Nova (45 page)

Marlo
and Sam ran a few different camps each summer in the
mornings for two hours. The second week in July was always Camp Helping Hooves for children with special needs.
It was
Marlo
’s
favorite camp, and this year I was privileged to help her out with it.
Ben was also an extra hand, and between him and Sam, the week was really memorable.
It was hard spending the time with Austin’s family, even though I told myself it shouldn’t be. Maybe that’s why I felt more comfortable around Ben than I did Sami, and besides Jack, he became the closest person to me on the ranch.
He was the brother I never had.

“So I was thinking…” Ben said to me as we walked to the guesthouse one Saturday afternoon.

“Uh-
oh, scary thought.”

“I know, so you’d better listen carefully.”

“For hidden meanings or some type of riddle?”

“Maybe,” he smiled, holding the door for me.

I entered the house and headed
for the kitchen, going straight for
the leftover chicken in the fridge. I pulled it out and set it on the counter, and Ben and I helped ourselves.

“Well, next month
my dad and I are heading down
to San Diego for a few days…
I was wondering
if you wanted to come
with us
.”

I looked at him for a few seconds, surprised at the offer. “What’s in San Diego?” I finally asked.

“
We’re
picking up a couple of horses for
Marlo
—rescued horses—and bringing them back here to be rehabilitated. It’d be a good idea to have a vet with
us
. There shouldn’t be any problems, but just in case.”

I slightly nodded my head. “Sure, that sounds like something I’d be interested in. What days?”

“Uh,
Marlo
told them the tenth.”

“
But
you said a few days?”

“Uh, well… Just thought while I was down there, I’d enjoy a few of the sights. Padres game, naval museum…Sea World
,
”
he smiled.

I chuckled. “You want to go to Sea World?”

“Sure, why not?” he shrugged.

I thought about that for a few seconds. “Actually I’d like to go to Sea World.”

“Would ya?”

“Yeah, I’ve only been once. I think my mom took me when I was about nine or ten. Oh, ten. I had to be about ten because that’s when my dad left for Chicago and it was kind of…a celebratory event, I guess. My mom sold something—I don’t really remember what it was—so we would have the money to go.
”

Ben leaned against the counter and folded his arms across his chest as he listened.

“My mom…” I smiled at the memory. “I
just remember her being really happy—p
layful, and just…caref
ree. Looking back I realize why.
I
mean what it meant from a grown
up
’s
perspective, you know? But at the time it was just the coolest thing to have such a silly mom. That’s what I remember, her being really silly and goofy. We had a great time.”

Thinking about my mom and that particular memory really affected me, and even though I often thought of memories that made me cry, I really didn’t feel like getting emotional in front of anyone.

“Anyways,” I said, turning away to brush a stray tear. “Yeah, I’d like to go with you guys.”

I busied myself with
eating
, and when I heard the crinkling of a bag, I glanced at Ben with a bag of
Funyons
.

“Hey, where’d you get those?” I exclaimed.

He smiled and said, “My secret stash.”

“You have a secret stash in this kitchen?”

“Maybe.”

He taunted me for a few seconds, but then he eventually held the bag out for me to help myself.

“
You like baseball?” he asked.

“Yeah, I like to watch it. My boyfriend in high school was a baseball player,” I added with a smile.

“Oh, yeah? What was his name?”

“Griffin McCoy,” I said

“Griffin McCoy,” he repeated. “Sounds like a pitcher.”

I chuckled. “He was. Nice call.”

“And whatever happened to ol’
Griff
?” he teased.

“You mean why did we break up?”

He nodded.

“Well…I’m not really sure. Just one of those things I guess.”

“One
of those things? Oh, come on, y
ou
gotta
remember something. Like…he was a jerk, or he was too immature, or he was a terrible kisser, or—”

“No, he wasn’t a terrible kisser,” I smiled.

“No? You remember that much, huh? A lot of kissing going on behind the bleachers?”

I laughed. “Maybe. But I think we broke up because he was going away for college. He got a scholarship.”

“Oh? To where?”

“Uh, Washington State, or University of Washington… One of those schools.”

Ben slightly nodded.

“He did make it pro,” I added.

“Really?”

“Yeah. He got drafted by the Reds and I think he’s still playing in their minor league.”

“Hmm. Cool. You ever regret the breakup?”

“Why, because he’s a professional baseball player?”

“No, just…a boyfriend that you might miss.”

“Nah. I’ve actually talked to him a few times these last couple of years, but we’re just friends.”

He took another
F
unyon
out of the bag and ate it, so I did the same.

“You have a favorite team?” he asked.

“You mean in the majors?”

He nodded.

“Mm, not really. I don’t exactly have time to follow sports right now. Well, I take that back,” I scoffed. “I follow NASCAR.”

“Whether you like to or not,” he
smiled
.

“I
prefer
to,” I replied, and he nodded his head. I didn’t have to explain it to Ben because he’d heard every opinion of mine on the subject.

He handed me the bag of chips and opened the refrigerator. “You heard from him?” he asked.

“You mean since Las Vegas? No.”

