Chapter 4 Nova #2
Easton might be famous, but to me, he should be nothing more than Rachel’s older brother.
I’m not going to fangirl over him. That would make things weird as hell.
You’re going to treat him the same as any other person. You’ve managed to hide your feelings for him before, and you’ll do it again.
I hear footsteps again, and my gaze darts to the stairs. Staying silent, I watch as Easton comes down to the first floor, then he lifts his head, and his eyes lock on me.
He stops dead in his tracks, and there’s an intense punch to my gut as he stares at me.
I gasp from the overwhelming sensation in my chest.
Holy shit, he looks good.
Say hi.
Crap.
At least smile!
My lips tremble as I force what I hope looks like a smile to my face.
Easton recovers from the shock of seeing me, and the corner of his mouth lifts. It makes him look devastatingly attractive, which in turn amps up the nerves spinning in my stomach.
“Hey, Nova,” he says, his tone not as harsh as when he spoke to Sylvia.
When he takes the last few stairs and walks toward me, I somehow manage to get up from the stool while practically squeaking, “Hi.”
My legs feel numb as I move around the island, unsure of what I should do. At least my voice sounds semi-normal as I say, “It’s been so long. How are you?”
“It has,” he agrees as he stops a few steps from me, his eyes drifting over my face and body. “I’m good. How are you?”
With a thundering heart and sweaty palms, I feel very awkward as I stand in front of Easton, the star of every fantasy I’ve ever had.
“I’m okay.” Fidgeting, I clear my throat. “Thanks for letting me visit.” Unable to stop myself, my gaze drifts over him. “You look good.”
Jesus. The man knows he looks good. You couldn’t think of something else to say?
“You look good too,” he replies, his eyes glued to my face with an intense stare that makes me wish I took time to put on some makeup.
The corner of his mouth lifts again. “Wow, you’re all grown up.
” He lets out an incredulous-sounding chuckle.
“For some reason, I kept picturing the teenage version of you whenever Rachel mentioned your name.”
I smile awkwardly before glancing around the kitchen because it’s too unnerving to keep eye contact with him.
“Ah . . . was the flight okay?” I think to ask.
“Can I make you some coffee?” Spinning around, I hurry away from him, and not waiting for his reply, I prepare a cup of coffee while rambling, “Rachel and Lainey are still asleep. It’s pretty early, and I don’t know what time they usually get up on a Saturday. ”
For the love of all that’s holy, please calm down!
“Lainey won’t wake up until ten,” he murmurs. “Rachel should be up soon, though.”
“Okay.” I take hold of the mug, and turning around, I see Easton has moved closer.
He’s leaning back against the island with his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes locked on me.
The muscles in his biceps strain against the short sleeves of his T-shirt, and even though I’ve sworn off all men, I can’t help but admire how amazing he looks.
When I hand him the coffee, I clear my throat before saying, “I added two sugars. I don’t know if you take it differently now.”
“Still two sugars. Thanks,” he replies before taking a sip. “Is it your truck parked out front?”
I nod, feeling super self-conscious and completely inadequate.
I might be imagining things, but I can swear there’s a flash of concern on his face as he asks, “Was the drive from Verona okay?”
“Yeah,” I reply. “It wasn’t too bad.”
Easton glances toward the stairs before looking at me again. “Do you know what the problem is?”
I nod while my teeth tug at my bottom lip.
“And?” He gives me a questioning look.
“It’s not my place to say.” My voice is hoarse, so I clear my throat again before I add, “It will be better if Rachel tells you.”
His eyes sharpen on me, making me feel even more nervous while familiar apprehensiveness tightens my stomach.
“Is it serious?” he asks.
I nod and lower my gaze to my scuffed shoes while my heart clenches in my chest.
We hear a door open upstairs, and the sound has Easton saying, “Sounds like Rachel is up.”
God. The news is going to devastate Easton and Lainey.
When Rachel comes down the stairs, Easton stares at her. “Hey, Rach.”
“Hey,” she whispers, her face unnaturally pale.
As I watch Easton move closer to her, it feels as if my heart is shattering to smithereens all over again. I know it’s going to kill him to hear Rachel is dying.
Dying.
I lift my palm to my neck, my throat straining as tears burn my eyes.
He presses a quick kiss to her temple, then asks, “What’s the problem?”
Suddenly, she bursts out in tears and slams into Easton’s chest while sobs shudder through her body.
Oh, God.
My hand moves up to cover my mouth, sadness ripping through me like a destructive storm. Unable to stop my tears, they begin to roll down my cheeks, and I quickly wipe them away.
