Eli’s POV After my little talk with Nova, we both decided to head upstairs, her to call Aiden, and me… well, I didn’t really know. Maybe I’d stroll into Arnold’s room or something, just to give them privacy. The moment we reached the top of the stairs, she skipped off to her room, and I turned down the hall. Arnold’s door came into view, slightly ajar. I took a deep breath. Let’s get this. I had no idea what had been keeping him so quiet since we got back, but I really hoped it wasn’t because of me calling him babe. I lifted my hand to knock but ended up just pushing the door open. The second I stepped inside and turned around, there he was. Shirtless. Water dripping down from his hair, running along his chest. My eyes went wide, and I swallowed hard. Nope. Nope, this isn’t what I came here for, for goodness’ sake. I forced myself to look away, covering my face slightly. His laugh filled the room, low and amused. “Why are you hiding like this is the first time you’ve seen m
Nova’s POV We left the golf course not long after we settled down with Eli. I didn’t miss the slight awkwardness between him and Arnold, but I waved it off with a smile. They’d figure it out eventually. By the time we pulled into our driveway, everyone piled out, stretching loudly like we’d just run a marathon. “I never knew hitting balls was this exhausting,” Eli groaned, making me chuckle as I patted his back. “I think you’re just growing old. That’s why something this little wore you out,” I teased, raising a brow. He shot me a look. “We’re the same age, Nova. Don’t start with that this evening,” he said with a frown that I matched perfectly. “I thought you always claimed to be older than me, sir,” I said with a chuckle. He opened his mouth to argue, then closed it again, letting out a huff instead. Win for Nova. “Can you two at least wait until we’re inside before you start the bants?” Arnold grumbled as he walked between us. Aiden’s laugh pulled my attention to him. “Are
Arnold’s POV After Aiden and Nova strolled off without so much as a word to me or Eli, we stuck to the golf course for a while. What else could we do? We kept at it until we were out of breath, then finally collapsed back at the table. “When do you think they’ll be back?” Eli asked, sipping his drink. I shrugged. “No idea. We’ll see them when we see them.” The last thing I wanted was to go looking for them and stumble onto… well, a compromising situation. Once or was it twice—was enough trauma for any man. “So we just sit here and watch rich people go about their business?” Eli scanned the place with a raised brow that screamed: Really? That’s the best you can come up with? I chuckled, eyes still on him. “Just think of this like a little date moment between us. Makes the waiting feel more meaningful.” A faint blush rose on his cheeks, and I couldn’t help but smile. I’d missed moments like this, normal, easy conversations with him. We needed more of them. “Could you even affor
Nova’s POV I walked hand in hand with Aiden down the hall without a word. We stayed quiet until we reached a door, and Aiden pushed it open slightly. “After you, ma’am,” he said with a smile, motioning for me to step in. I did, and he trailed behind me. The soft click of the door shutting filled the room. “Where exactly is this?” I asked, scanning the bare space. All that stood in the middle was a white couch, which complimented the gold walls. It was simple, but pretty. “It’s like… how do I put it?” he said, pulling me toward the couch. “It’s a private room for, you know, secret meetings. That’s why it’s so hidden. And since you wanted a quiet place to talk, what could be better?” His lips curved into a little smirk. I rolled my eyes at him before settling onto the couch. “So you have a private room in a private golf court?” I asked, raising a brow. He nodded with a smile. “They have lots of secrets,” he said softly. I drew a deep breath. Might as well ask what I came here t
Nova’s POV Throughout our little meal, I kept sneaking glances at Aiden. Outwardly, he looked like he was having a great time, smiling, laughing at the right moments but I could see it. The tightness behind his eyes, that shadow he couldn’t quite hide. It worried me, though I couldn’t pin down why. I tried to focus on the laughs instead, and the fact that I’d just met his mom. Still, my eyes wandered back to him, again and again. I shoved it down. I’d ask him when we finally got a private moment together. For now, we were supposed to be golfing. Or… getting golfing? Whatever. “Are you sure this is right?” Eli asked nervously, his whole body stiff while Arnold moved him into position like a marionette—hands on the club, back bent slightly, eyes locked on the hole in front of us. “I don’t think it’s right,” Aiden chimed in from beside me. “But have fun with it.” His small chuckle made me giggle too. Eli shot us both a glare before turning back to Arnold, who was practically glowi
Nova’s POVMe and Eli stood in front of the course while Arnold grabbed some clubs from Bob.I glanced around and, sure enough, everyone else seemed lost in their own world. Which was probably good,less attention on the kids who had absolutely no idea what they were doing.Bob started droning on about wedges and putters with Arnold, and I tuned him out almost immediately, turning to Eli instead.“How big do you think this whole place is?” I asked.He chuckled. “For sure bigger than what all three of our houses combined would add up to.”I laughed with him. “That’s the most fact-based thing you’ve said all morning.”He shot me a look, still smiling. “Nerves all gone now?” He squinted at me like he could see through every layer.I gave a soft nod, and he grinned. “Don’t stress it, love. I’m sure his parents will love you. And frankly, if they don’t? Then they need to get their eyes checked—assuming they don’t already wear glasses.”That made me laugh again. Honestly, there was no way to