Chapter Three
Nova
Sometimes things are better left a mystery.
Seeking details out wipes away the fog of fantasies. If you pull back a curtain on something you might be enchanted by, it might ruin it for you. I tend to air on the side of caution in this way. Yet, sometimes, as all of us do, I fall victim to my own curiosity, so I yank that curtain open.
After another Thanksgiving spent watching old Doris Day movies over a meal of pizza, I am still questioning myself. Why was I foolish enough to ask about the handsome man with the two adorable kids from the other night? Why did it excite me to find out he is a local guy who owns the auto garage in town?
“Because you have nothing else good going on,” I hiss at myself.
Dusting rows of hanging planters as I wander the aisles of my little shop, I blow my wispy bangs out of my eyes. I should not have asked the other shop owners if they recognized him. It made it too obvious he had made some sort of impression.
It was more than a passing impression if I am being honest. I have thought of him a hundred times since that night. Wondered where he might be. How had I never seen him before? Was the tree lighting as beautiful that night he took those little angels as it was the last time I saw it?
My heart seizes in my chest as I think about that. It’s been so long. I figured it would get easier the longer I avoided the holidays. I would get over the loss of them. Maybe I could even forget they had ever existed.
“Morning, Nova,” Hudson’s voice startles me from my thoughts.
Turning, I see him wandering in from the snow, kicking snow off his boots. Pulling his scarf off, he holds up a large container. His mother’s Thanksgiving that she knew I would not come to, despite their offer each year. I smile at him despite myself, taking the plate with greedy hands.
“Thank you. Take your mother two of your favorite bouquets tonight, Hudson. To thank her. Heck, take one for that new girl I heard you took to thanksgiving,” I tease him with a wink as I step behind the counter.
Hudson flushes, his head ducking. “Yeah, I took Jen. I uh…not sure mom liked her, to be honest. Wouldn’t let her help with anything.”
My eyes fly up to the young man in surprise. His mother, Tatum, is a sweet soul but also not someone who tolerates nonsense. I chuckle a little as I take a bite of her from scratch cranberry sauce. That poor girlfriend of Hudson’s. From what I can tell, this is the first girl he’s dated long enough to take home. I figured they might stay together even when he goes to school after next summer. I might have figured that wrong.
“Give your mother a break,” I suggest as I go to my creation corner, grabbing some fresh material that arrived earlier. I will spend the first part of my day creating bouquets that I hope my customers love. “We women can be a little protective of our spaces. It might have been nothing more than that.”
“Yeah, I hope so. How was your holiday?” he wonders with a crooked smile because he knows damn well it was empty and uneventful.
“Same as last year. Will be the same as next year too. I do appreciate your mother feeding me well, as well as the open invite. I just.... can’t.”
Wrapping his apron around himself, he pauses. Long enough that I lift my head from my work to glance over at him. I am stunned to find him watching me with sadness in his eyes. I do not want anyone’s pity, but it is hard to ignore it when they pin you down with it.
“Orion deserves happiness. You do too, Nova. He would never deny it for yourself so why would you deny it for him and Oaklin?”
Leaving me alone to ponder that gem, he opens the store as I sit lost in thought. Because he is not wrong. My brother does deserve happiness. It was all I ever wanted for him, more so after we lost our parents. After losing so much we began celebrating whenever we could. His being with Oaklin, my very best friend who knew about our loss, should have been celebrated.
It was out of a mixture of jealousy and indignation. Why had they not come to me? Why keep such a huge secret from me? Would they not want to celebrate with me? It hurt to find out the way I had, to be awash with the feelings of betrayal, of being left out of something so important to them.
Was I such a humbug they rather lie than risk me ruining it?
“Morning honey,” a low rumble startles me. “I had to come back to thank you. My sister loved that bouquet so much, she bragged to anyone who would listen. I do believe we scored you some new customers.”
Dropping the flowers in my hand, I steady my breathing. Peter Pan . I turn to confirm it is the handsome man from the other night. Yes. Somehow, he is even more handsome in the bright sunshine of the morning. I flush as his eyes rake over me slowly, as if he can see things no one else can.
“H-hello. That is...that is very sweet. I am glad she loved it.”
“It is sitting on her mantle as we speak. Little jerk pushed a hideous family heirloom I made with the kids out of the way to display it. Can I be honest with you, honey?”
“Nova. I am... please, call me Nova,” I suggest as I press a hand over my thundering heart.
His big body moves so he has me cornered behind the counter. He is so close I can see specks of gray in his blue eyes. I can smell his woodsy, earthy cologne. It smells divine and reminds me of picking flowers in the mountain meadows. I blink up at him as he smiles crookedly, his gaze intense.
“Nova. Call me anything you want, honey. Most folks call me Niko.”
“Niko. What were you being dishonest about?”
That smile deepens, his light eyes burning brighter as he leans even closer, as if he has a secret to share. “Well, I do thank you but...I just wanted to see you again. Would you go to lunch with me, honey?”
There it is again. That weird, frantic fluttering in my abdomen. I press a hand there, as if I can control it. It has nothing to do with my vanilla chai tea this morning or the heavy scent of eucalyptus in the air. No, this is all about the smiling, sweet, good-taste guy who just asked me out.
Wait...did he just ask me out?
