Six

N ova directed his full attention to his mother as soon as Jimmy and Millie disappeared into the house. "Mother, what are you doing?" he asked just as his father stepped out of the house carrying a casserole rack. Aromas of cheese, meat, and sauce wafted out of the dish, tickling Nova's senses, but he ignored the urge to shove his face into the pasta and glared at his mother instead.

"Uh-oh," Dad said. He set the rack in the center of the large patio table and looked at his wife. "I recognize that voice. What have you done, Nat?"

"Nothing," she said in her most innocent tone. Nova exchanged a quick disbelieving glance with his dad before raising a brow at his mother's audacity. "I invited Jimmy over to discuss an article idea I have for his paper." She turned to her husband and recapped the journalist's plan to reinvigorate interest in the old arts. "He worries they'll be forgotten if not passed down to younger generations."

"Oh, that's a wonderful idea," his dad said.

"Don't fall for it, Dad," Nova said. "She's matchmaking."

"Nat," his father cajoled softly. "Do you know what you're doing?"

His mother hitched her chin up a notch and aimed her most hoity look at her husband of forty-five years. "When have you known me to be wrong about these kinds of things?"

His father laughed and kissed her smug, smiling lips. Then he turned to face Nova. "Son, you might as well pick out the rings now."

Groaning, Nova said, "You're absolutely no help at all, Dad."

His mom wrapped her arm around his dad's waist and snuggled closer to him. "On the contrary, I think he's been most helpful." She smiled up at her husband. "Can I help you carry out the rest of the dishes?"

Dropping a kiss on top of her head, his father said, "I'm always happy to have your company."

"You mean now that the cooking part is over," his mother countered.

Dad laughed. "Busted." As his parents neared the patio door, Nova overheard his dad say to his mom, "I think this evening will certainly be more interesting than I anticipated."

"Only if Nova pulls the stick out of his ass," Mom replied.

Nova shook his head. "I can hear you."

His mother stopped and smirked at her only son. "Good. Seriously, dear, use both hands if you need to, and give it a good yank." She stacked one fist on top of the other and forcefully jerked them downward, offering a demonstration in case Nova was unsure how to dislodge the imaginary stick from his anus.

"Christ," he grumbled.

Mom's expression softened, and she tilted her head to the side. "Tell me you're not lonely. Tell me your insides don't melt when you look at him. I'll know you're lying, but I'll let it go anyway."

Nova tried to form the words to buy himself a reprieve. He wasn't silly enough to think his mom would drop her attempts for good. She'd give him a night or two off before somehow dangling the enticing fruit beneath his nose again. The truth was, Nova was acutely lonely, especially when Millie was gone. She was his entire world, eclipsing his professional responsibilities and dreams. With her spending half her summer in California, Nova would be without a tether, and quite frankly, it terrified him. That was too much pressure to put on a little girl's shoulders. He was supposed to be her rock, not the other way around. Nova was fully aware he needed to yank the metaphorical stick out of his ass and find a way to let off steam this summer. Adorable, tempting Jimmy wasn't the answer.

Before Nova could answer his mother, the sliding glass door opened. Millie and Jimmy stepped out. Well, Jimmy walked while Millie skipped. Nova could tell by her flushed cheeks that she'd talked ten miles a minute, but Jimmy looked beguiled instead of overwhelmed. Maybe he should've been concerned about Millie's instant affection, but though she may be tiny, his princess already showed incredible instincts.

"I want a good danish now instead of a horse," Millie announced. "Jimmy helped me choose. I'm going to name her Violet."

Nova had to bite his lip to keep from laughing at Jimmy's wide-eyed expression. Did he expect Nova to get pissed and lash out at him?

"I love a good danish," his dad said. "I'm particular to cream cheese."

"Violet?" his mom asked as she stroked a hand over Millie's wavy hair.

Nova snorted. "No one questions the horse part?"

"All kids want a horse," his mom replied.

