Chapter 5
Nova
Something’s wrong, I just don’t know what. The guys have been acting weird all morning. Normally, I’d pick and poke, nosy as I am, but something told me not to right now and leave it be.
Whatever is going on with the three of them is because of the call Nick got this morning. I was awake pretty much from the moment Nick shifted me off him so he could get out of bed.
I felt the whole mood shift when the three of them walked back into the room.
It must be serious because Nick hasn’t barked at me once today.
No angry growls, no asshole comments. He’s just let me do whatever I wanted.
I’ve gotten to pick when and where we stop, play whatever music I want, and when I started talking about random shit, he didn’t shoot me any annoyed glares that meant shut up.
I’ve been telling myself that I wish Nick would stop being such a dickhead all the time, but now that he has, he’s also got a zoned-out look on his face and this absent presence. I don’t like it.
I miss the bickering. The sexy glares he’d send my way.
Honestly, the whole vibe has been brought down.
Are they having second thoughts about bringing me home?
No, that can’t be it. Ian has been all over me at every stop. Wrapping his arms around me, burying his face into my neck and breathing me in like the sexy little stalker, obsessed man he is.
Whatever it is, it has not just Nick, but also Ian and Will, out of sorts.
It’s kind of putting a damper on my excitement that this road trip is almost over.
We’ve been on the road all day, and the sun is starting to set in the distance.
The best part, though, is that the snow is gone. All fucking gone. While it’s not crazy warm, no snow is enough to make me a happy camper.
I watch out the window, taking in the new change of scenery.
My eyes have been locked on the windows, sitting forward in my seat for the past hour.
Earlier today, we passed a sign that said we were in Georgia, and that had me so damn excited because if we’re in Georgia going south, the guys either live in Georgia or Florida.
They said it was a sunny and warm place.
Really, either would do as long as it gets me away from the snow and freezing temperatures.
By the time the sun sets, we’re just passing a sign that says Welcome to St. Mary’s.
“Thank god,” Ian groans. “I can’t feel my ass.”
“So this is where you live?” I ask.
“Yup,” Nick grunts. He either doesn’t see the point in keeping the location from me now that we’re here, or he’s still affected by whatever happened this morning.
My attention turns to him. His jaw is tight, fist flexing on the steering wheel. He’s wound up tight. And not like he normally is. I love being the reason he’s on edge—it’s fun—but this isn’t because of me. It bothers me for some reason, and I don’t like it.
After staring at him for far longer than I should, I finally turn my attention away from his handsome face and look out the window.
As we round the corner, I see something scurry into the middle of the road, the car beam illuminating the small creature. Its beady little eyes stare up at me as it stops moving in the middle of the road. It’s about to get hit!
My eyes widen, and my heart slams into my chest. “Stop the truck!” I scream at the top of my lungs as panic fills me.
“Fucking hell!” Nick roars, the brakes screeching as we slam to a halt, all of us fly forward with the force. I grunt as I nearly get whiplash.
His wild, blazing eyes fling over to me. “What’s wrong?” He genuinely sounds worried for me. But it’s not me I’m worried about.
“You almost hit the baby!” I cry, unbuckling my seatbelt and throwing the truck door open.
“What the fuck are you doing, Nova!” Nick roars.
“Nova, baby, get back in the truck.” Ian gets out right behind me.
I ignore both of them as I slowly approach the sweet baby in the street.
“Hi there, sweetie,” I coo, bending down to hold out my hand. “It’s okay. You're okay.”
It hisses at me, baring all its teeth. Poor thing is scared. I would be, too, if I almost got hit by a vehicle.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” I baby-talk to it. “I’m here to help.”
“For fuck sake’s, Nova, get back in the truck.”
“I’m not leaving it here!” I call back, the little guy hissing at me again.
“What even is it?” Ian asks
The little guy doesn’t move as I get closer, but it does keep hissing at me. Poor sweet baby.
“Shhh,” I coo. “It’s okay. Everything is okay.” And as soon as I get close enough to touch it, I notice it’s back leg looks injured. “Oh my god.” My eyes water. “It’s okay. We’re gonna get you help.”
“Help?” Nick barks. “What the fuck are you helping? I swear to god, Nova, if that's another cat, I’m going to drop it off at the nearest shelter.”
“You will do no such thing,” I scowl back at him over my shoulder before turning back to the sweet baby on the road. Taking off my sweater, I quickly throw it on top of it and scoop it up. It hisses louder, struggling in my arms.
“I got you. Shhh. It’s okay.” I rock it in my arms, holding it close to me.
“Nova, put the fucking cat down!” Nick barks.
“It’s not a cat,” I growl back, swinging around to face him.
I see him leaning out of the truck door, looking at me over the top of it.
He narrows his eyes before he curses. “Are you fucking crazy, woman?” he growls. “You do know that’s a fucking opossum, right?”
“Yes.” I give him a dry look. “I’m not stupid.”
“Are you sure about that?” He glares at me. “You’re the one holding roadkill like it’s a fucking baby.”
“It is a baby. A sweet little baby.” I look down and smile at the opossum in my arms. “You're just the sweetest baby, aren’t you?” It bares its teeth at me and hisses. I laugh. “You're so cute.”
“Ian, deal with her. She seems to be your brand of crazy right now,” Nick mutters, getting back into the car.
“Let me see what you've got there,” Ian says, coming to stand in front of me. Ian tries to touch it, but it snaps at him and he jerks his hand back with a chuckle. “Feisty little thing, isn’t it?”
“I’m not leaving it here to die, Ian. It has an injured back leg,” I say, showing him by lifting up the opossum’s bum to show him the leg peeking out the bottom of my sweater.
