“Yeah?”
“You’re my best friend.”
I blinked, looking down at what little I could see of her face. No one had ever called me that before. I had friends at school, but no one I was close enough to call my best friend. I liked Ciana more than I liked most kids, and I loved her, but I wouldn’t even call her my best friend.
Yet Nova calling me her best friend felt more right than anything ever had. More right than the first time I finally got to call my mom, Mom.
“You’re my best friend too, Nova,” I told her quietly.
She made a happy sound and cuddled closer. I tightened my arm around her, and I just lay there holding her until her breathing evened out, telling me she really had fallen asleep this time. The digital clock glowed the time, and I realized only about ten minutes had passed since I’d woken from my bad dream.
Nova had fallen asleep so easily, and I kind of envied that. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to sleep. I just didn’t like what happened when I did.
But when Nova was cuddled so close, her slight weight against me oddly reassuring, the scent of her baby shampoo from the bath her mom had given her earlier teasing at my nose, I found myself fighting to keep my eyes open.
The sound of a grunt jerked me awake. Nova grumbled something in her sleep before I even opened my eyes, and I tightened my hold on her, wanting to protect her. Lifting my lashes, I found my room was full of adults.
Mom was at the foot of my bed, while Nova’s
mother stood on my side of the bed. When I looked at her mom, I clutched Nova closer and scooted us both a few inches away before turning my gaze back to Mom.
“What’s wrong?” I whispered, not wanting to wake the angel still sleeping against me.
“Felicity couldn’t find Nova,” Mom answered, her voice quiet. “We thought she might have gotten lost trying to find their room last night. But it appears she was here all along.”
“She couldn’t sleep,” I told them, not telling them that Nova had been scared. I’d promised not to tell, and I wouldn’t break that promise, no matter what.
Felicity smiled down at me. “Thank you for taking care of her. I’m sure she didn’t let you sleep much. Nova doesn’t fall asleep easily.”
Her answer surprised me. Both times Nova had fallen asleep beside me, she’d been out within minutes. She hadn’t tossed or turned the entire night. What was really weird, though, was that I’d fallen asleep just as quickly.
And there had been no nightmares.
I’d slept the whole night with Nova against me, and I couldn’t remember a single bad dream. There was no lingering taste of fear in my mouth, no sweat dampening my sheets, no racing heart except when I’d looked up and seen Nova’s mom standing beside my bed.
Nova whined in her sleep before stretching. I looked down at her just as her lashes fluttered upward. Her eyes were even prettier first thing in the morning with sleep still darkening them. When she focused on my face, she smiled, making that light glow inside me again.
“Ryan.” The smile turned into a frown. “Oh no. I gotta potty!”
Felicity bent and lifted her. “I think it’s time to start the day, Nova.”
“But I wanna stay with Ryan, Mommy,” she complained as her mom carried her out of my room.
“You will see Ryan after you potty and change out of your jammies.”
I sat up so I could watch them go until the door closed behind them. While my gaze was still on the door, Mom sat down on the edge of the bed closest to me. “You look as if you slept well, l’venok.”
Swallowing hard, I shifted my gaze to her. “Mom…” My voice came out croaky like a frog, and I cleared it a few times before speaking again. “Can Nova stay here forever?”
Her face showed her surprise at my question. “Ryan, she’s just visiting with her family. They live in California.”
“I know,” I muttered. “But can’t we adopt her and keep her forever?”
She scanned my face for a long moment, and I knew she was looking for something, but I didn’t know what. “I’m sorry, l’venok. This time, it is out of my power to give you what you want.”
A lump filled my throat, and I had to look away so she didn’t see my tears. “But she makes things better, Mom.”
“Better how?”