Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Nova
“Thank you for last night, Milo.” Nova sat at the empty bar area watching him wash the counters for what seemed like the third time since arrival.
He frowned. “You're welcome. Did you get some sleep, think about what I said?”
“I didn’t, either. I rested in that bed, at first I fell asleep, but then woke back up five minutes later. I lay staring at her across the empty room for a while. I got snippets of sleep, five-minute power naps. Where’s Maveryk?”
He tossed a bottle of water her way. It was early, and he had been awake examining his gardens, snipping off pieces of herbs and plants as part of his day's rituals when she’d found him.
“I have no idea. I woke up, and he wasn’t around.
I sent him a text message and called, but got no answer.
He’s really shaken up, I guess. Don’t get me wrong, not by you saying it's too soon, or whatever, but by the fact he feels something this deep. I know my brother better than anyone. Something like this isn’t weighing heavily on his heart.
For the first time in his life, at his age, he’s fallen in love, admitted it, and can’t run from it.
Emotions aren’t easy for anyone, but for him, I think they are the plague.
Then you said what you said, he’s humbled.
Not easy for him to accept, but he will. ”
Nova swirled the water bottle, her hunger not at all what it usually was.
She scanned the barroom for signs of life, evidence of Maveryk having been around.
He had a typical way of operating, she’d come to know it since her arrival.
“Well, it's true, I don’t see an empty bottle of water, or a soda can. I don’t see his badge, or that rag he likes to wear tossed over his shoulder when he’s tending bar. ”
Milo smiled. “Yes, you do know him. I’m sure he’ll be back. Do you want something to eat? I can make you…”
“No, I don’t. I’m good. I’ve got a lot of thinking to do. I’m probably going to sit tight, keep out of her way so she can get going this morning.”
“You're not even going to say goodbye, or let her?” Milo leveled her a sideways glance, curious and questioning.
“Of course I am, but not right away. Once she’s awake, I will go say my goodbye, then disappear before she leaves, this way I don’t have to see it.
Are you going to tell me the truth? When she’s awake?
I’m going to go sit on the beach somewhere and watch the waves crash against the sand, breathe, and try to figure out how I ended up this way. ”
He flashed a grin. “Of course. I’ll let you know. She borrowed money from me to go home. Not sure how I’m going to handle her leaving.”
It was Nova’s turn to frown. “It's time, Milo, you have but one chance in life, don’t blow it. I can’t do it for you. But who am I to talk? I can’t even sort out this thing with Maveryk.”
Humbled though she was by the truth of the situation, she took a big sip of water and felt the coolness drip down her chin.
“Oh, cold.” She swiped her chin with her wrist and used the napkin beside her, feeling rough around the edges.
“Maybe I should just leave. Maybe I should go somewhere else.
I feel like we, he and I, are going to feel awfully uncomfortable residing in the same town together doing business. It's going to get weird and then what?”
“I think before you do anything, you need to sort out how you feel. I think you need to be honest with yourself, and then you can be honest with him and make decisions.”
Making a face, Nova reached for the bagel sitting on the counter that Milo had put there for her. Cream cheese smeared between the two parts, it looked divine. Suddenly, her hunger had returned.
“Well, boo to you that you aren’t having this issue.
How many times are we going to go round and round about this, discuss matters of love?
I’m tired of it. Hey, can I take the pirate ship out, disappear for a while, and maybe have some fun?
I’m not about to throw myself overboard or nothing considering I can’t–”
“Swim?”
Maveryk’s voice called to her from behind, longing she’d been avoiding feelings, thoughts, a mess of chaos, a heart begging her to admit what she felt, she froze.
Bagel halfway to her lips, she stopped, turned, felt the swell of love the second her eyes saw him, and she dropped the bagel. “Maveryk.”
Nova hated herself for feeling, hated the whispery sound of her voice, the way she said his name, the soft chuckle from Milo behind her.
Their eyes met, his stormy with emotions she knew he’d not share. “Morning.”
“Morning.”
He moved with purpose to the other side of the bar, grabbed a rag from under the counter, and started clearing things, prepping for the day ahead.
Nothing more said, nothing mentioned, the only proof he was miserable was his lack of conversation, which was so unlike him, and his stiffness. She could tell Maveryk was exhausted, seeing it in his tired eyes, the way he’d moved across the room slow and heavy.
He’d not slept much, his mind deep in thought. So much she wanted to say, but suddenly her mind went blank, and she was at a loss. The only thing that came to mind, and I love you, she knew she’d never accept or want.
She watched as both men worked in silence, one on each side, purposefully doing what they’d probably done a thousand times. Neither needed to say anything to get it done; they knew where the other was at all times, taking stock of supplies or setting up.
Suddenly, her heart heavy, Nova needed air. Before she could move, Milo threw her one more glance, nodding his head toward his brother, and smiled. “I’m off to the kitchen, there’s bread to bake, and other things to make. If you want something to eat, Nova, or need anything, come give a shout.”
She watched him go, unable to take her eyes from him, feeling the hum of nervousness bubble up. When all was quiet again, the slam of the door behind him stopped, a gentle sway of movement of the door tore her eyes away, and she studied Maveryk.
Back to her, he kept moving, though they were together. Fumbling over thoughts unclear, she let it out. “So this is what I’m going to look forward to if I officially decide to do this. I’m going to either need to tend the bar or find someone to do it.”
He lifted his head but stared off ahead of himself, not looking behind at her.
She felt the hum of tension between them, the air around them electric with heat and longings.
If you decide to have a bar. Most Inns do not.
Though it's possible, it's probably not a great idea.
Depending on what the atmosphere is you're going for.
If you have one, it's most likely advisable that you just keep your eyes on the general observation as management, and hire someone.