"Not all kids," his dad interjected, then looked at Jimmy. "Nova wanted a camel."

"A camel?"

His parents laughed as they held hands and skipped down memory lane.

Nova's lips twitched too, but he refused to engage. "The pasta is getting cold." His parents ignored him.

"What did he want to name his camel?" his mom asked. "Wasn't it after a song?"

Dad nodded. "Mr. Bojangles."

"That's it," Mom said. "You were such a delightful child. Full of wonder and imagination. I'm so happy Millie exhibits the same attributes." Since Millie wasn't his biological daughter, their similarities were an example of nurture, not nature. His mother's compliment made his heart swell with pride.

"I can't take full credit for her awesomeness," he admitted. As he'd grown older, Nova tended to lean more toward the scientific part of his brain where Scott was the creative one. Together, they made one hell of a team. Nova slammed the brakes on those thoughts because they would only lead to sadness and ruin the time he had with his daughter before she left with Papa and Kai.

"What's this about a good danish?" Nova asked, steering the conversation back to a neutral topic.

"Great Dane," Jimmy whispered. "She said Papa was buying her one when they got home from California."

His mom quirked a brow. "California?"

Nova nodded. "We'll talk about it later." Just like he'd be having a nice discussion with Scott about the Great Dane. There was no way in hell one of them could get a pet without it traveling back and forth with Millie. He didn't have enough grass for a dog that size. As soon as the problem arose, Nova was already working on a solution. There was a dog park near their house, and he could invest in biodegradable poop bags. He nearly shuddered when he thought about the size of Great Dane poop. Why couldn't they get a Chihuahua? Or a cat? Changing a litter box had to be easier than picking up poop in the park.

"We'll finish carrying out the meal," his mom announced. "You guys get comfy."

"Are you sure I can't help?" Jimmy asked. He might be young, but there was nothing wrong with his manners. Or the way his jeans hugged his ass.

"No way," she said, shooing him toward the patio table.

"You might as well do as she says," Nova said.

Jimmy smiled up at him, and Nova noticed his amber eyes glowed in the direct sunlight. His irises looked like some kind of rare jewel Indiana Jones would hunt.

"Come on, Jimmy," Millie said, tugging her new best friend toward the table. "Can you sit next to me?"

"Hey," Nova said. "You're giving away my seat?" He'd meant for his voice to sound light and teasing, but the panic-stricken look on Jimmy's face said he'd failed miserably. "I was just joking. I'll sit across from her so I can look at her impish face."

"What's limpish?" Millie wanted to know.

"Impish," Nova said. "It means playful and ornery. Kind of like a pixie or fairy."

"Ohhh. I want to be a fairy," Millie said.

Nova released a sigh of relief. Maybe, just maybe, his daughter would become fixated on fairies and give up on big dogs and horses. Tension settled in Jimmy's shoulders when he dropped into the chair across from him. Had he mistaken Nova's discomfort as something he'd done wrong?

"Look," Nova blurted out at the same time Jimmy said, "I'm…" They shared a smile and a laugh.

"You first," Jimmy told him.

"About earlier," Nova said. "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable or unwanted."

"You didn't."

Nova gave him the look he reserved for Millie when he caught her fibbing. It was obvious Jimmy was just trying to let him off the hook, but it wasn't necessary. "Both my question and demeanor were rude." And though Nova didn't want to encourage his mom, hurting Jimmy was the last thing he wanted to do. The guy practically oozed gentle kindness.

"It's clear you didn't expect to find me here. I don't want my presence to cause a rift between you and your mom."

"Nothing and no one can come between my mother and me," Nova said. But Jimmy's sincerity only added to his allure, making it harder to resist the gravitational pull he felt toward the man.

Jimmy just stared at Nova for a few seconds, seeming to be lost in his thoughts. The tip of his pink tongue peeked out and slowly swiped over his plump bottom lip. Nova became temporarily transfixed until it disappeared back inside Jimmy's mouth. He snapped his gaze upward and locked on Jimmy's eyes.

