Page 76 of Dream Chaser

Preston was the selfish one, but I bit my tongue and let Nova continue.

“He spent days giving me the silent treatment,” she whispered. “After a week, I couldn’t take it anymore, so I caved. We had just gotten married. He was my first relationship. We finally talked, and I agreed to hold off on finding a job. I thought he’d change his mind eventually.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. My hand found Nova’s. I ran my thumb over her knuckles, but what I really wanted was to pull her into my arms and make her forget all the shitty people and what they put her through.

“It’s okay now,” Nova said. “Long story short, that was the beginning of the end. I got sucked into the routine. Housework. Preston’s career. His friends.” A shaky exhale left her lips and her gaze turned vacant, like she was lost in unhappy memories. “Every morning, I looked at myself in the mirror and saw a sad stranger with lifeless eyes. I stopped taking pictures, never went out, never had fun. Preston would lie on the couch watching TV every evening because he was too tired after work to do anything. He said date nights were a waste of money but had no issue going on fishing trips with his friends. That was networking, and useful for his career. Everything mattered but me. Every time I asked for more, he made me feel guilty. One day it just got to be too much. I imagined living like that for the rest of my life, and I couldn’t. So I left. Should’ve done it way sooner.”

“You didn’t know,” I whispered. “Don’t dwell on the past. Your future is what matters.”

Nova laced her fingers with mine. “My mother will never accept a future in which I’m not a housewife in Millford.” She groaned, rubbing her face. “But I was miserable. That was never the life I wanted. I just let them convince me I didn’t know what was best for myself.”

“Happens a lot when you’re young.”

She turned her head on the pillow. A soft smile curved her lips. “What was it like for you? How did you know you wanted to start your own agency?”

“I didn’t at first. I just wanted to make enough money to feel secure. Setting up my own agency was unplanned.”

I’d spent years grappling with what led me to that decision. I trusted Nova, but telling her about my past meant opening a can of worms I’d fought to keep hidden.

“So was sending you my résumé,” Nova said. “I never thought you’d give me the job, but I was desperate.”

“Best decision I’ve ever made.” I meant it.

“You just feel sorry for me after today.”

“No. Anyone with a brain would want a smart, talented, resourceful woman on their team.”

She turned to me. Another dazzling smile broke free. “I have a question.”

“Ask away.”

“How are you single? You said you’ve been married to the agency, but still. You must’ve dated.”

“I have. My last relationship was in Spain.”

Nova’s smile slipped, and a flicker of something I couldn’t name passed across her face. “What happened?”

I gently rubbed Nova’s wrist where her pulse fluttered under her skin. “We drifted apart and amicably ended things.” Something had been missing—the spark. Chemistry. Deeper feelings. Carrying on hadn’t been worth it.

“Do you keep in touch?”

“We run into each other at events occasionally. My turn to ask.”

“Uh-huh.” Nova poked me with her fingertip. “Only because you took care of me like nobody ever has.”

“Nobody?”

“Is that your question?”

“No.” I pulled the duvet up to her shoulders. “Tell me about photography. Why do you like it?”

“The beauty in the little things.” Nova yawned. “My dad used to tell me I noticed what others didn’t. He always encouraged me to take it more seriously. I even thought I’d do it for a living one day.”

“Asher loved your pictures back when I was just considering hiring you.”

Nova groaned. “God, this is the worst time to get sick. I was supposed to be taking his pictures for NitroFlow tomorrow. They wanted candid shots of him at training.”

“You’ll do it when you feel better. Work can wait.”