pretty skeptical.”

“And then he hit on her,” Tilly adds.

Rolling her eyes, Nova groans. “Yes, and then he hit on me. To which I told him I was taken.”

“That’s never bothered him before,” Jimmy mutters.

“So you did it,” I pipe up. “You did the thing Jimmy said to try. You’re not glowing, dude. You’re good.”

“I’m good,” he repeats, then grins. “I’m good!”

A smile breaks on Nova’s face and a laugh escapes. “You’re good.”

He doesn’t give her the chance to deny him, leaning down to kiss her. Nova chuckles through the kiss, but returns it, their lips touching tentatively.

“Are you sucking face?” Tilly groans, swiping a hand down her face. Her head pops up off the couch. “Because I didn’t sign up for watching a gang bang.”

The color Nova turns is beyond red as she pulls away from Jimmy. “You’re awful,” she hisses.

Tilly grins. “You know you want to laugh.”

Her lips twitch, but Andy appears before she can retort, bringing Jeremiah along with him. The guy is the quietest of us. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever heard him talk at all. He shifts on his feet uncomfortably, looking anywhere but at any of us.

“Hi Jeremiah,” Nova greets gently. He merely nods in response, shoving hands in the pockets of his make believe jeans. “How can I help you?”

“Jeremiah and I have talked it over,” Andy says. “We think we know what needs to be done, but it’s not as simple as the others.”

Nova doesn’t blink. “What is it?”

“Can’t hear,” Tilly reminds the room, causing Nova to immediately stick out a hand.

Andy takes it. “We think Jeremiah needs you to report his father for abuse.”

I’ve never seen a person turn the shade of white that Nova turns. “What?” she gasps.

“Jeremiah has a much younger brother, and he’s concerned that his father is beating him.” Andy glances at the man in question. “He had reported the abuse before, but everyone covered for the dad and it was closed for lack of evidence.”

Nova trembles. “So I need to report the possible physical abuse.”

“All I care about it protecting my kid brother,” Jeremiah says, his voice so deep I feel the rumble of it in my bones.

“I can do that,” she says, but her voice is faint.

Tilly studies Nova’s pale face. “Does it matter who calls?” she asks. “I can do it if Nova and Jeremiah are touching so he can feed me information as I talk to them.”

“I don’t think it would matter who does it, as long as it gets done,” Theodore says. A glance at him tells me he’s concerned about our girl, too.

That is exactly what they do. Tilly whips out her cellphone, calling the Arizona Child Abuse Hotline on speaker, while Jeremiah holds Nova’s hand, feeding her the answers to their questions—quietly, so he isn’t heard by the person on the other end.

As soon as Tilly ends the call, Jeremiah starts to glow. Nova looks relieved as she beams at him, sending him off with one final hand shake. He disappears.

Nova’s body sags. “Now Rohan?” she asks.

“I’m here.”

She jerks, her head snapping in the direction of Rohan as her eyes go wide.

“Whoa, what is it?” Tilly whispers.

Andy, still holding Nova’s hand, glances at her. “It’s Rohan,” he answers, sounding melancholy.

Nova stands, dropping Andy’s hand. We all watch her cross the room to where he’s waiting and practically vibrating, her movements like she’s in a trance. When she reaches him, she holds up a hand, her palm facing him. Rohan steadily lifts his own hand, pressing his palm against hers.

“Oh, shit,” Tilly whispers. “It really is him.”

“What do you need to cross over?” Nova asks him, her voice bland, devoid of emotion.

While she remains stoic, Rohan begins to twitch like a tweaker. “I—I need—”

He cuts himself off, squeezing his eyes shut tight. Nova waits, staring at him blankly.

“I need to,” he tries again, but as soon as he opens his eyes, he freezes, locked in her gaze.

“Come on, you dumb motherfucker,” Tilly mutters, too quiet for anyone but me to hear, her posture rigid as she watches the two of them.

I see it the moment he realizes the inevitable. He’s not getting out of this. No amount of tasks he could give Nova are going to send him into the afterlife. I grin as his long fingers wrap around hers, making her eyes widen slightly, a flicker of hope dancing in them.

“Fuck,” he breathes, using his grip on her hand to yank her closer so he can wrap his other hand around her waist. “It’s you. I need you, Nova. I’ve always needed you.”

Tilly whoops. “Fuck yes!”

And damn it if I don’t want to join her, if for no other reason but because Nova’s entire being radiates with relief and joy.