"It's rude to stare, Daddy."

Nova felt the expected flush creeping up his neck, but his laughter caught him by surprise. "So it is." Still, he couldn't seem to look away from Jimmy.

His mom breezed out of the house carrying a bread basket in one hand and a glass salad bowl in the other. "Here we are," she said.

Nova's dad followed with a cheese grater and a wedge of Parmesan. "Can't have pasta without fresh cheese."

"I tossed the salad with a red wine vinaigrette without thinking to ask if you even like it, Jimmy," Nova's mom said.

"Sounds delicious, Mrs. Skye."

"That's my mother-in-law, dear." She briefly looked heavenward. "May she rest in peace. My friends call me Natalie or Nat."

Jimmy selected a garlic knot, then extended the bread basket to Millie, who hemmed and hawed until she found the perfect piece of bread.

"Here, Grandpa," Millie said, passing the basket to him.

"Thank you, June Bug." He turned to Jimmy and said, "What got you interested in journalism?"

"Let the man get some food in his belly before the inquisition begins, Dave." His mom held out her hand for Jimmy's plate, and he obliged, his eyes going wide from the volume of pasta she'd added to his plate. "You're in charge of salad, Nova."

Jimmy smiled shyly as he passed his empty bowl to Nova. The conversation for the next few minutes focused solely on food as Natalie and Nova doled out the portions. Other than compliments for the chef, a lull washed over the table as everyone dug in. Jimmy seemed to lose his inhibitions when he tucked into his food.

"This sauce is delicious. I've never had anything quite like it," Jimmy said.

"Vodka," his dad said. "And fresh herbs. I grow my own."

"It's the best sauce I've ever had."

"Thanks, Jimmy," his dad replied. "You can come back anytime." Jimmy looked both pleased and a little shell-shocked after spending less than an hour with Nova's family.

Dad let Jimmy eat a few more bites before he repeated his journalism question.

"I've just always loved storytelling in all its forms," Jimmy replied. "When I was younger, I was fascinated by investigative journalism, but I'm all about human-interest stories these days. Unfortunately, the demand for feel-good journalism isn't high."

"You'd think it would be," Dad said. "Don't people want a break from the sensational, high-drama stuff?"

"You'd think so. Many insist they do want more positive content, but I've learned people seldom mean what they say."

His mom leaned forward and propped her elbow on the table. Nova knew she was fascinated if his mother was breaking one of the cardinal rules of table etiquette, not that he ever understood why elbows weren't allowed on the table. Feet, Nova could understand. "That's an interesting observation. What's a recent example?"

Nova knew right then that his mother's line of questioning was for his benefit. He would've glared at her if he could rip his focus away from the gorgeous guy sitting across the table.

Jimmy laughed nervously as a soft flush spread across his pale skin. He set his fork down and took a sip of his lemonade.

"Your face is pink, Jimmy," Millie said. "It makes your spots darker."

Jimmy smiled down at her and tweaked her nose. "Freckles."

"I want some." She looked at Nova. "Can I get some freckles, Daddy?"

"Maybe when you're twenty," Nova replied.

Jimmy took advantage of the temporary distraction to take a bite of pasta, so Nova kept Millie busy by answering a half dozen questions about where the freckles came from.

"You were saying, Jimmy?" his mom asked.

"I don't think he was saying anything," Nova countered. "The man wants to eat."

Jimmy laughed. "Okay, I can give you a recent example of someone saying the opposite of what they mean. My mother and grandmother say ‘it's fine' or ‘I'm fine' when they really mean they're mad as hell."

"That's a classic example," his dad said.

Nova set his fork down and sat back in case his mom decided to lob something at his father. Instead, they engaged in playful banter, which ensnared Jimmy's attention. He looked like he was watching a tennis match as the verbal barbs bounced back and forth between the two ends of the table. It made Nova wonder what the man was thinking? Was Jimmy comparing his family dynamic to Nova's? Did he find them lacking? The smile curving his lips said no. Jimmy seemed charmed by the display, even if Nova was borderline mortified.

