At least she was working with people, though, which was the biggest plus for her. Ciana thrived around people, which made being a nurse perfect for her.

“Good morning,” she greeted with a warm smile. “How about stopping by the clinic today and having lunch with me?”

“I was hoping to spend the day with Ryan,” I told her as I dropped into my usual chair at the table.

Her brows rose. “I thought he was going to be busy moving in to his apartment all day.”

“His apartment?” I repeated, every muscle in my body tightening painfully.

“Yeah. He barely stopped for a cup of coffee earlier, he was in such a rush. He said he and Garret were moving in to Tetka’s old apartment. You know, the vacant one right below Theo and Tavia’s?” When I just sat there staring at her, her cheerful mood seemed to evaporate. “You didn’t know he was moving out?”

“No.” Picking up a slice of toast, I took an angry bite, even though food was the last thing I wanted. But I needed something to do so I didn’t do something stupid—like start crying again.

“Nova—” she began, but I quickly cut her off, not sure I could withstand her sympathy.

“I would love to have lunch with you, Ciana.” Picking up a glass of juice, I stood. “I’ll meet you at the clinic around noon.”

“I’m sorry,” she called after me.

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” I told her and kept walking. “As busy as he’s been lately, I’m sure he needs to be closer to work. He just forgot to tell me. It’s fine.”

“Since when has Ryan ever been too busy for you?” she grumbled from the table.

“Since he became a man.”

16

Nova

Ryan Age 22 : Nova Age 17

“Let’s place the cake over here,” Aunt Raven instructed as she rushed around the room, helping set up for my birthday party. My uncles, a few of my cousins, and even Ciana were hard at work putting everything in place, but for the moment, just Raven, Mom, and I were in the bar. “The presents will go back on that table. And make sure there are table toppers on every table and booth.”

“We wanna help, Auntie,” Ian and Isaac said as they ran in from where they’d been helping their grandfather with some balloons outside, wanting to help with the homemade table toppers all the ol’ ladies had spent the week creating just for this party. They had pink and purple flowers, with little butterflies and hummingbirds sticking out. I thought they were adorable.

Aunt Raven crouched down so that she was on their level. “Okay, you two. You can help, but only if you promise not to crush anything. Can you be gentle and place the toppers on each table carefully?”

They gave grave nods, their dark eyes flashing between different shades of brown, just like their father’s tended to do with each change of his emotions. Ian and Isaac weren’t identical, but I had more trouble telling them apart than I did Monroe’s set of twin daughters who were, in fact, identical. Then again, Gianna and Lilliana were so different in personality, it wasn’t all that hard to distinguish between them.