Chapter 5
Nova
I pop one of the pink pills out of the packet, and then swallow it before staring at myself in the bathroom mirror.
I wonder if the birth control is working.
Then, I scold myself because of course it is.
It’s not like I’m an alien with strange anatomy.
Instead, I’m a normal woman, with normal anatomy, and modern medicine is a miracle that I should be grateful for.
Yet, I’m feeling a tiny bit disjointed because I’m taking birth control, and yet I’m not having sex.
It’s not that I won’t have sex, or plan on never having sex.
It’s just that I don’t have anyone to have sex with , and as a result, the birth control feels like a tiny bit of overkill.
But who knows? Maybe I’ll meet a man soon.
Most girls lose their innocence by fifteen these days, and maybe tonight is my lucky night.
Then, I snort because who am I kidding? Hunter’s hosting his annual New Year’s Eve bash at the townhouse tonight, and most of the people coming are folks I’ve met before.
There’s Mrs. Liddle down the street, who will be bringing her two black Yorkies dressed in matching tuxes.
There’s also Harvey Dunmiller, the celebrity chef, and his husband, Greg Lipton.
Plus, there’s Hunter’s co-workers from the hospital, and a ton of folks who live on the block.
The West Village is an eclectic place, although over the years, allegedly the neighborhood’s become more wealthy but less interesting due to gentrification.
But that’s by the by. I stare at myself in the mirror and fluff out my blonde locks.
My last interaction with Hunter was so bizarre because he was kind of standoffish and a little bit reserved.
It’s weird because Hunter is an alpha male who’s been practicing medicine for years.
Prescribing birth control is likely his bread and butter, and he’s probably written thousands of prescriptions for women who come to his office.
Even more puzzling, we skipped the exam.
I don’t get it because I thought a physical check-up would be a prerequisite before any kind of medication, but Hunter said I’m young and healthy, and it would be fine.
Is it wrong to say that I was disappointed?
I know it sounds ridiculous, but the office was empty that day.
I was looking forward to being alone with my handsome stepfather, in the confines of a small exam room as he touched me in my most sensitive spaces.
It would be sexy, intimate, and incredibly titillating.
Plus, I wanted Hunter to find out that my hymen is still intact after all these years.
Again, this is so wrong but he’d realize because of the exam, right?
Literally, Hunter would have his fingers inside me, feeling the softness of my shield.
Yet it wasn’t to be. Instead, the alpha male handed me a sampler three-month supply of birth control, and practically ran me out of his office.
He didn’t even stand up to give me a hug good-bye or walk me to the door.
Instead, it was here’s your drugs, sayonara.
Maybe there’s a reason for his behavior , the voice in my head whispers. Maybe he’s attracted to you, Nova, and doesn’t want you to know.
Hmm, I suppose that could be the case because any relationship between us would be illicit. Still, the man of the house is a beast who takes what he wants. What’s holding him back?
His marriage to your mother, of course , the voice in my head scolds. What else would it be? He wants to honor the memory of Betsy, and so should you. You’re behaving scandalously, Nova.
My cheeks flush because I know I am, but the heart wants what it wants, and I want my stepfather to notice me.
I want Hunter to see that I’m a girl on the cusp of womanhood, dying for his touch.
I want him to see how my nipples harden, and how my breasts swell when he’s in my vicinity.
I want him to know that I’d love to have his babies, if he’d just give me the chance.
But that’s the problem right there. Hunter’s an experienced alpha male, and he can sense these things.
He’s probably repulsed by my needy desperation, and trying to give me a wide berth to save us both the embarrassment.
Or even worse, he probably thinks my desperation is funny, and is trying not to crack up when I offer him one of my little come-ons.
Ugh. My cheeks go hot at the very thought.
God, if only the Earth would open up and swallow me whole!
Well, the only thing to do is to move on.
I re-apply some blush, swoosh my blonde locks over one shoulder, and then put a smile on my face.
By now, the party’s already started, and with a march to my step, I make my way down to the living rom.
As I approach, the sound of conversation greets my ears, as well as the clinking of champagne glasses and the tinkle of music.
A particularly boisterous laugh wafts up the stairwell and I stop. Is that...?
Sure enough, when I step into the living room, David Cooper spots me right away.
He doesn’t look bad tonight. His hair is as angrily red as ever, but he has a blue shirt on that shows off his eyes, as well as black pants and black loafers.
A smile lights his face, and he speeds right over to say hello.
“Hey Nova,” he burbles, handing me a red Solo cup filled with a golden liquid. “Thanks for having us.”
I take the cup, peering in at the contents.
“Hey David,” I say with a nice smile. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
He grins, looking a bit like Alfred E. Neuman from Mad Libs .
“Yeah, my folks and I have lived on this block for years,” he said. “I didn’t know this was your party.”
“It’s my stepdad’s party,” I correct, catching sight of Hunter standing in a corner, talking to a very beautiful woman.
She’s clad in a long red column dress, which highlights her slender curves and swooshing ebony hair.
Immediately, jealousy consumes my form and I feel like a squat pork dumpling in my brown cocktail number.
But I have to act normal as that bitch simpers up at Hunter while batting her lashes.
“I only moved in over the summer,” I say in an explanatory tone.
“Before, I was living with my bio dad, but he was transferred to Dubai for work. So we figured out an arrangement where I’d stay here for my senior year.
” Oh my god. My knuckles are going white on the red Solo cup and I swear, I’m going to crush this plastic thing if that Snow White bitch steps a millimeter closer to my stepfather.
Unfortunately, it happens. She pretends to almost spill something, leaning towards Hunter, and of course, he catches her by the waist. But not before she presses those huge tits against his chest, her red lips parted in shock as she stares up at him.
This is total bullshit! What the hell! Does he not get that she’s a total tramp throwing herself at him like some cheap piece of trash? Oh my god, I wish I could storm over there and slap her face.
But of course, I can’t. So I merely grit my teeth and then smile at David again.
“Hey, let me show you my room!” I chirp in a bright voice, eager to get away from this party as soon as humanly possible. “It’s a really nice townhouse, and Hunter set me up with a suite on the second floor. Come on!”
Then, without waiting to see if David’s following, I scamper up the stairs as fast as I can. I have to get away from the ludicrous woman in the red dress as she throws herself at my stepdad ... because I’ll wring her neck if I see them kiss when the clock hits twelve.