“Did you just...I mean was that you.... were you...” I sputter
“Yes, I am asking you out. Come have lunch with me. Dinner if you would rather. Both if you want. I just...I want to see you again, Nova.”
“Why?” I wonder with a tilt of my head as my brows furrow.
His grin fades but not the intensity in his eyes. “Because I have not been able to think of anything else since I first saw you, Nova.”
Flustered, I turn from him, hiding my face. It feels hot, tears even sting my eyes as I blink fast. Why would that make me upset? I haven’t been able to think of anything else either. Taking a trembling breath, I shake my head.
“I don’t.... I am not sure that is a good idea.”
“Well, I think it is the best idea I have had in ages. Come have lunch. My sister works at the diner, I bet I can score a free milkshake for you.”
Unable to resist his cute charm, I laugh. “One just for me? Or would we have to share it with two straws?”
This is a bad joke that works better than I intended. His eyes flare hot as he leans closer, invading my space with his big body. “I would rather share. Yes, to lunch then? Maybe to dinner later?”
Again, I laugh, shaking my head. “I never said yes to either. Who said I would want to share?” I play along, loving this back and forth.
“Oh, I do not share well, honey,” he mutters, licking his lips as his eyes eat me up. “I would share with you. Anything of mine is yours.”
“Does that count your two lost boys?” I tease, laughing as he chuckles, nodding his head.
“Absolutely. We do need a Wendy, after all,” he teases with a wink. “Consider our little band of misfits incomplete.”
Standing there with this charming man, I sense the air shifting. It thickens. Grows hot. His eyes flame even brighter as he reaches out, brushing his fingertips over my cheeks und the guise of brushing a loose curl out of my eye. His touch lingers, fingertips tracing my brow, down my nose, to the cupid’s bow above my lip. My lip quivers as his thumb comes up, brushing it, pulling a little sigh from me.
“Lost boys would stay lost without their Wendy, this is true.”
“It is. Come on, honey. How can you say no to a lost boy?”
Laughing, I shake my head. “I guess I can’t say no. Can you give me a few hours to create? We just opened; I had some ideas to work out.”
“Take all the time you need. I will be back for you in a few hours.”
Something warm begins to burn inside me as I nod. Yes, I want to see him again. He smiles at me, giving my bottom lip a little rub, before he turns and leaves. Hesitating at the door, he glances back at me and his whole face lights up, making my heart pitter-pat in my chest.
“Holy shit,” Hudson’s voice booms from behind me, startling me. I turn to frown at him, flushing as his gaze bounces between me and the door. “You just got asked out on a date! Holy shit,” he repeats before he grins big.
“Shut up. Go do something with flowers, Hudson,” I retort.
Chuckling, he does as he is told, loading up several deliveries. I spend most of the morning putting together huge, wintery displays of flowers. I am in fine form as I weave babies breathe with roses and twine eucalyptus’ perfumed vines within. I create half a dozen bouquets before the bell on the front door tings just after noon.
Before I even turn from my work, I know it is him. I have no idea how , but I sense it. Heat singes my skin, my hands shake around the vase I am finishing, so I gingerly set it down. Taking a calming breath, I turn slowly, unable to stop the smile that overtakes my face.
“Here I am, as promised,” he greets with a huge grin on his handsome face. I notice for the first time he has a dimple. I find myself wanting to press my lips to it. Who am I lately? Setting my tools aside, I dust my hands off as I untie my apron.
“Here you are,” I parrot his words, smiling. “I wondered if I might escape lunch with Peter Pan, but I see that was wishful thinking.”
“Oh, Wendy, you wound me,” he shoots back, placing a hand over his heart. “Wishful thinking? We’re making very different wishes then.”
Something about his words, not the words but his tone, and the way his eyes darken, makes my flush spread down to my toes. What does he mean by that? Does he mean he has been making wishes about me?
Would I want this handsome Peter Pan to make a wish on me?
Rounding the edge of the counter, I shake my head. “I am teasing. I have not had a lunch date in…ever, I think.”
“Good, a low bar has been set. I will fly right over that bar, honey. I am taking you to my very favorite place,” he tells me as he waits, holding his hand out for me.
Blinking at him for a moment, I hesitate. I know very little about dating or romance. Lunch dates count as dating, don’t they? Well, assuming they do, I have no idea what the rules might be. It’s one thing Orion always teased me about. I followed the rules, so he got away with breaking a few extra.
“The diner downtown is your very favorite place? They have a good patty melt but I wouldn’t call it my favorite place for lunch,” I taunt.
Beside me, he laughs, taking my hand in his warm one, wrapping big, rough fingers around mine. We exchange a look. It is impossible to deny the current that vibrates between us. This is new. Have I ever felt anything so intense from just a simple touch?
“No, we will go there another time. I am taking you somewhere else.”
Following him to the door, I hesitate as I glance back. I have never closed the shop for lunch. I just hide behind the counter to stuff quick bites in my mouth. Hudson appears behind the counter, even waving a hand at me as he shoots me a look that says “go on, I got you” that sets me at ease.
“Another time? That is a tad presumptuous, don’t you think?”
“Not at all. I will charm you enough during lunch, you will want dinners next. Maybe even brunch on Sundays. Do you do brunch, honey?”
Until he asked, I never thought about it but now…yes, yes, I do think I do brunch .