Jimmy suddenly met his gaze, and Nova stiffened. Then he licked his lips before reaching for another drink. His hand shook as he lifted the glass to his mouth. Jimmy hadn't licked his lips to entice him; Jimmy's nerves were steering the ship. Lust stirred in Nova's gut, making him think thoughts he had no business entertaining. Jimmy's innocence should've been a huge turnoff, but Nova could've rattled off a hundred things he wanted to teach him.

"Do you have big plans for this summer, Jimmy?" his dad asked.

The guy nearly choked on his lemonade. "Wrong pipe. Sorry," Jimmy rasped.

Nova had to fight back a laugh, which prompted his mom to kick him beneath the table.

"I'm doing a little of this and a little of that. I'm keeping myself busy while my mother and grandmother are away on a trip."

"How nice," his mom said. "How long will they be gone?"

"Two weeks. My mom retired after thirty years of teaching. She's earned this vacation."

It bothered Nova more than it should that Jimmy might plan to test out his freedom with random strangers after he left his parents' house. The guy was out of his league, and it wasn't safe. Yeah, right . That's the part bothering him. Nova just wasn't prepared to do anything about it.

Millie dropped her fork onto the deck and said, "Shit."

Jimmy snorted and bit his lip. Nova could tell he was fighting off a laugh. If he didn't tear his eyes away from Jimmy's trembling mouth, Nova would give in to his urge to chuckle at the hilarity of it all.

"Millie," Nova said in a warning tone.

"Sorry. You said I couldn't say damn until I was sixteen."

"No," Nova replied, "I said you couldn't curse at all. Shit is a cuss word too."

"Oops," she replied while batting her eyelashes. Nova wasn't fooled for a second.

"Just don't repeat words you hear adults use when they're yelling at drivers on the road or when they hurt themselves." He knew adults cussed more frequently than that, but not the ones Millie spent time with.

"Okay, Daddy."

"Jimmy, you've gotten awfully quiet," his mom said. "Did we scare you? We can be a little much." Anyone could tell by looking at the reporter that he was more than a little shell-shocked, but he pulled himself together and smiled.

"No, of course not," he said. "Your dynamic is delightful."

"Oh, good. I didn't invite you here to traumatize you."

Jimmy laughed. "I am more than a little curious about your story idea."

"Story idea?" Nova asked.

Ignoring him, his mother said, "After cleanup."

Jimmy pushed his chair back and picked up his plate. "I'd be happy to."

"Not you, dear," Mom said.

"You're our guest," his dad added.

"No one ever tells me no when I offer," Nova complained. "In fact, it's just expected that I'll do the dishes and clear the table."

"Still is," his mom replied cheekily. "You're not a guest."

"I must insist," Jimmy said. "This was truly one of the most delicious meals I've ever had, Mr. Skye."

Nova's dad grimaced comically. "Call me Dave, please."

"Okay," Jimmy said.

"I want to help Daddy and Jimmy," Millie said.

"You can take a walk on the beach with Grandpa," his dad said to the little imp. "You gotta hold my hand because I get scared."

Millie giggled and declared her grandpa was silly. Her laughter and exuberance carried on the wind as the two of them made their way down the back steps and walkway leading to the beach access. Jimmy stared longingly at the ocean, and Nova remembered one of the items from Jimmy's list. He wanted to swim in the ocean. This was something safe he could give Jimmy, but how the hell would he explain his offer?

"You could go with them if you want," Nova said.

Jimmy released a deep sigh before facing Nova with a smile. He grabbed Millie's plate and bowl and stacked them on top of his, then reached for Nova's dad's setting.

"Here you go, dear," his mom said, pulling Nova's attention away from Jimmy. Nova retrieved her dishes and received a wink as if they were coconspirators in her crazy scheme.

