She sighed, resting her forearms on the porch railing. “I’m not going to lie and say I’m not worried, Nova. You barely know them, and you’re moving so far away from anyone you can reach out to for help. But on the other hand, I can understand why you feel you need to do it. I’m struggling with this whole situation, and they were only my friends.” She didn’t need to elaborate on the fact she meant my dad’s illegitimate love child now being mine. That one was pretty obvious. “Just know, this isn’t your only choice. I can help you more if you need it—you just have to ask.”

I gave Rita a smile, this woman who’d somehow stepped into a maternal role without hesitation, right when I’d needed it the most. “I know.”

She straightened. “I’ll miss you. I’m going to text you the number for my brother Greg in Detroit. He’s ex-Army, so if you need help, you call him and he’ll come and get you, okay? His wife is scary too, so don’t fret. They’ll have your back. I want you to memorize that number until you can mutter it in your sleep, got it?” I nodded, tears pooling in my eyes. “And you better message me every two days or I’m sending him to your house whether you need it or not.” She reached out and pulled me into a hug. “You’re so damn brave and strong. I wish I’d been half the woman you are when I was your age, Nova Stone. You’ll be the best damn mother to that baby anyone could ask for. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.”

Chapter Seven

RIGBY

I paced around, making sure everything was perfect. I’d even called someone in to redecorate two rooms, one into a nursery and the attached room into something a little more feminine than the general rooms in our house.

I was in sweats, freshly showered from practice. The regular season would start soon, and I wanted to make sure that Nova and Huey were settled and happy. I tried to do what my mom used to tell me to do and think through why I was feeling what I was feeling.

Why did I feel this anxious about something that really shouldn’t matter to me? I mean, I loved the guys—they were my best friends, and I’d do anything for them. I’d liked Alana too; she’d been damaged and broken, but she was sweet enough. She’d tried to come on to me a couple of times, but there was a code, you know? Don’t fuck your best friend’s sister.