I go into my cabinet and grab the bottle and hand it to her. She sprinkles some on the popcorn, shakes it around a bit, then sprinkles some more.
“Here, try,” she commands, bringing a piece to my mouth. I part my lips and let her drop it on my tongue. “Huh?” she questions, raising her brows. “It’s good, right?”
“It’s not bad,” I say, still chewing.
“Not bad. Pft.” She playfully rolls her eyes and grabs the bowl.
Once we get into the living room, we settle onto the dark brown couch, I turn the TV on, but lower the volume, and we start eating our Lawry’s flavored popcorn.
“So,” she starts, turning to face me while sitting cross legged on the cushion. “Tell me something about you.”
“There’s not much to say.”
“Oh, come on. There’s gotta be something.”
“I work at the college and I have three brothers.”
She looks up at the ceiling then pins me with her eyes. “Yeah, you’re a calculus professor, and one brother owns a bar, one is a famous musician, and one has a lot of tattoos. Okay, I don’t know much about that one, but you see, these are things I know already.”
“I suppose I’m not that interesting,” I say with a short laugh. “You never really know until someone asks you to tell them about yourself.”
“I don’t believe that,” she says, popping another piece of popcorn in her mouth. “Everybody is interesting in some way.”
I actually try to come up with some sort of unique piece of information about myself, but I can’t think of anything. My life hasn’t been full of adventure, and everything that’s coming to mind would just put a damper on the evening—my parents’ death, my failed relationship.
“Okay, I’ll go first,” she says, throwing me a bone. “I grew up in Florida, Tampa to be exact. My parents had my sister Gianna first, and I came six years later. Me and her weren’t close until I was probably thirteen. I mean, it’s not like we could play together right away, and then she became a teenager and hated me being around because I was ‘annoying’ or ‘embarrassing,’” she says with a laugh. “But my parents died when I was thirteen, and honestly, that’s probably what made us closer. Which I get is weird, but tragedy brings people together sometimes, and makes you realize life is short.” She takes a deep breath, steadying herself. “And then my sister finished raising me. We struggled for a long time, but we always had each other. I grew up faster than a lot of kids my age, but I was forced to. I didn’t have the luxury of having a completely carefree childhood. I did what I could to help lessen the burden for my sister. She was working three jobs, so I learned to put some easy meals together, cleaned the apartment, and tried to help balance the workload.” Nova uncaps her Gatorade, takes a sip, then closes it back up. “Now, you go.”
I blink several times. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.” She waves me off, like it’s not a big deal. Like she’s used to telling people it’s not a big deal. But it is. It’s a huge deal. Losing your parents, especially so young, changes your whole life. “I mean it,” I say, grabbing her hand in mine. “I know it’s hard. I know the struggle and the pain. I wish I could take that away from you, but I understand that it’s also a part of what made you who you are today. Just know you can talk to me about this whenever you need to.”
She squeezes my hand and smiles. “Thank you.”
We stay connected, and I begin my own story. “So, I was born first. I was an only child for seven years, and then came Royce, then soon after Cillian joined us, and several years went by before Merrick finished off our family. I was twenty-three when our parents died, so I was already in graduate school, living the life, so-to-speak,” I say with a chuckle.
“Were you a party guy?” she asks with a twinkle in her eye.
“I partied,” I say with a nod. “I was definitely enjoying being on my own.” She nods, waiting for me to finish. “When the accident happened and the will was read, my parents said they would prefer for us boys to stick together, but if I didn’t feel up to it, they could go with an aunt who lived out of town. There was never really a question. I was going to take care of them and keep us all together, so that’s what I did.
“Like your sister, I busted my ass working and going to college. Our parents did leave us some money, so I won’t act like that didn’t help, but it was still so hard going from a college kid who didn’t have to be responsible for much to taking care of three kids, paying bills, cooking meals, and trying to keep my head above water.” I sigh and Nova grabs my hand and brings it up to her lips, placing a kiss on my knuckles before nodding, telling me to continue. “I struggled in the beginning. I didn’t cook for them like I should’ve. I wasn’t as present as I needed to be. We were all like zombies, you know? One of my brother’s friend’s mom came to me one day and whipped me into shape,” I say with a laugh. “It was months later, I think. I don’t even remember. It was the first time I cried, because I felt like I couldn’t let my brothers see me break down. She comforted me, then she told me what I had to do. We still had a long way to go, and I needed to get it together.”
“So, that’s when you learned how to cook?”
I nod. “Yeah, Barbara would bring over meals, and I would attempt to re-create them. It was really bad for a while, and then she would send little instruction notes with them. After a while, I dug out my mom’s cookbook and learned that way.”
“My sister learned how to cook, too. I, on the other hand, still suck. So if you wanna hand out some teaching classes, that’ll be fine.”
We both laugh, still holding hands, the popcorn forgotten about for now.
“Every Sunday, I have my brothers over for dinner. I can’t always make sure they’re eating right anymore, but at least I can feed them well one day a week.”
She smiles. “That’s really nice. I lived with my sister until I came here, so it’s really hard being away from her. Just feels weird, you know?”