He grabbed a pitcher of iced tea and set it on the counter to pour two glasses.

“I haven’t called him either,” I offered voluntarily.

“I know you haven’t,” he replied. After a few seconds went by he asked, “So you have any other guys that you’ve dated before Austin?”

“Uh…
there was one guy that I liked just before I met Austin, but…”

“But what?”

“Well, Austin came into the picture and that was all it took.”

“He stole you from another guy?” he
laughed
.

I took a few minutes to explain Levi, and how I was so set on not dating anyone. But I did decide to casually date him, and then Austin had to mess everything up.

“Maybe you should give Levi a call,” Ben suggested.

“What? Are you joking?”

“Why? Does he hate you for choosing another guy?”

“No, we weren’t that exclusive to begin with. But I have no interest in another relationship.”

“You’re still going to wait for Austin?”

I shrugged.

“For how long?”

I sighed, but Ben shook his head.

“Never mind,” he said.
“
I’m just suggesting that you start dating again.”

“Why?”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t want to.”

He shrugged as he put the pitcher of iced tea away. “Okay, I’m just trying to help.
Maybe if you started seeing someone else, Austin would open his eyes.
”

“Well guys are not the answer. You—all of you—make my life miserable.”

He chuckled. “Sorry.”

“Yeah, you’d better be.”

Two weeks later I was in Santa Clarita, spending time with my aunt and uncle. Later that night I met up with
Autumn
, and w
hile we were sitting in Percy’s
listening to some music, she frowned and said, “I need a man.”

I chuckled and took a sip of my drink. “No
,
you don’t. They’re just a hassle.”

“No,” she nodded, seeming deep in thought. “I need the hassle.”

Ben
popped into my head immediately
and I sat there, silently debating it in my head.
“I think I have someone you should meet,” I finally said.

“Really?”

“Yeah. I’ve mentioned Ben, right? He grew up with Austin in Bakersfield?”

“Oh, yeah. The barn guy’s kid.”

I
smiled
. “Yeah, he’s Heath’s son.”

“Well I don’t mean to sound shallow, but is he at least good-looking?”

“Yeah
,
he’s good-looking. I mean
I
think he’s good-looking. I don’t know what
you’d
think, b
ut I’m pretty sure
you’d agree.”

“Well you’ve never mentioned that he’s a tasty treat, Nova. Tell me more.”

I told her what I could about Ben, and even though she didn’t
get overexcited about it, she at least didn’t shut down the idea. By the time we left the club she wanted to meet him, so when I went back to Bakersfield the next day, I presented the idea to Ben.

He didn’t say anything at first and only smirked, but as he put away the saddle he’d been cleaning, he said, “We’ll double. I’ll go out with
Autumn
if you ask Levi out.”

I scoffed. “What? What kind of bargain is that?”

“It’s a fair one.”

“Why? I don’t want to go on a date with anyone right now. I’m content with being single and miserable
until Austin comes to his senses
.”

He stared at me for a few seconds.
“Then I don’t want to go out with her.”

I groaned. “Does this have to do with me or you? –Because if you’re really trying to get me to date again, I’m honestly not interested.
I’m in love with Austin and nothing is going to change that.
If you’re insecure all on your own and need my help, then just say so.”

He sighed as he set the oil on a shelf. “Okay, I don’t want to go out with her by myself, Nova. I’m not sure I’m up for that.”

“Okay, and I understand that. But does it really have to be Levi? I mean I sort of pushed him aside and…”

He smiled and shook his head. “No, it doesn’t have to be with Levi. I mean I could set you up with Charlie…”

I kind of laughed, but I felt like it would be better than me crawling back to Levi. However, Ben had already warned me
that Charlie had a crush on me
and I didn’t want to give him the wrong idea.

“Fine, I’ll see what I can do.”

“What do you mean he doesn’t want to be alone with me?” Autumn asked when I called her. “I’m not that scary, am I? What have you told him?”

“It’s not you,” I said with a smile. “He’s just very…guarded. I told you this before.”

“I know, but I didn’t think he’d insist on having his
mommy
hold his hand for the date.”

“Oh, come one,
Autumn
. Why are you being so bratty? And what’s wrong with a double date?”

“Nothing, I’m just… Okay, fine. And you’re right; first dates are better that way when you’ve never met the guy.”

We made plans for the duration of the call, even discussing who my date was going to be. Even
Autumn
insisted on
inviting Levi, claiming that he would definitely say yes. I just went along with it, not even caring one way or the other. If Levi didn’t mind putting up with me then I was fine with it.

But I wasn’t sure what had changed over the past year and a half when we all met up a week later. Ben and I met
Autumn
first
for dinner, and just after the basic introductions, Levi arrived a few minutes later. For some reason I didn’t remember him looking so good. Even though I’d always thought he was cute, that night he just looked…better.

Autumn and Ben seemed to carry conversations with each other pretty well, so that left lots of opportunities for m
e to talk to Levi. He was funny
and friendly, and there didn’t seem to be any kind of ill feelings on his part like I was worried about. He was just the same guy that I remembered from before.