"What story?" Nova asked.

"You'll find out after you finish cleaning the kitchen," she told him.

It was hard to tell what weighed down Nova's stomach the most: the carb-laden pasta or dread. What was her game? "What does it have to do with me?"

His mom rolled her eyes and shooed Nova away. "Jimmy's already inside the house while you're out here trying to get out of work."

Nova continued staring at her for a few seconds longer. Finally, he ended the standoff by saying, "I hope you know what you're doing." His mother responded with a laugh.

It took Nova and Jimmy a few trips to clear the table and get everything back into the house. The two men worked in companionable silence with Nova taking the lead since he knew his way around the kitchen. The awkwardness returned once they'd loaded the dishwasher and started it.

"I'll wash and you dry," Jimmy said, gesturing to the larger items that hadn't fit in the machine.

"No way," Nova said, shaking his head. "You're our guest. You should be out there chatting with my mom or strolling on the beach with my dad and Millie."

Jimmy smiled when Nova said his daughter's name. "She's the most delightful child I have ever met."

"Do you know many?" Nova asked.

Jimmy laughed. "I became the neighborhood babysitter the year I turned thirteen. I still get a request now and then."

"Thirteen sounds young for that kind of responsibility. You must've been mature to instill such trust."

Nodding, Jimmy said, "Yes, plus I was always available on the weekends." Though he wore a wry smile, Nova detected a hint of sadness. It also reminded him of Jimmy's summer plans, and he felt incredibly guilty knowing about them. Nova wanted to tell him he'd found the piece of paper on the floor, but he didn't want to embarrass him. It could ruin the blooming friendship between the man and his mother, which was the last thing Nova wanted. His mom would be furious with him, and Nova wished to avoid her ire at all costs.

Did Jimmy even know it was missing? There was no year written at the top, so maybe it was something he'd tucked away last year and forgotten.

Nova's silence on the matter was still wrong, and his shame grew by the second. Emotions, in general, were stressors that triggered or exacerbated his Tourette's, but his reactions to negative thoughts and actions were more aggressive. The last thing he wanted was to have an episode in front of Jimmy, so he decided to confess and come clean.

"Jimmy, I—" His words died when the dish towel hit him in the chest. Nova's arms reacted instinctively to catch the towel before it fell to the ground.

"There," Jimmy said. "It's settled. I'm washing, and you're drying. I'm the guest, so I get to choose. Besides, I don't know where anything goes. You'd have to pause between each dish to tell me where to store it. It's just a waste of your time." He smiled and added, "The sooner we're finished, the sooner we get to hear your mom's pitch."

"I know exactly what she's up to," Nova said, watching the soapy water fill Jimmy's side of the sink.

Jimmy glanced up at Nova. "Care to give me a hint?"

"And ruin my mother's surprise?" Nova asked. "Hell no." Besides, he and Jimmy weren't talking about the same thing. The adorable man was oblivious to his mother's matchmaking scheme and was referring to her story idea. Nova knew he was better off keeping quiet so his mother would see the problem with her plan on her own.

Jimmy shut off the water, retrieved the scrub brush, and began tackling the dishes with gusto. He was either very experienced at kitchen cleanup or Jimmy attacked all tasks with the same exuberance. It didn't take long for Nova's thoughts to take a very sexy turn. If the list was meant for this year, as Nova still believed, Jimmy was looking to lose his innocence. Nova had no doubt the eager student would give the task his all.

"You're scowling," Jimmy said.

Nova blinked and turned his head to meet Jimmy's concerned gaze. "I am?" Jimmy nodded, and Nova became aware of the tension in his face, mainly his forehead. He knew he'd see a deep V etched in his brow if he were to look in a mirror. So Nova forced a smile on his lips and softened the muscles in his face. Jimmy gave him a tenuous smile in return. Nova hated that he made the man so nervous and thought maybe it stemmed from their earlier confrontation.