“Yeah, I bet. Two of my brothers are still here, but the youngest stayed with me until a year ago. The house feels different. Quiet.”
Sugarfoot approaches the couch, his nose sniffing around, searching for the popcorn. Nova smiles and pets him between the ears. “At least you have this guy.”
“Yeah, he’s been great.”
After a pregnant pause, Nova lifts her head and pins me with those beautiful brown eyes. “Now, tell me about your last relationship.”
30
Elijah’s face freezes.
“That bad?” I ask.
“Well, considering I’m not still in that relationship, it’s definitely not good.”
I make a face at him. “Good to know you’re not in a relationship, but sometimes relationships can end on good terms.”
He takes a deep breath like he’s about to tell me all about it. Instead, he says, “Why are we talking about this?”
I shrug. “Why not?”
“I mean, I just don’t typically talk about… things with people.”
“You don’t talk about things?” I repeat.
“No, not really.”
I tilt my head. “Why?”
He draws away from me, scooting back a little bit. “I just never felt the need to tell people personal details about my life.”
“What about your brothers?”
“What about them?” he asks, almost defensively.
“Do you tell them anything?”
He waits for a few seconds. “They know some stuff.”
“Do they know about your last relationship?”
“They knew her and they know we’re not together anymore, but they don’t know why.”
“Why?”
“They don’t need to know.”
“Elijah.” I say his name softly, hoping to bring him back to me. He’s no longer looking in my direction, and he appears to be a little tense. It’s obvious he’s not used to sharing things about himself, but I don’t think keeping everything inside is helpful.
; “Hey, you can talk to me, too,” I say.
He shakes his head. “Nova.” His breath escapes through his lips in a huff. “What we’re doing…I don’t know if it’s the best idea.”
My irritation grows quickly. “What do you mean?”
“This. Getting to know each other? What’s the point?”
“What’s the point?” I exclaim, my voice climbing an octave. “The point is getting to know each other. What else?”
“But why?” he questions, his blue eyes looking a little forlorn as he glances over.
It’s then that I get what he’s saying. Why try to deepen this relationship when it can’t go anywhere.
“I don’t know,” I say with a shake of my head. “I guess I just want to know you.”
“After everything I’ve been through. You too, for that matter, why would the universe bring us together if we can’t actually be together? Seems pretty cruel to me.” I know he’s talking to me, but it seems like he’s also just wanting to vent. So, I let him. “I haven’t been in a relationship in a long time, Nova. I’ve been okay with it, because my ex told me I wouldn’t be able to find anyone to love me as long as I kept prioritizing my brothers above everything else. She was unhappy at the end. She up and left after already having started a relationship with someone else. But can I blame her? I had to take care of my youngest brother at that time. I didn’t take her out a whole lot, couldn’t commit to vacations and all the things she wanted. And I haven’t wanted to do that to another woman. But here we are.”
I put the bowl of popcorn on the end table, gently step over Sugarfoot who’s taken residence right in front of the couch, then get on my knees in front of Elijah, taking his hands in mine.
“Your ex had a problem with you making sure your family was taken care of? That’s bullshit. Your brother was living with you, there was no way you’d be able to prioritize her. And you shouldn’t have. And her thinking that makes her a shit person. Not you. She should’ve realized how lucky she was to have such a good man in her life.
“I know our circumstances aren’t the best. I know we can’t talk about each other to our friends. I know we won’t be going out to eat together or hitting up a movie theater. But you know what? I’m okay with that. I’m okay with this,” I say, gesturing around the room. “Meeting you here, having dinner and spending time together. This is fine.”
He brushes a curl away from my face, his knuckles gently grazing my cheekbone before he unfurls his fingers and cups my cheek in his palm.
“I’d still be putting myself before you.”
I cover his hand with mine. “And I’d be a selfish bitch if I wanted you to risk your career just to take me to lunch. I wouldn’t let that happen, Elijah. Don’t beat yourself up.”
“I don’t know what this is,” he admits.
“I don’t either. Let’s just have fun. Let’s enjoy this for however long we can. I still want to know you.”
He brings his other hand to the other side of my face and pulls me up until our lips meet. He kisses me softly at first, and then our tongues tangle together, and he brings me onto his lap.
“Will you stay the night?” he asks, lifting my shirt over my head.
“I thought that was already determined,” I reply with a grin.
“I didn’t want to assume,” he says, cupping my breasts and bringing his mouth to one.
“Such a gentleman.”
“I’m about to not be,” he growls, standing up and making his way back upstairs with me wrapped around him.
31
When I wake up in the morning, before I open my eyes, I roll over and reach for Nova. When my hand touches the cold sheet, I prop myself up on my elbow and look around. It isn’t until I’m getting out of the bed that I hear a noise downstairs.
Following the sound of music, I make my way downstairs and find Nova standing in my kitchen still wearing my shirt. Her back is to me as she faces the stove, a spatula in hand. Sugarfoot stays near her, waiting for her to drop something.
I don’t mean to be a creep and just watch her, but seeing her swaying her hips to music while making food in my kitchen makes me pause. I can’t help but smile as she curses and attempts to flip over what I think is a pancake.