For Milo and me, we do this together, it's just us, so we co-manage, and whatever we don’t want to hand off to employees, we do ourselves, but we're guys. It's different, if that makes sense.”
Finally, Maveryk glanced her way to see that she understood. Nodding, Nova smiled, a tremor of need building so fast she wanted to move behind the bar and wrap her arms around him. Tell him what her heart wanted, how much she loved him, and she would toss caution to the wind to be with him forever.
Her mind moved to the forefront, thoughts, ideas where they belonged, shuffling those feelings to the background with a reminder that this might not be the best for them both, and she could get hurt again.
“It does.” She studied her hands, wishing she could just let go, be for five minutes.
It had been the purpose of her entire trip, no calculations, no work, no agenda, no business, no planning, plotting, or anything of the sort.
Here she was again, as she’d done so many times in her life, thinking rather than letting herself truly feel what was important.
“I get what you're saying. A tended bar, if I decide to have one at all, might not be best.”
“Right. Well, listen, I don’t know what Delaney has planned, and I’ve made myself clear last night.
If you need or want to talk, I’m willing to do that.
If I seem a little busy today, we both do it because the Seafood Festival is today.
I was kinda hoping you and Delaney would stick around and we could enjoy some of it.
Milo has a full plate; he’s competing today, and while he told you he’s making bread, that’s only part of it.
For days, in secret, he’s been trying out new recipes to win this competition. It’s the biggest one in the country.”
“I didn’t know this. Wow. Thank you for telling me.”
“You're welcome. I mean it. I hope you realize I wasn’t joking last night. I’m a lot of things.
Been accused of much over the years including being a player, but I love you, Nova.
I want to marry you. I’m not going to press you, that’s not my style, and you’ve made things clear.
I made a mistake, but we were still friends, and I know we love each other in some small way. ”
He turned, walked away, her heart breaking seeing the pain in his eyes. Alone, she sat at the bar, to think, to feel, to smell the scent of seafood drifting through the room from the kitchen beyond the door.
So much she felt, so much love it hurt. Turning away, she couldn’t think about it and needed something to give. Rather than waste another moment, Nova was ready to bury the axe, let her friend go if she really needed to.
“Before she does, we are going to enjoy this seafood festival and hopefully see if Milo wins. I wonder what he’s making?”
Curious, she knocked before entering the kitchen door. Milo stood at a table, seafood in a pan, sizzling. “I don’t know what you're cooking, but it smells heavenly. Whatever it is, it's a winner.”
He smeared the side of the apron around his waist across the edge of a plate that held the labor of his love. “He told you, didn't he?”
“How could he not?” She leaned against the counter, watching.
“I left you two alone so you’d sort out your feelings, and instead you talk about the Seafood Festival and me. Running from love, I see?”
“You could say that. What is it?”
“I can’t tell you, I’ve not named it yet. Here, try it. He’s going to sample some too. I’ve made this twelve times since the idea came to mind, but I’ve not yet perfected it.”
He handed off a fork laden with the richness of sauce and seafood, while grabbing a sample for himself.
Nova quickly popped it in her mouth, uncaring of how early it was, and smiled, eyes closing.
“Oh my. This is…” There were no words to properly express how heavenly the food tasted.
A bit of spice, a hint of smoke, a touch of sweetness, and a dash of lime.
The swirl of sauce is the perfect accompaniment to it, rich and yet light as air.
Seafood swirled in her mouth, tender and soft as butter.
Swallowing, she felt the faintness of tears coming to her eyes.
“Milo, this is perfect. I don’t know what you did, but it’s perfect.
I can’t even, it’s…” She opened her eyes to see him smiling, chewing the last of the oysters and shrimp.
“Thanks, I’ve been trying this for a long time, but I think you are right, finally.
Maybe heartbreak does have a place in life; it helps you create things. ”
Nova wanted to ask more, beg him to sweep Delaney off her feet, and beg her to stay.
She’d not involved herself in their drama and had enough of her own.
Though it hurt to know she was leaving, it was going to hurt even more to know love lost the battle and two people so meant to be weren’t together.
“So what now? Do you just bring this creation along and set up a table, or place it on the judges' table for them to taste? Is there an entry fee? I want to know for next year.”
He pointed his fork at her, laughing. “You are never going to beat me, Nova. God above loves you, but you are not. But a bit of healthy competition for next year would be good.”
He turned to lean down and grabbed another plate out of the warming tray, then set it aside. “I have to make another one, fresh in a few hours. The competition starts at noon. It won’t take too long now that I have the exact recipe I want. I’ve memorized it in my head.”
She watched, tired of feeling and not speaking her heart, and let it all out in a rush without thinking. “I wish I dared to throw caution to the wind, I’ve never been good at that. Calculating, planning, and making sure every duck is properly in line before I make any decision.”
“Is that any way to live in Nova? It sounds to me like that’s never worked for you in your personal life. Maybe it’s time to change that? Take matters into your own hands and stop letting that drill sergeant brain of yours run the show.”
“I did that, with Delaney, and look what it got me, hurt. I didn’t win, she’s still leaving, and now I hurt more than ever.”
“You won’t lose with Maveryk. I know this, you know this, he loves you. You’ve hurt him, but he keeps coming back to tell you how he feels.”
Quietly, Nova regarded him. “You were eavesdropping on us.”
“So what if I was? He’s family, and you're like a sister to me. Of course I was, I don’t just stand around and do nothing back here.
I listen, I hear, I see, and know. He loves you, from his heart, and I don’t know how many more times he needs to tell you this for you to let that wall down you have around your heart. ”
“I told him I love him.”
“Yes, but then you accuse him of being a player and mocking his feelings as if they weren’t genuine. And still, he comes back, he tells you over and over he loves you. From someone like Maveryk, that’s a lot, that’s a smack in the face by true love if you ask me.”