Chapter 17
NOVA
“How did it go?” Brooke demands as I answer my cell on my way out of the gallery.
“That’s fantastic.”
I’ve never had someone sit me down and talk seriously about my career and future before. The gallery was small but beautiful, and the pieces on display blew my mind.
“But he only deals in sports art. I think I’d like to branch out.” I tug my collar closer to brace against the brisk wind.
“Brand is everything. You can attach yourself to this niche, Nova, then do whatever you want.”
The possibility is thrilling.
Growing up, I thought I saw the world by moving from place to place in a trailer. Now, I realize I only saw part of it: the landscapes and small towns, not the style and the wealth I’ve seen since I first came to Denver for my sister’s wedding.
It’s not better, only different.
I check the map to see how I get to our meeting point.
“Are you heading to Neiman Marcus?” she asks.
“Yeah. I’ll be there in five minutes.”
When I get to Brooke, she embraces me.
“One of the girls from my sorority works here.”
She introduces me, and the other woman reaches for my hand, displaying a huge diamond.
“Wow, you’re engaged?” Brooke asks.
“Mhmm. You seeing anyone special?”
Brooke tosses her hair. “I have a bunch of guys I’m testing.” She eyes up a few racks and mannequins and gestures to a bunch of items. “We want to try those.”
“I’m afraid we only have one VIP dressing room.”
“We’ll share.”
We’re shown to a private dressing room as big as a bedroom.
“Think she’d wear that ring on her forehead if she could?” Brooke asks under her breath.
My lips curve. “She did seem proud of it. You could buy yourself one if you wanted.”
“I don’t want to settle down. Being tethered to a guy forever is my nightmare.
But it drives me crazy how some of the girls from school lord it over other people.
” She shudders. “What about you? You and Clay seem to be getting cozy. As much as I’m not the biggest cheerleader for relationships, I’ve never seen him make so much effort. ”
My heart skips, and I glance back at my friend. “Really?”
“Oh yeah. It’s the way he looks at you. The way he looks for you when you’re not next to him.”
I shimmy into a dress and check out my reflection. “He wants to tell the world about us.”
“And you don’t want to?”
I turn the idea over. “I thought I did. But maybe I’ve gotten used to the privacy?
I like that our relationship is ours and no one else’s business.
The other day, I finished painting early and stopped by to see him after the game.
There was a line of people wanting selfies and autographs, wanting to just be around him.
If we come out to the world, it’s a big deal.
Not only for friends and family, but it’s an actual story just because it’s Clay. ”
“When you’re in public, people are in your business, but that doesn’t mean they know your business. They don’t know what goes on between you, and they don’t have to.”
I think about making him laugh and smile.
I love how hard he works, how kind he is to those who need help, especially when no one’s looking.
I’ve started imagining a future with him, not just nights and days but birthdays and anniversaries.
“What are you afraid of?” Brooke asks.
My gaze meets hers. “I’m falling for him.”
Her grin is slow and wide. “Obviously.”
Shock slams into me. “It’s obvious to you or to him?”
“To me because I’m smarter than your boy toy.”
I reach for the zipper and work it down. “So, if you’re not a romantic, why are you rooting for this?”
“Because you’re my friend and I want everyone to love you as much as I do. Plus, these guys are used to having control of everything and it’s fun to watch them spiral.”
I toss a shirt at her, and she catches it, laughing.
The more I think about it, the more I like it.
I’ll tell Clay I’m good with announcing us, that he doesn’t have to worry about pressuring me. I trust him.
“I’m not sure we’ll have time after we get back tomorrow. He’s heading away on another road trip.”
Brooke grins. “Then let’s go back early.”
“Have you seen Clay?” I ask Rookie outside the Kodiaks locker room.
He waves down the hallway toward the court.
Brooke and I got back in record time. Since our talk, all I can think about is seeing Clay.
My chest has been stretched so tight it feels as if my heart is going to beat out from within my ribs.
After landing, I showered and headed to the stadium, figuring I’d find Clay there.
I follow the winding hallway toward the court, replaying what I’d rehearsed in my mind.
When I get to the end of the tunnel, I hear Clay’s voice, hushed but urgent.
“…need to talk about our deal.”
“The deal where I agreed I’d get you to LA?” Harlan’s voice cuts in, every bit as tight but with an edge of frustration.
I pull up out of sight. This must be related to what they were fighting about at Christmas.
“You didn’t hold up your end of the bargain,” Harlan says.
“It wasn’t my fault she came back.”
The hairs on my neck lift.
“No, but you were supposed to stay away from her when she did.”
My heart stops.
I can’t believe what I’m hearing.
I want to run, but I can’t bring myself to do it.
Instead, I step into the hallway.
They both turn to face me. Clay’s expression is tight with shock, Harlan’s surprised and guilty.
“Who were you supposed to stay away from?” I ask as steadily as I can.
“Nova. I thought you were in New York,” Clay says, but Harlan clears his throat.
“You. He was supposed to stay away from you.”
No.
“Why?” My voice trembles at the edges.
“Because it would be easier for everyone.” Harlan again.
I turn toward him, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. “You’re supposed to be family. I trusted you, and you manipulated me.”
His jaw tightens. “Nova, that’s not what—"
“Mari always did growing up, but at least she was my sister. Who are you to manage my life?”
He doesn’t answer.
“And you.” I round to face Clay, intending to confront him with all my anger.
But looking at him has emotions rushing up at me in a wave.
The backs of my eyes burn, and I spin and bolt out of the building.
Clay’s on my heels. “Nova. Nova, wait.”
He catches up to me outside the front doors, his trainers getting wet in the snow. I look up at him, not hiding the tears burning my eyes.
“It’s not what you think.”
“How do you know what I think?” I take a shaky breath.
“Let me explain.”
“That you made some kind of a bargain with Harlan that involved my feelings and your career?”
His throat works, his expression a tight mask of misery and hurt. “I told you I panicked that night, about us. That was true.”
“So, you went over my head and decided we were done without consulting me.”
“When you put it like that, it sounds bad.”
My eyes widen. “It took me putting it like that to make it sound bad?!”
Clay rubs his hands over his face. “I’m sorry.”
The next breath is painful. I wanted to tell him I was ready to go public, and now everything we had feels like it was built on a lie. I finally felt as if we were on even ground but he was treating me like a child this entire time.
“Me too.”
I shut my eyes briefly, as if that can block out the emotions raging through me, but when I open them, all the hurt and disappointment and anger are right there bubbling at the surface.
“You think you know better than everyone. On the court and off it. But you don’t get to decide what’s best, Clay.”
He reaches for me as though it’s the most natural thing in the world, as though it’s his right to touch me and he can fix everything if we’re closer.
Part of me wants that too, which is why I force myself to step back.
His hands fall back to his sides, his dark eyes bright with anguish as he wrestles with his control.
“I didn’t expect to see you before I left on this road trip. I don’t want to waste it. Let me take you out tonight. We can talk about this.”
Yes.
I hate having barriers between me and the people I care about.
That’s how all of this started, wanting to be on good terms with my sister.
But…
That’s my old pattern. I don’t want to cave, to be the one who bends simply because I’m better at it. I want to stand up for myself.
“It sounds like you’ve been doing enough talking for both of us,” I say and start toward the street.
This time, he doesn’t come after me.