“Whaddya think, Sugarfoot?” she says aloud, glancing down at the dog. “Think he’ll eat it? I mean, it’s not about what it looks like.”
Sugarfoot whines then lays down in front of the oven.
When I make my way into the kitchen, Nova spins around and grins. “I’m attempting breakfast.”
I stroll up to her and note the tiny amount of pancake batter on her cheek. I wipe it off with my thumb and then peer into the pan. One looks a little thin and dark and the other has started tearing in two.
“I know they look a little funny, but these are practice ones. I’ll get the next ones to look better.”
I chuckle, hauling her into me. After kissing her forehead, I say, “It’s okay. I’ll eat them no matter what.”
Her grin widens into a full-blown smile.
“Seems like you showered already, so I’m gonna take a quick one and then I’ll be down here ready to eat.”
“Yeah, okay. Me and Sugarfoot got this. Huh, man?” she says, looking back at the dog.
He lifts his head up briefly before laying it on his paws.
“Okay, I’ll be back,” I say, giving her hip a little squeeze.
After showering and brushing my teeth, I stand in the room getting dressed and revel in how it feels to have someone else in the house.
Nova’s turned the music up, easily figuring out how to pair her phone with the small Bluetooth speaker in the kitchen, and her jovial laugh travels all the way upstairs and into my room.
The smile on my face feels permanent, like I’ll never be able to wipe it off even if I tried.
Once dressed in a pair of lounge pants and a T-shirt, I jog downstairs and find her holding Sugarfoot’s front paws and moving to the music.
She throws her head back and laughs, then drops to her knees, allowing the dog to nuzzle into her. Sugarfoot attempts to lick her face, and when she backs up, she loses her balance and falls on her butt.
“All right, you win,” she says, petting his head, still laughing. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
My heart swells at the sight. Not just because she’s playing with my dog. Everybody loves Sugarfoot. But because this feels so right. It feels like she belongs here. I’d never tire of this scene in the mornings.
“Pancakes are done,” she says, getting up from the floor. “I covered them up and put them in the microwave.” Nova moves to the sink to wash her hands. “I didn’t make anything else, though. I think I was too confident with the pancakes. I probably should’ve just made toast,” she says with a laugh.
I come up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist, resting my chin on her shoulder. “This is perfect. Thank you.”
She angles her head over her shoulder and then plants her lips on mine. “You’re welcome.”
The pancakes are pretty good, minus a few crunchy edges and their irregular shape.
“You can probably make Mickey Mouse pancakes, huh?” she jokes.
“I’ve never made Mickey Mouse pancakes, but I have made chocolate chip and blueberry pancakes.”
She chuckles. “Of course.”
“These are good,” I tell her, kissing her temple. “I really do appreciate it. I haven’t had anybody cook for me in a while. It’s nice.”
She grins. “Well, I can’t promise I’ll be able to make a whole lot more, but we’ll see.”
After we finish eating, I put the dishes in the dishwasher, then we move back to the living room to watch some TV, but mostly we talk. Nova makes me laugh constantly. She’s unapologetically herself—a little goofy, completely honest, carefree, witty, and a breath of fresh air.
“Okay, so what’s your day-to-day like?” she asks. “What does Elijah do for fun?”
She rests her feet in my lap as she
leans back into the corner of the couch.
“I wake up early, have coffee and breakfast, go for a run, come back and shower, read the paper, grade homework, watch the news. That’s the weekend. During the week I spend a lot of time on campus, obviously. When my workday is over, I come home and take Sugarfoot for a walk, shower, have dinner, grade homework, watch the news, go to bed.”
She fake yawns. “Come on, seriously? That’s it? I don’t even want to say what I’m thinking, but I’m gonna anyway. You sound like an old man.” She raises her hand when my eyebrows shoot up. “Don’t even say it. I know you’re older, but you are not old.”
“I’m a creature of habit,” I say with a shrug.
“But where is the fun in your day? You’re existing, but are you living?”
“What’s your day like?” I ask, taking the attention off me.
“Well, like you, during the week I spend the day at school, and then at work. But on the weekends I go out with my friends. We have parties or go out to eat. I talk to my sister on the phone, or go out and explore this little town. I’ve been thinking of traveling to a nearby city one of these weekends, just to see something new. I like to read and blast music while I dance around my apartment. I also like to hike, but I don’t know where to do that around here. Me and my sister tried a new restaurant every other week. We tend to get stuck going to our favorite places, but you may find a new favorite if you try something new. And back home me and my best friend would try different dance classes. We spent most of the time laughing, but it was a lot of fun.”
“Sounds like you know how to have a good time.”
Nova leans forward and crawls into my lap. “Sounds like I’m gonna have to teach you how to get out of your comfort zone.”
“This whole thing is out of my comfort zone,” I admit.
“Yeah, but there’s so much more out there than forbidden relationships.”
“Hmm.”
She smirks. “Mm.” Her lips cover mine. “I’ll show you. Don’t worry.”
“I want to show you something.”
Against the Rules (Kingston Brothers Book 3) Page 13