“How about we call around to see if any vets are open. We will get the little guy some help, okay?”
“Really?” I smile up at him, hating how full my heart feels. “You're not gonna make me leave it here?”
“No.” He looks appalled. “I’d never be able to live with myself wondering if it was okay or not. They will know what to do with him.”
“You're the best,” I squeal, making the opossum hiss again as I lean up on my tiptoes to kiss him.
We head back to the truck where a very pissed off Nick is glaring at me. “You are fucking unbelievable,” he scowls at me.
The opossum starts to wiggle in my arms. I try to keep my grip on it, but it manages to escape.
“Wait!” I shout as it scatters from my arms and into Nick’s lap. Nick freezes, unsure what to do as it crawls up his body and drapes itself around his shoulders.
“Get. It. Off. Me.” His voice is dangerously low as he stays deathly still.
I bite my lip as the opossum relaxes on his shoulders while Nick is clearly freaking out.
Is he afraid of a little opossum? Oh my god, that’s so damn cute.
“Awww,” I say, fucking with him. “It loves you!”
“I said. Get. It. Off. Me,” he growls this time.
Sighing heavily, I lean over to get the opossum off him but the little bugger hisses at me.
“Sorry.” I pull my arms back. “But I think it’s made you its new mama.”
“Nova...” He sounds pissed now. “If I get my hands on this thing, I’m throwing it out of the fucking truck.”
“God. Fine. Big grumpy-ass Alpha.” I ignore the opossum’s hissing and pull him off Nick. “There. Better?” I ask, thankful that the little guy settles in my lap.
There’s a knock at my window. I look over to see Will. Rolling it down, I smile as he asks, “What’s wrong?”
“Look!” I hold up the opossum. “I got a new baby. It’s like I’m Snow White or something.”
It hisses at Will and his head rears back. “Is that an opossum? What the hell is it doing in the truck?”
“Will, we have one of those crazy chicks that’s going to come home with twenty-seven cats, thirty-nine dogs, five horses, three racoons and I guess a fucking opossum. I can’t live like that. Is it too late to return her?” Nick growls.
“Hey!” I swing my annoyed gaze on him. “No refunds, buddy. You're stuck with my ass.”
“Your crazy fucking ass.” He glares at me.
“You didn’t seem to mind my ass all that much when you were spanking it before you fucked me into the next universe.” I give him a smug grin.
Nick closes his eyes, taking in a deep breath. “Dear god, any god, give me the fucking strength not to strangle my fucking Omega.”
There he goes again, calling me his Omega. I’m starting to think he doesn’t hate me as much as he thinks he does.
“We’re going to Saint Peter’s vet clinic on Lincoln Ave. It’s still open and deals with wildlife,” Ian chimes in from the backseat.
“No, we’re not,” Nick says. “We’re leaving the damn thing here and going home.”
***
A half hour later, the vet comes out of the exam room. “How is he?”
“Well, it’s actually a she. And she has a broken leg.”
“Oh no.” My heart hurts for her. “What can we do for her?”
“If you just leave her here with me, I’ll make sure she passes peacefully. She won’t feel a thing.”
“What!” My eyes widen as my heart jumps into my throat. “Pass? You mean you're going to put her to sleep?”
“Well, yeah.” She looks at me funny. “Opossums don’t live very long in the wild. They often get hit by cars. Not all stop like you did.”
“So what, rather than help her, you're going to kill her?” I gape at the vet.
“She’s not going to last long out there even without a broken leg. She’s honestly lucky to have lived this long. Opossums average two years when in the wild before they either get hit by a car or eaten by a bigger predator.”
“Okay.” I glare at her. “Then give her to a wildlife place or something. Isn’t there somewhere around here that will take her in?”
“I’m sorry, but every facility is full.”
“Bring her out to me, right now,” I growl.
“What?” The vet’s brows furrow.
“You heard her, Dr. Wells. She said, bring the opossum out.”
“But...”
“If we leave her here, you're going to kill her.” I glare at her. “Monster. Some vet you are. I thought you were supposed to protect animals."
“I do.” She looks at me with wide eyes.
“Petunia has every right to live. She did nothing wrong and doesn’t deserve to die!” I throw my arms in the air, getting worked up. I don’t like this woman.
“Oh dear god,” Nick growls from where he’s sitting in the chair behind us. “She fucking named it already.”
“Hush.” I shoot him a glare as Will, who’s sitting next to him, shakes in silent laugh.
“You’re going to give me grey fucking hairs,” he growls.
“Good thing I like silver foxes then, huh?” I roll my eyes before turning my glare back to the vet. “Petunia. Now.”
“Here.” I hand her to Nick as we get into the truck. “She needs to stay calm, and she seems to like you.”
“No,” Nick grunts, handing Petunia back to me. “She’s your problem.”
Petunia hisses at me, and I scowl. “You're not being very nice, young lady,” I grumble.
“Because she’s a fucking wild animal, Nova. She doesn’t want to be carried around like a pet. I’m honestly surprised she hasn’t bitten you yet.”
“Petunia would never,” I coo, getting close to her face. “She’s just the sweetest. Aren’t you?” I get a hiss in response.
“Crazy fucking woman,” Nick grumbles as we pull out of the parking lot. “Just my fucking luck to end up with one.”
“I’m not crazy,” I mutter, putting Petunia in my lap. She eventually stops hissing at me and curls up in my lap. I smile down at her. “There we go. Told you. Sweet little baby.”
“I need sleep,” Nick mutters. “Before I kill someone.”
And that, my friends, is how I end up with my very own opossum.