“Christ, are you pregnant again?” he asks as he pulls back from his sister so he can look at her face.
When she doesn’t answer fast enough, his eyes flick to me, and I shake my head while sucking in a shuddering breath.
Noticing I’m crying, Easton’s features grow tenser with worry, and his eyes snap back to Rachel. “What the fuck happened?”
Rachel gasps through her sobs, then she reaches for my arm and yanks me to her side while whimpering, “You tell him.”
Crap.
I glance between them, my tongue darting out to wet my lips. “I think it would be better if he heard it from you.” Hoping to give her strength, I rub my hand over her lower back. “I’m here, Rach. You can do it.”
“Fuck, will someone just tell me what’s going on?” Easton growls as he begins to lose his temper, making fear grip my insides.
Rachel shakes her head but manages to squeeze the words out with a strained voice, “I have cancer.”
A frown forms on Easton’s forehead as he stares at his sister, and a long, tense moment passes before he asks, “Did you see a doctor?”
She nods. “I also got a second opinion. I didn’t want to tell you until I knew for sure.”
Easton seems weirdly calm as he asks, “What did the doctors say?”
Rachel looks up at him, her face torn with fear. “It’s glioblastoma. There’s nothing they can do. They’ve given me meds to help with the headaches.”
As the blow hits Easton, he takes a step backward, and shock ripples over his features. This time, his voice is filled with alarm as he snaps, “What do you mean there’s nothing they can do?”
Her face crumbles as she replies, “I have a few weeks at most. It’s too far along to treat, and it’s growing at a rapid pace.”
“Weeks,” he whispers, intense devastation carving hard lines on his forehead and around his mouth.
A few seconds pass before he shakes his head in disbelief. “But you look healthy.” Shaking his head again, he takes another step backward. “When I left two months ago, you were fine.”
“Remember the headaches? They started getting really bad after you left, and I thought it was something stupid like a hormone imbalance. The doctor says the symptoms can get worse at any time.”
Once again, my heart cracks right down the middle as I watch the shock hit Easton. I try to smother a soft sob as tears continue to roll over my cheeks.
Jesus, this is too much for any of us to handle.
Easton turns around and walks a few steps away from us while lifting a hand and gripping the back of his neck.
God. I wish I could take the heartache from him.
Silence falls heavy in the air until Rachel lets out a sob. Her voice is hoarse as she whimpers, “Easton?”
He sucks in a harsh breath before spinning around and stalking back to her.
Lifting his hands, he frames her face and says, “We’ll get a third and fourth opinion.
There has to be some kind of treatment that can help.
I’ll find the best fucking doctor in the world.
” He pulls her into a tight hug against his chest and presses a kiss to the top of her head. “I’ll find someone.”
Maybe there’s something Easton can do? He’s rich, and he must have connections.
Hope trickles into my heart, and in desperate need of doing something besides just standing around, I walk to the cupboard and take out three mugs so I can make fresh coffee for everyone.
Lord knows I need more caffeine right now.
Rachel cries in Easton’s arms while I prepare the beverages, and only when I set the three mugs down on the island do they let go of each other.
I quickly take the two cold coffees to the sink and pour the liquid out before rinsing the cups.
I join Rachel and Easton at the island, and as we all sip on the coffee, a crushing silence hangs around us.
My gaze darts over Easton’s face, his features tense with worry and sorrow. The urge to hug him almost overwhelms me, but instead, I place my hand on Rachel’s shoulder.
She wipes a stray tear from her cheek as she says, “I don’t know how to tell Lainey.”
Easton shakes his head, and his eyes settle on his sister. “Hold off on telling her until after you’ve seen the other doctors. I want to be certain before we break the news to her.”
Letting out a heavy sigh, Rachel nods, then she glances between Easton and me. “Nova said she’ll stay as long as we need her.”
His attention turns to me. “Will you be okay staying indefinitely? What about your job and life back in Verona?”
I shake my head. “Nothing is more important than Rachel.” I clear my throat and add, “And you and Lainey. I’ll stay as long as I’m needed.”
He stares at me for a moment, his gray irises darker than usual from the horrible shock he’s been dealt. “Thanks, Nova.”
I nod before taking another sip of my coffee. “If either of you need anything, just let me know.”
They both give me weak smiles.
My teeth tug at my bottom lip. “I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes, so if I get in the way, just tell me.”
Rachel reaches for me and gives my forearm a light squeeze. “You can never get in the way. You’re family.”
Family.
Her words act as a soothing balm to my broken heart. Even though we may have to face the impossible, I’m still thankful to be here with them.