“Not what I meant.”
I place my hands on either side of her legs. “Get in.”
“No,” she says with a glimmer of humor in her eyes.
“Why not?” I challenge.
“Because you look like you’re up to no good.”
“I’m always up to no good,” I counter.
“Get in, Nova,” Thea calls from the shallow end where the baby is now splashing around.
“See, even the psycho thinks you should get in.”
“And I should take the word of a psycho?” She raises a brow, fighting a smile.
“Of course. Otherwise she might stab you. You can’t predict her, that’s why she’s psycho.”
Nova laughs. “Fine, move out of my way.”
I swim back slightly and she stands up, removing her tank top and shorts and revealing the bikini she wears beneath. It hugs her curves and I wonder how I got so damn lucky to have this girl as mine.
She plugs her nose and runs, jumping into the water in front of me and soaking my shoulders and head that float above water.
She surfaces in front of me, treading water, and grins. “Gotcha.”
I grab her waist and she wraps her legs around mine and her arms around my shoulders.
“Confession: I love your freckles,” I tell her and she laughs.
“I know—you tell me all the time.”
I kiss her nose. “You deserve to know.”
I love everything about her, from he
ad to toe, but more importantly the heart that lies inside her chest.
Nova is the kindest, most wonderful person I know, and she deserves the world. I’m determined to give it to her, to make up for all the shit she’s been through—stuff no person should ever have to experience.
“Let’s go somewhere.” She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “I don’t know—anywhere.”
“We have work.” She frowns.
“We can take off. We rarely call in sick and neither of us has taken vacation time.”
She presses her lips together, thinking. “Where?”
I shrug. “We can figure it out later.”
“What are you lovebirds talking about?” Thea interrupts. “I’m feeling left out.”
“Do you think if we ignore her she’ll disappear?” I ask Nova under my breath.
She laughs softly and shakes her head. “Not likely.”
I sigh heavily. “I was afraid you’d say that.”