Into the Fading Twilight (Starlight Grove, #2) (60)

A Legacy of Horror: The Real Nova Monroe Story by Reese Gatlin.

Suddenly, I wasn’t hungry for breakfast at all.





CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR


Kol




SOMETHING WAS OFF WITH NOVA. I WASN’T SURE IF something had happened in the five minutes it had taken for her to grab a sweatshirt or if I’d missed something earlier. It could’ve been the missing woman. That would definitely do it. But something was scratching at the back of my brain, telling me that wasn’t it.

“Thank you so much for the most amazing breakfast, Sky,” Nova said with that smile that looked real but wasn’t.

Skylar executed a spin and then a bow. “Anytime, milady.”

Nova’s gaze flicked to me. “I’m just going to shower and change real fast. Are you sure you’re okay with dropping me at my car?”

“Of course,” I said, frowning.

“I got the dishes, Daddy!” Skylar hurried to grab one from the table. Helping with the meal process and the chores afterward had become her thing lately.

“You don’t have to, you know,” Nova said softly. “Brae can give me a ride.”

My frown deepened. “You don’t want me to drive you?”

“You’re all scowly.” She reached up, her thumb rubbing at the spot where I could now feel my brow furrowing.

“I don’t like it when you fake smile.”

Nova’s eyes widened, and her hand dropped away. I instantly missed the contact, the point of connection, the heat. Now, it was Nova’s turn to frown. “How do you always know?”

I shrugged, but I knew the truth. Because I’d made a study of Nova Monroe. All her smiles and frowns. Her tells and covers. Every mask she donned to face the day.

But the most beautiful sight I ever saw was when Nova was real. I lived for those moments.

She sighed and pulled out her phone, showing me an article by that asshole Reese. A slew of curses slid free, making Nova chuckle. “Pretty sure that qualifies for the swear jar.”

“Only if Sky heard,” I shot back. My gaze lifted to Nova’s face. “I’m so sorry.”

She stared at the screen. “Feels like someone stripped me naked in front of the whole world.”

I wanted to kill the reporter for that. Taking choice and autonomy from someone who’d already had it stripped away in the worst way imaginable? It was lower than low.

“I’m gonna get Dex on it. See what he can do,” I ground out.

“You don’t have to. It’s not the first article. It won’t be the last.”

I reached out and took her hand, squeezing. “You’re gonna make it through.”

Those gray eyes flashed silver. “Damn straight, I will. And I’m going to find someone to hex Reese Gatlin with a limp dick for the rest of his life.”

I barked out a laugh. It was the last sound I’d expected to make when I was this angry. “That’s one way to deal with it.”

Nova was constantly a surprise. How she dealt with things. How she rose from a knockout punch every damn time. Everything about her wove a spell around me. Which was exactly why I let go of her hand.

“I’d better get that shower,” Nova said, her voice just a little hoarse.

“Yeah.” Mine was pure sandpapered grit. As she headed for her apartment, I could still feel her hand in mine. My skin buzzed and burned as if it refused to forget.

“All the dishes are in the washer,” Skylar said, landing in front of me with a jump. “I rinsed really good.”

I stared down at my girl. Today, she wore pink camo pants and a sweatshirt that read Feeling Cute, Might Cause Some Chaos Later. That one had to have come from Mav.

Hoisting Sky into the air, I hugged her tight. “You know you’re the awesomest helper, right?”

“Duh, Daddy.”

I chuckled. “I’m glad you’re secure in your awesomeness.”

She stared down at me, her hazel eyes nearly identical to mine. “Can I ask you a question?”

I instantly braced. There had been some awkward ones over the years. The highlights included:

“Why don’t I have a penis?”

“Where do babies come from?”

“What does asshole mean?”

That last one was Mav’s fault.

I set Skylar in our conversation spot on the counter. It put her closer to my level without us sitting on the couch and making things feel formal. “Sock it to me, Little Princess.”

I really hoped we were still too early for the birds and bees. The baby discussion was bad enough. And while I had a book on my night-stand about girls going through puberty to prepare for that talk, I thought eight was a little young for questions about her period.

Skylar stared up at me. “What happened to Nova’s arms?”

I braced for a whole other reason. It made sense that Sky had noticed. Kids were far too perceptive, and they registered differences because they wanted to understand them. But I didn’t have the first clue how to explain this to an eight-year-old.

“She doesn’t like those marks,” Sky said softly. “She’s always pulling at her sleeves and checking that they’re covered.”

My gut twisted because Skylar wasn’t wrong. “Sometimes, it’s hard to have things that make us different.”