Page 92 of Hometown Hottie

45

NOVA

Feeling awful about what had just happened, I went back into my cottage and called Cassidy, hoping like hell she’d be able to come over. I didn’t reach out often because I happened to think I could solve most of my problems alone, but not this.

Not today.

All those things Ryan had said kept rolling through my mind. The look on Carson’s face when my brother had seen us was front and center in my brain. I’d never meant to come between them, but I had—and I didn’t think there would be any coming back from it.

Not anymore.

With tears pressing at the backs of my eyes, I gripped my phone and nearly gave up hope before Cassidy finally picked up. “Hey, babe. How are you? Please don’t tell me you’re working and need help.”

“No, it’s not that,” I said, my voice shaking. I sank down on a stool in my kitchen, staring forlornly out the window and wondering if I’d just ruined everything. “Could you come over? Ryan, uh, he just found out about Carson and me, and it did not go down well.”

“Shit.” I heard the scrape of a chair against tiles. “I’m on my way. Give me fifteen minutes. Pour yourself a drink and then stay right where you are. I’ll be there soon.”

She ended the call after I heard a door slamming, and I drew in a deep breath as I put the phone down on the counter. Following her instructions to pour myself a drink, I poured one for her as well and carried both glasses out to the deck overlooking the river.

A short while later, my front door creaked open and I froze until I heard her voice. “Nova? Where are you?”

“I’m out here.”

My blood began flowing again now that I knew neither of the guys had come back. I sat up a little straighter, half embarrassed by the tears flowing down my cheeks and the mess I was. Cassidy gave me one look when she appeared in the doorway and then pulled me up into her arms, not caring that I looked like shit.

“That bad, huh?” she asked into my hair as she gave me a hug. “Well, at least now he knows. Was there any blood spilled?”

She asked the question as a joke, but her body tensed against mine when I nodded. Pulling away, she frowned, her eyebrows arched and jaw slack. “What, are you serious? There was blood?”

“Carson’s,” I said softly. “He said he was okay, but he left before I could even help him clean up, so I’m not sure if he really is.”

“Ryan got a hit in on Carson?” Her frown deepened. “I’m surprised. I kind of thought an NFL quarterback would be faster than that.”

I sat down, reached for Cassidy’s drink, and handed it over. Then I brought mine to my lips. “Carson let Ryan punch him. I’m pretty sure he felt like he deserved it, but again, I don’t know for sure because he left. He wouldn’t even let me give him ice or a cloth to clean up.”

“Did he say where he was going?” she asked cautiously. “Maybe he was just a little humiliated and didn’t want you to see him hurt.”

I pulled my shoulders up again. “Maybe. I honestly don’t know. He said he was going to track Ryan down, but I don’t think that would’ve been a good idea so soon after the fight, and I’m also not sure if he actually did it. I also don’t know why he would’ve been humiliated. It’s not like I’ve never seen him hurt before. I used to go to every last one of his games. Seeing him take hits was part of the package.”

“Yeah, but that’s not really the same thing.” She reclined in her chair, her brow furrowed as she looked me over. “You’re okay, though?”

“I’m fine.” I waved her off. “Shaken but physically okay.”

She pursed her lips at me. “If that was true, you wouldn’t have called, so talk to me, girl. I know you’re okay physically. Neither of them would ever hurt you like that, but you’re obviously still hurt, so tell me what you’re thinking.”

“I don’t know.” I sighed and ran my hands through my loose, slightly knotty hair. I’d never even gotten around to brushing it after my shower. Then things had happened with Carson and now it felt kind of impossible to believe that it had all been such a short time ago that I still hadn’t brushed my freaking hair. “My brother is an asshole who seems to think I’m incapable of making my own decisions. He also came this close to calling me a slut.” I held my fingers about an inch apart.

“You should’ve seen him, Cass. He was completely beyond reason and totally irrational. The only reason he didn’t call me that was because my boyfriend, who apparently will never settle down with me because I’m not good enough, stopped him before he could get the word out. The same boyfriend who fled from me like his ass was on fire after.”

Her mouth dropped so far open that it looked like she was about to unhinge her jaw. “He called you a slut?”

“He was about to,” I muttered. “It seems the only way I can be with Carson is if I am one. Either that, or just another girl who’s willing to open my legs to a guy who will never have real feelings for me.”

She scoffed. “That’s ridiculous. He said all that?”

“Pretty much.” I dragged in a deep breath through my nostrils and closed my eyes. “I don’t know what to do, Cass. When it’s just me and Carson, I’m so sure that it’s right, but it feels like there’s always something that’s tearing us apart.”

“Ignore the noise,” she said wisely. “That’s all it is. Noise. The only thing that matters is how you feel. Hold on to that, and everything else will fall into place eventually. Do you want me to talk to Ryan? He might see things differently coming from me. I’m sure as hell not going to keep going on dates with him if he’s going to be like this with you two.”