He looked down at his side of the sink and noticed the clean dishes were piling up. Nova rinsed the items, then dried and stacked them on the counter. He watched Jimmy from the corner of his eye and noticed he seemed tense again. "Sorry. I got lost in my thoughts. It happens a lot during tasks."

"I'm kind of afraid to ask what you were thinking about," Jimmy teased.

As you should be . Instead of divulging the truth, Nova went with a believable alternative fact. "My subconscious was probably worrying about the stuff Millie told you during your trip to the bathroom. Scott and I have taught our daughter a myriad of wonderful things, but she hasn't mastered using a filter yet."

Jimmy laughed as he scrubbed the casserole dish harder. "Please don't discourage her. She's so damn delightful." Jimmy launched into a brief retelling of all the topics she covered while Nova fought the urge to cringe. What an utter chatterbox his daughter was.

Nova slung the towel over his shoulder and turned to face him. Like Millie, Jimmy loved to bounce from subject to subject like a giant brain sponge releasing his knowledge or musings one drop at a time. The harder you squeezed it, the faster the questions or comments tumbled from his lips. Nova found himself staring at Jimmy's mouth, only registering every other word. Then a particular word pierced his bubble, even though he had pronounced it wrong. He'd said turrets instead of Tourette's.

"What was that last part again?" Nova asked.

Jimmy grimaced. "Oh my gosh. My nerves got the best of me, and I'm rambling."

"Did you say turrets? As in a castle?"

"Well, Victorian homes have them too," Jimmy said. "But yeah, Millie told me you have turrets before launching into a description of your swimming pool. Granted, tons of homes in Savannah have both, but your place sounds lovely. I hope your yard is big enough for Violet, though. I've only known Millie for a few hours, but even I know the dog will be going everywhere she goes. I…What?"

Nova bit his lip to stifle his amusement. "Hmmm?" Nova asked.

Jimmy's brow furrowed. "You're laughing."

Nova's shoulders shook as if to further illustrate Jimmy's observation. So much for stifling anything. "Mm-hmm."

"What did I say that was so funny?" His scowl made the freckles look more prominent on his face. So freaking adorable .

It took Nova a few moments to pull himself together. Having reasons to laugh had been few and far between lately, so he wanted to lean into it instead of pulling back. "It wasn't what you said," Nova told him. "Millie mispronounced turrets. We don't live in a castle or even a Victorian home. We don't have turrets. I have Tourette syndrome."

"Oh," Jimmy said, his eyes widening. "I'm sorry I rambled on like a lunatic."

Nova shook his head. "Please don't apologize. I'm usually so uptight when meeting new people, but you've completely disarmed me."

Jimmy smiled sheepishly. "I can't take credit for Millie's work."

Another point in his favor. Why did he have to be so young…and innocent? Even if the list were old and Jimmy had crossed off every single item, the two men were still lightyears apart in experience. Or were they?

Nova had already done most of the things Jimmy coveted, but they'd been so long ago he'd forgotten the wonder of them. He was about to find himself with a lot more free time this summer. Maybe instead of moping around the house, Nova should plan his own epic adventure.

Nova's confession teetered on the tip of his tongue once more, but his mom poked her head inside the house.

"Everything going okay?" Mom asked, looking between them.

She didn't have to move her head much because Nova had unknowingly gravitated into Jimmy's personal space. Another foot or so, and Jimmy would've been pinned between Nova and the counter. He nearly groaned out loud because the massive smile on his mother's face indicated she thought everything was going according to her plan.

Nova looked at Jimmy again and immediately got lost in the man's amber eyes. "We're just about finished."

Jimmy blushed and nodded while Nova's mother giggled. He'd need to act fast if he was going to derail her schemes. Nova just couldn't seem to care at the moment.

"Normally, I would tell you not to rush on my behalf, but I'd like to make my story pitch before Millie returns and steals my spotlight."

