Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“You get lost?” she asked from the doorway. She came closer. “What’s that?”
“Me and you,” I said softly, looking at the framed photo on my dresser.
Me, Micky, and Nova were in a small plastic pool in our underwear. Micky was in the background, a wide smile on his face, mid jump, with water splashing up from his feet. I had no memory of Nova back then, but her face was unmistakable. She was turned sideways laughing at him, her hands photographed mid clap.
But the most telling part of the photo was me.
I was staring at Nova, a goofy smile on my face. No interest in whatever wild thing Micky was doing, completely focused on the girl laughing in front of me.
“Oh, my god,” she said, reaching out to touch the picture. “I don’t remember this.”
“I don’t either,” I croaked.
“I knew we went to Nana’s every summer,” she said softly. “I guess I didn’t realize we spent time with you guys. We were so cute. Look at you.”
History seemed to be repeating itself, because I couldn’t look away from Nova.
“You’re so cute.” She looked up at me and went quiet.
“I’m starin’ at you.”
“I see that,” she murmured.
“Never stopped.”
“Rum,” she breathed.
“When I thought you were hurt,” I said roughly, shaking my head. “Jesus, No.”
“What are you saying?” she asked softly.
“Why the fuck aren’t we together?”
She jerked like I’d poked her. “You know why.”
“Tryin’ to find a reason,” I replied with a humorless laugh. “Can’t think of one.”
“There were a lot of reasons,” she reminded me. “It’s been a pretty fucking terrible twenty-four hours. You’re upset. Nothing makes sense right now.”
“That’s not what this is.”
Nova’s shoulders slumped. “Rum, I can’t do this right now.”
Remorse filled me. Fuck, I was an asshole.
“Of course,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m an idiot.” I reached for the dresser to get her some clothes to sleep in.
“Do you mind if I take a shower?” she asked as I handed her some sweats.
“Not at all.”
I followed her to the bathroom.
“Don’t turn off the lights, okay?” she asked me from the door. “Bird doesn’t like the dark.”
“I won’t touch them.”
After she’d closed herself in, I stood outside listening to her turn on the water and move around the bathroom. Even those five feet between us felt too far. It was illogical, but now that we were out of the hospital and no one was watching her, I was terrified that something would happen. That one of her ribs would puncture her lung if she moved wrong, or that she had some internal bleeding they hadn’t found, or her concussion would make her pass out and fall.
I stood outside the bathroom door like a weirdo the entire time she showered.
“You alright?” Ash asked from behind me, making me jump.
“Just—” I shrugged and moved my hands awkwardly. “Waiting for Nova to get done.”
“I thought she might need this,” Ash said, setting Nova’s bag outside the bathroom door.
“You okay, Ash?” I asked. She’d pulled her hair into a ponytail and she was swimming in Brenna’s pajamas… she looked like hell. “Can I get you anythin’?”
“I don’t need anything,” she replied. She went back to the guestroom and closed the door.
“Hey Rum,” Nova whisper shouted as she opened the bathroom door. She jerked in surprise when she saw me right outside. “Could you get my bag for me?”
“Ash brought it out,” I said, handing her the bag.
“Could you—I don’t want to ask Nana.”
“What?”
“Could you help me wrap my ribs back up?” She grimaced. “It doesn’t really do anything, but it feels better when they’re wrapped.”
“Sure,” I murmured, following her back into the bathroom. I stopped when her body came into view.
Bruises that hadn’t been evident when I’d helped her get changed earlier in the night mottled her entire body.
“I didn’t want her to see it,” Nova said, looking down at her body. “Pretty bad.”
“Not so bad,” I assured her.
She laughed and then groaned.
“Okay, you’re right,” I said. “You look like the T-shirt I tie-dyed at camp when I was eight.”
“Fuck,” she whispered, grabbing the bandage off the counter. “What a nightmare.”
“I think that’s probably an understatement,” I replied, taking it from her.
She started crying as I wrapped her ribs, but when I paused, she just shook her head and gestured at me to finish.
“Too tight?” I asked once I’d secured it.
“No, it’s good,” she mumbled, sniffling.
“Hey,” I said, pulling her against me. “It’s alright, sugar.”
“Nothing is ever going to be the same,” she whispered against my neck, her tears soaking into my T-shirt. “Why did this happen to us?”
“I don’t know.”
“I miss him so much,” she choked out. “I was so scared, Rumi.”
“I’m sorry,” I rasped.
“I just kept thinking, it’s me, Pop. Don’t you recognize me? Why are you doing this?”
“Shh.”
“And more than that, I was thinking, if you touch my brother, I’ll kill you.”