Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 75195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
My words hung in the air and her gaze softened.
“Nova,” I said more softly. “What did you do?”
She let out a deep sigh and looked away.
“It’s okay.” I reached across the table and took her hand in mine. “Understand this. You can tell me anything.”
She met my gaze, and I could see the pain in her eyes. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but then paused and shook her head.
I gave her hand a gentle squeeze of encouragement, willing her to open up to me.
Finally, Nova spoke in a low voice that was barely above a whisper. “I’m a twin.”
I leaned my head to the side. “There is another beautiful woman that looks just like you walking on this planet?”
She gave me a sad smile. “Twin brother.”
“Tell me more.”
“Dylan and I were super close and did everything together. We even told each other everything.”
Still holding her hand, I slipped my thumb along her fingers. “Okay.”
“When we were sixteen, Dylan told me in confidence one night that he was in a relationship that our parents wouldn’t approve of.”
“What sort of relationship?”
“He was in love with a man.”
I frowned. “Your parents have a problem with homosexuality?”
“Yes.” She rolled her eyes. “Anyway, Dylan and I kept this from them.”
“When did he know he liked men?”
“I think he was thirteen when he admitted it to me, but honestly I think he knew long before then.”
“He could trust you to not say anything?”
“Yes.” Sadness rose in her eyes. “But, this new relationship was a problem. It was hard for me to remain silent about it.”
“Why?”
“Dylan was sleeping with the pastor of our church. This is a man that was well over fifty years old and who adamantly preached against same-gender attraction every Sunday. Additionally, he was married and had three kids around our age.”
“So, a hypocrite and predatory pedophile?”
“I would say so. And Dylan didn’t want me to tell anyone. Meanwhile, they were hooking up in his office right after church. This man was doing. . .all types of things to my brother—tying him up, whipping him with a bible, etc. My parents thought he was volunteering for the church. Instead, he was getting laid by this older, married man.” Her bottom lip quivered and I wanted to gather her in my arms.
But, I had to let her get this all out.
“So. . .” Nova’s voice cracked. “I went to my mother and told her. I thought that. . .”
I leaned forward. “You thought what?”
“I thought that the pastor would be the one that got in trouble.”
I raised my eyebrows. “He didn’t?”
“My mother is. . . Something is wrong with her. She. . .um. . .so she never really treated my brother right. Since we were tiny kids she always disciplined him the most and said some of the meanest things to him for no reason.”
“Why?”
“It would take years to explain my mother. She’s part of the reason why I was interested in the field of psychology.”
“And your brother was the other reason?”
She blinked. “Yes.”
My heart ached, knowing that whatever she would say next was going to be tragic. I could see it all over her face. “What happened, Nova?”
“After I told my mother, she stormed into my brother’s room with a belt and just started hitting him over and over. She screamed how he was a demon enticing the good pastor. And Dylan. . .he just took it. . .like. . .he deserved it.” She moved her hand from me and hugged herself. “I was able to get in the room and somehow pull my mother away. Dylan ran off.”
Anger rose within me.
“Then, I let go of my mother and hurried after Dylan. . .but I never found him.”
“Did you find him eventually?”
“I didn’t.” Her eyes watered. “But the pastor did. Two days later. Hanging from the ceiling beam in his office.”
Nova’s words broke my heart.
I rose from my seat and went to Nova. I didn’t stop to think about what I was doing. Before I knew it, I was on my knees next to her chair and wrapping my arms around her.
“I’m fine, Tristan.” Still, Nova let me hold her close. “It was a very long time ago.”
“I’m so sorry.”
She softened and leaned into me. “I’m sorry too.”
This was not a usual moment on any date I’d ever had. Typically, we talked about sex and some of our past relationships. A little small talk here and there, but nothing too remarkable, nothing that would take me a long time to forget.
But, Nova had somehow tugged at my heart—an organ that I mostly ignored.
She whispered, “Even crazier. . .”
“Yes?”
“I. . .” She cleared her throat. “You’re going to think I am insane.”
“Does it matter? Look at where I have you tonight.” I gave her a sad smile. “What is crazy?”
“I text my brother.”