The mention of his daughter's name was the bucket of icy water Nova needed. The little minx was already smitten with Jimmy, and he didn't want to give her the wrong idea. "You go on out with my mom. I'll finish up in here," Nova suggested.

"Nice try," his mom said. "I mentioned before that I want to speak to you both since this pitch involves the three of us. I'll put the dishes up later."

Nova had to admit she'd piqued his curiosity. He handed the towel to Jimmy so he could dry his wet hands, then signaled for him to go first. Nova had meant the gesture out of politeness, but the view was an added perk. Was Jimmy's ass so round and firm due to youth, genetics, or many trips to the gym? When his mom giggled again, Nova tore his gaze away from temptation and glared at her.

Once they resettled around the table, his mom offered to refill their glasses. Even though the ice had long since melted, Nova was more interested in hearing her pitch. Her stalling tactics only made him more curious. His mother wasn't a nervous person, which signaled her idea meant a great deal to her. They both declined, and Nova figured Jimmy was just as eager to discover the ulterior motive for her dinner invitation.

She turned to Jimmy and covered his hand. "I've thought a lot about your project since meeting you last night." Nova had to forcibly remind himself that she was referring to the planned articles for the paper, not the private grand adventure he'd planned. "I have an idea, but it might be too big for a single article."

"Okay," Jimmy said. "I'm excited to hear it. My editor is always eager to listen to ideas, and she loves to feature special contributors. I could make the introduction if you'd like."

"You mistake my intentions," his mom said gently. "I don't want to write the article. I want you to write it about me."

"Mom," Nova said. The caution in his voice captured Jimmy's attention, and he frowned.

His mom smiled at Nova and covered his hand too. "I want the article to be about us—you and I," she told him.

"Me?" Nova said. He needed to stunt the worry unfurling in his gut before it triggered a five-alarm reaction. "There's nothing interesting about me."

Sensing the storm building inside him, his mother squeezed Nova's hand. "I think our different approaches to all things celestial makes for a fascinating human-interest story."

"Yes," Jimmy agreed. "Studying the stars versus reading them. Nature versus nurture."

"You're encouraging her, Jimmy," Nova said.

"Of course I am. Not only is the concept unique, but it lends to my overall theme. Reading the stars isn't a dying art, but the actual skill of charting them is rapidly dying in the digital era."

"Exactly," his mom said. "I knew you'd understand."

"But where do I come in?" Nova asked.

Jimmy looked at him. "You can tell the audience why studying the stars is scientifically important. What is your biggest goal as an astronomer?"

"Effecting climate change that preserves not only our planet but the entire solar system," Nova replied without hesitation.

Jimmy's smile held the warmth of the sun and dazzle of the moon. When the fuck had Nova become a poet? "I'd be honored to tell this story," Jimmy told him.

Nova's mom released them to clap her hands excitedly. Then she seemed to realize Nova hadn't agreed yet. He felt her scrutiny, but Nova couldn't seem to tear his eyes off Jimmy. "What about you, Nova?" his mom asked softly.

Nova had to admit the concept held great potential, but he couldn't go into an arrangement without telling Jimmy the truth about finding his list. Well, at least he shouldn't. It would be completely unethical. On the other hand, Nova had no intention of using his secret against him. It would be one thing if he had romantic designs on Jimmy and used the knowledge to seduce him, but Nova didn't, and he wouldn't. Nothing Nova would act on anyway. No one had to know what Nova dreamed about or the things he fantasized about when he was alone in the shower.

"Nova?" Jimmy asked.

The excited twinkle in Jimmy's eyes reminded Nova of the stars on a clear night. For decades, he'd been so busy studying the science surrounding the stellar systems that he overlooked the magic. And magic is what Jimmy's expression promised him, and damned if he didn't want to grab on to it with both hands and not let go.

So, instead of doing the right thing, Nova stopped fighting the gravitational pull and said, "I'll do it."