Chapter 23 Nova
Nova
Since the kiss and therapy sessions, things have felt awkward.
I honestly don’t know what to do to make things better between Easton and me, so I focus all my attention on the household and Lainey.
Exhausted because I had a nightmare last night and struggled to fall back to sleep afterward, I head down the stairs.
Easton comes into the living room from the opposite direction, looking all hot and sweaty. The T-shirt he’s wearing sticks to his muscled chest from the workout he must’ve just done in the gym.
Don’t drool.
Noticing my handbag, he asks, “Going somewhere?”
“The flowers in the foyer are wilting, so I’m going out to get fresh ones.” I glance at Lainey, where she’s sitting on the couch, playing a game on her phone. “Lainey, do you want to come with or stay at home?”
“I’ll come with,” she answers.
Easton pulls his cell phone out of his pocket and types something on it, then says, “Izak will be ready in ten minutes.”
“Oh.” I hold up my truck’s key. “I was thinking about taking my truck. That’s if it will even start. I might have to get a new battery.”
He shakes his head and comes to take the key from me.
“There’s no way I’m letting you drive around in that unreliable thing.
You need to sell it.” When my lips part, he gives me a serious look.
“You’re Lainey’s godmother, Nova. How do you think it will look if you’re seen driving her around in a beaten-up truck? ”
“I wasn’t going to argue,” I mumble. “I’ll sell it this week.”
“Oh.” He visibly relaxes. “Good. Let me know if you need help.”
I just nod before walking away from him. “Come, Lainey.”
“See you later, Uncle Easton.” She falls in beside me, then asks, “Can we stop at The Sweet Spot for milkshakes?”
“Bring me a strawberry one,” Easton calls after us.
“Okay,” Lainey replies.
When I see Izak already waiting out front, I give him a polite smile. “Hi. Thank you for driving us around today.”
Returning the smile, he nods. “We’re just waiting for Tyler, then we can leave.”
I forgot we have to take a guard with us. No one will recognize me, but Lainey draws attention wherever she goes.
Rather safe than sorry.
We climb into the back of the SUV, and while we wait, I check my wallet to make sure I have the credit card Easton gave me.
It’s the first time I’m going to use it, and the thought makes me feel nervous.
You’re getting things for the house.
Tyler joins us, and as he climbs into the front passenger seat, I say, “Hi, Tyler.”
“Afternoon,” he greets us.
Izak slides behind the steering wheel, and starting the engine, he asks, “Where to?”
“The flower shop we always go to just off Sunset Boulevard,” Lainey answers.
“I’d also like to stop at a Walmart to get some groceries,” I add.
“We can go to Ralphs. It’s closer.” Lainey grins at me. “And then The Sweet Spot for milkshakes.”
During the drive, I look at my goddaughter and ask, “Is there anything you’d like to do for your last two days before you go back to school?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know.” She thinks for a moment. “Porsha and I can go to the spa for manis and pedis.” Lainey’s gaze drops to my hands, then she adds, “Maybe you should come with.”
I chuckle. “Is that your way of telling me my hands look bad?”
“No. But your nails would look pretty with some nail polish on.”
I glance down at my short nails and scrunch my nose. “Okay. Give me the name of the spa, and I’ll make an appointment for us.” My gaze returns to Lainey. “Do you think I should invite Porsha’s mom?”
She nods. “You could get to know her better.”
“I’ll put in more effort with Charlotte for you.”
Izak parks the SUV on the side of the road, and we wait for Tyler to open the back door before we climb out.
I walk with Lainey into a cute little flower shop and glance at all the pretty arrangements.
“Hi, Lainey,” an elderly woman says as she comes out from behind the counter. “I haven’t seen you in a while.” Her eyes flick to me, then she asks, “Where’s your mom?”
Shit.
My heart squeezes painfully in my chest, and I instantly worry about Lainey.
I quickly place my hand on her shoulder and tug her against my side before I say, “I’m Nova, Lainey’s godmother.” I hold out my hand to the woman, and after we shake, I explain, “We lost Rachel recently.”
