He looks at Nadine and whatever silent conversation they have makes his eyes widen. “Oh shit, you were?”
I forgo stopping when the brain freeze hits me. Instead, welcoming the pain and hoping I die from this. “Only if I don’t pay the fee within six months?—”
“—Which I will,” I addquickly.
Nadine turns to look at me. “If you need the money–”
“I don’t,” I reply. “I have it under control.” I might need to beg people to hire me and possibly sacrifice my health for a while, but Icanhave it in control.
“Nadine’s right, Nova. If you need our help…”
That’s why I’m not asking. “I know.”
Nadine silently watches me before taking a sip of her own drink. Shebleghsat it. “What the heck is this?”
“Iced capp without caffeine,” Easton puffs his chest out like he’s happy to be the next name on her murder list.
“And why is it in my hand?”
“Because you’ve had enough caffeine today.”
“I hate you.”
“You’ll love me again when you find out I reserved a table at your favourite restaurant tonight.”
Nadine gasps. “You didn’t!”
“I did.” He looks at me, “And I reserved three seats.”
Nadine snaps around to plead with me. “You have to come.”
I glance between both of them, my palms turning sweaty. The more time I spend in their presence, the more I need to lie, and I actually, genuinely, horrifyingly am terrible at it. “I’d love to, but I have a meeting with an… author.”
Nadine visibly sinks in her seat and Easton nods in understanding while rubbing a hand on her shoulder. “That’s okay,” he smiles. “Some other time then.”
Biting the inside of my cheek, I stop twirling around the terrible excuse of a straw. “I should go. Thanks for today and for the iced capp, big bro.”
“Anytime, kiddo.”
“Can we drop you somewhere?” Nadine asks but I shake my head.
“Sunny’s waiting for me in her car, I’ll talk to you later.”
When I open the door, Nadine grabs my arm. “I love you, baby girl.”
My chest constricts. The Tagalog word for older sister sits on my tongue. “I love you too,Ate.”
CHAPTER 2
“You should have told her the truth.”
My head vibrates against the window, the subtle hum of Sunny’s Italian playlist shuffles between men singing about their love to men fighting for love. Not that I have anything against love, but what’s so special about it?
I’ve seen it first-hand and all it does is cause absolute destruction.
“And what?” I look at her. She let her curly brown hair down, no longer wearing the expression of a lost cat. She controls the car with confident dark brown hands that move with experience and excellence. Her light brown eyes quickly glance at me then back on the road.
“I don’t want her thinking I can’t handle real life.”
