Chapter 30
Thirty
Harper
Luca is so damn broody. From the moment I admitted I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep the baby, to him telling me that he’d let me out of my obligations to the mafia, he’s been like a dark storm cloud. Worse, his mood seems to be contagious around here.
Liam and Ashton have been no better. Ashton has been moping around even more since his breakup with Nova.
I swear they’ll figure it out and get back together, but it hasn’t happened yet.
Liam, on the other hand, he’s been even more protective of Sophia, now that she’s working for Dante.
Questioning where she’s going, what she’s doing.
It’s unnerving for her and annoying as hell for me to listen to daily.
Dare I admit I’m worried about Luca, but telling him that, it’ll only make him more focused on me.
That’s not what I want.
Zeke is at preschool during the afternoon, which makes studying between classes easier. My mind has been a haze since the abduction. Whenever I’m outside, I find myself glancing over my shoulder, taking note of the people around me.
I’ve been carrying mace on my keychain and a small Swiss Army knife in my backpack, a sort of just in case.
Livia DeLuca is dead.
I shouldn’t have to fear a dead woman. The entire organization died with her in that second explosion, when Rhys sacrificed himself.
He was named on the news as a war hero who police believe witnessed Harper’s abduction and took it upon himself to save her.
At least that’s the story that was spun, making it so that Rhys didn’t die in vain.
Doesn’t mask the pain that he’s still dead.
I’ve seen the grief in Nova’s gaze, the tears she tries to hide. At least Ashton has been there to comfort her.
“How’s the studying going?” Ashton saunters by me, glancing at my books.
“I have to write a paper, and I can’t get more than a few sentences out before deleting all of it and starting over.”
“Sounds frustrating.”
I huff under my breath. “Understatement of the century.”
That gets a smile out of him.
“What are you up to?” I glance up at him; it’s not like him to be home already from classes. Or he’s usually spending every waking hour with Nova. Those two were practically like Velcro before the breakup.
He bites down on an apple and sighs, grabbing the chair at the table, turning it around to sit backward on it as he faces me. “I need your help.”
“That depends,” I say, unsure what he wants help with and if I’m willing to do it. It’s not like I don’t have a lot going on as it is, but I’m willing to listen.
Ashton nods. “Fair enough. I need your help in winning back Nova.”
I open my mouth and shut it. “I don’t know, Ashton.”
He stares at me, silently pleading for help. I swear he’s giving me the sad puppy dog eyes and pouty lip.
“Please, Harper. You know how much I care about her.”
I’m skeptical. Meddling in other people’s relationships doesn’t seem like a wise decision. Nova and I are friends. I don’t want to overstep that boundary.
“Please,” he pleads with me again.
“Listen, I love you and I love Nova. But you guys have to work it out together. I can’t be interfering in your relationship.”
Ashton leans his head back and rubs his eyes. “It’s not a relationship if we’re not together.”
“But you were,” I say and point at him. “You have to do this on your own.”
“Come on. How about we go on a double date? You and Luca. Nova and me?” Ashton asks, waiting for my answer.
“And who is going to watch Zeke?”
Ashton laughs, hanging his head, clearly having forgotten about my little guy.
“How about you come up with some grand romantic gesture, and I’ll convince Nova to show up at the right time and place?”
Slowly, he nods, glancing at me. “Not a bad plan. Any suggestions?”
I decided not to ask Ashton what he planned on doing with Nova. I didn’t want to accidentally spoil the surprise.
The three of us, Nova, Zeke, and I, saunter through the mall for the afternoon. I have less than an hour until I drop Nova off with Ashton nearby.
“Mama, candy store!” Zeke squeals, pointing excitedly at the bright and colorful display of sweets in the window. He tugs my hand and drags me running right toward the shop. I scoop him up in my arms, careful to make sure that he doesn’t shove his hands into the bins as we step inside.
The place smells like cotton candy and bubble gum.
“I’m going to wait outside,” Nova says, ruffling Zeke’s hair before heading toward a bench.
Carrying Zeke on my hip, I head inside the candy shop and round the corner, laughing when I see who I’ve run into. “Hey, stranger.”