“Oh no!” A shocked expression ripples over her face. “I’m so sorry to hear that. She was such a lovely person.”
Lainey turns her body into mine and wraps her arm around my lower back.
“We’re just here for some fresh flowers,” I mention so we can get out of here.
“My name is Esther.” She gives us a compassionate smile, then gets to work. “I just got the most beautiful pastel-colored roses and peonies in.” She points at a bunch of buckets containing the flowers.
“They are lovely.” I nod.
“Good. The usual amount?” Esther asks as she takes one bunch after the other from the buckets.
“Ah . . . please. That would be great.”
While she’s busy, I brush my hand over Lainey’s braid and whisper, “You okay?”
Her eyes are brimming with tears as she asks, “Can I wait in the car?”
“Sure.” I glance at Tyler, who immediately steps closer when Lainey walks in his direction.
As soon as she gets into the back seat, Esther says, “Such a sad thing. What happened?”
God.
My voice is hoarse with sorrow when I murmur, “She had cancer.”
Esther wraps newspaper around the stems. “You had to have known her well to be Lainey’s godmother.”
“Rachel was my best friend,” I reply.
She shakes her head. “So young.”
I know.
I let out a breath of relief when she’s finally done, and I get to pay. I quickly swipe the credit card before loading all the flowers into my arms. “Thank you!” Rushing out of the store, I head to the trunk that Izak already has open and carefully place the flowers in it.
When I climb into the back seat, I reach for Lainey and pull her into a sideways hug. “I’m so sorry, my sweet girl.”
She brings her knees up and curls against me, crying her heart out. My own tears trickle over my cheeks as I try to comfort Lainey as best I can.
“I’m here,” I murmur, rubbing my hand up and down her back. “I’ve got you.”
Izak steers the car away from the curb and asks, “Should we go home?”
Lainey pulls away and wipes the tears from her face. “No. Go to Ralphs.”
“You sure?” I ask as I pat my cheeks dry.
She nods and lets out a quivering breath. “Yeah, I’m okay.”
I suck in a calming breath and press a kiss to the side of her head. I hope nobody else brings up Rachel while we’re out.
When we get to the store, Tyler sticks close behind us as we grab a cart.
“Is there anything you want?” I ask Lainey.
“We’re out of juice boxes and string cheese.”
I’ve noticed she likes snacking on them. “We’ll get some.”
I glance at the shelves as we head down the first aisle. There are all kinds of magazines, and Lainey grabs one for teens.
When she places it in the cart, a magazine catches my eye. I stop dead in my tracks, and it takes a moment to realize I’m staring at a photo of me and Easton splashed all over the cover. It’s from when he had his hands on my hips after I accidentally bumped into him at the bake sale.
The headline has the blood draining from my face.
Gold digger preys on Easton Rowe in his darkest time.
Does the A-list star need saving?
My gaze darts over the other magazines, and seeing one headline after the other, my breaths speed up as horror crashes through me like a tidal wave. Then I see a photo of Easton and me on the beach, where I’m staring up at him like a lovesick puppy.
Hollywood star involved in sordid fling while abandoning his dying sister on hospice doorstep.
Where is Lainey Rowe? Already shipped off to a boarding school while mother’s best friend marries Easton Rowe in shotgun wedding?
“Nova?” Lainey takes hold of my hand and tugs on it. “Stop looking at them. It’s stupid fake news.”
Realizing Lainey has seen the godawful headlines, I grip her hand and rush down the aisle to get away from the magazines.
Tyler brings the cart, and I try to act calm while we continue to shop.
Oh my God. How . . . ? Why . . . ?
Lainey tugs on my hand to get my attention. “Nova?”
My heart lies heavy in my chest as I glance down at her. “I’m so sorry you had to see that.”
She shakes her head at me, her eyebrows drawn together. “Are you okay?”
I force a smile to my face. “Yes, don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”
Rattled out of my mind, I struggle to focus and only get half the groceries I came for.
It’s only the beginning, and God knows what lies they’ll continue to spew about me and Easton.