Chapter 24

Nova woke up with her hotel room filled with smells of flowers surrounding her. With a yawn, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

"Morning, Claire."

"Hey, Nova. Late night last night, huh? It must have been good because the flowers just keep coming."

"Huh?" Nova sat up seeing her room filled with flower bouquets. "What is all this?"

"Here. There's a note."

Taking the letter she looked around the room in awe. Opening the card she looked up at Claire with confusion. "It's from Becket. "

"Well, read it."

"Nova, I know you said you needed time, but I know that we've spent too much time apart already."

"Wait? What does he mean?"

Nova raised an eyebrow at her friend. "Please wait for any questions for the end of the presentation."

"Ha ha, funny girl. Okay, go ahead and read it."

"All right..." Nova adjusted her eyes to read, "I don't know what I did to make you change your mind about me. The only conclusion that I have come to is, maybe it's all the years I spent treating you like a child. That was wrong of me. You weren't just some silly teenager. You were my friend and I took that for granted. I wasn't that much older than you to constitute me pushing you away completely. You were old enough to understand your feelings and I should have been more understanding. I was just not sure if being friends with you then was appropriate. I know you probably resent me for that, but I did what I thought was right considering the situation."

"So, you blew him off last night? What's going on?"

"Claire. Shh. Just let me finish," Nova grumbled.

"Okay. Okay. Go on."

Nova took a deep breath and continued, "Things are different now. We're older and more mature; both of us. Last night I was happier than I've been in a long time. Being near you has opened my eyes to more than just being Becket the wrestler. I want more and I want it with you. I know your song 'Fight for Me' is about us. That's why I was so compelled to kiss you last night the way I did. I was so overwhelmed with emotion that my only instinct was to show you how much I want you. Like the lyrics of the song, you are begging for someone to fight for you, that's exactly what I'm going to do. It's long overdue. I know there must be something in your life that has you so worried about your future. I'm here and I want you to know I'll always fight for you. With all my heart, Becket."

Nova folded the note holding it to her heart and looked over at her friend who was now crying.

"That was beautiful. You should go to him."

"I can't," Nova shook her head no as she tried to compose herself.

"What? Why not?"

"He's blackmailing me. I can't put Becket through this."

"Liam? That swine! What's he doing now?"

Nova got up, throwing off the blankets and went to smell the roses next to the bed. "I can't give details but he's been following Becket and I. I saw him at the coffee house that we went to last night. I have to stay away from Becket to protect him. I love him, Claire. I can't risk his career and reputation for my own selfish needs."

"You love him?"

"Of course I do. I have for years."

"You should try to talk to Beck. Maybe he can help you figure it all out."

"No. It's better this way. A clean break. At least until I can figure out how to stop Liam. This is the only way."

Claire went to hug her friend. "I'm here for you. Whatever you think is best, I'll support you. If I can help please let me know. I can't help if you won't talk about it."

"I know. Thanks for everything, Claire bear. I don't know what I would do without you."

"Probably turn into a raging lunatic and go on a shooting rampage, targeting assholes who piss you off," Claire teased.

Nova laughed. "You're probably right."

***

It was getting close to the Christmas holiday. Becket had spent the last few weeks constantly pursuing Nova, and was more determined than ever to win her over again. He sent flowers, chocolates, and a teddy bear wearing her favorite band t-shirt. He even tried serenading her outside her hotel room with Christmas music with a group of his friends.

He had made some progress because she was still talking to him. Unfortunately, she refused to be alone with him again, but he could see the internal struggle she had going on. Her mouth said one thing but her eyes were telling the truth. She still wanted to be with him.

Nova had been struggling to not run right into his arms every time she saw Becket. Especially the night he had decorated her hotel room door with Christmas lights and photos of them when they were younger. He even sent a fake Santa to bring her favorite holiday cookies. Christmas was her favorite holiday and he was doing everything to show her he remembered how special it always had been to her.

As a teen, she would run around the arenas in an elf costume giving everyone homemade cookies and candy canes. How could he forget that he always got the biggest cookie that was decorated just for him?

The wrestling promotion had taken a break for the holiday, and Nova was sitting alone in her Manhattan penthouse. Claire was away with Ace and her family leaving her only to her thoughts.

Nova had spent Christmas Eve-Eve with her family, but decided to be home for Christmas to have some time to the next few days to regroup. She needed to get her mind right if she was going to keep pushing forward. Being alone for Christmas wasn't exactly the right idea. Every moment she spent alone she was thinking about Becket.

Nova made herself some hot chocolate and snuggled up on the couch watching the snowfall outside her sky-rise window. "I wish Beck was here. If I keep pushing him away he's going to move on. I don't think I could bear it if I saw him with another woman."

She slowly drifted off to sleep, snuggled into the teddy bear he had given her. The thoughts of him filled her thoughts, making it almost impossible to sleep. A couple of hours later, her cell phone rang. She shuffled up, grabbing her phone from the coffee table seeing Becket's name appear from a video chat call. A smile crept over her face and she cuddled the bear close to her chest.

Clicking on the phone Becket's face was covered in snow and he was shivering. "NNNNooovvvvaa?"

"Beck? What are you doing?"

"I'm in New YYYYork. Damn it's so cold. I tried to get in your building to vissss... visit youuuu."

"Beck, you're freezing. Your lips are blue."

"No shhhhit. It's freaking cold. Let me up!"

Nova giggled, happily saying, "I'll call the bellman. Come on up."

"Thank God. I've been out here for an hour. So much for surprising you."

Nova hung up the phone and called her bellman. Rushing to the elevator doors she waiting for them to open, bouncing with excitement. As the doors started to part, Becket was standing there rubbing his arms to warm himself. As soon as their eyes met, Nova rushed into his arms kissing him hard on the lips.

Becket raised her into his arms kissing her as he cleared the elevator. Lifting her, she wrapped her legs around his waist deepening the kiss.

Quickly pressed her against her penthouse door, he smiled into her lips. "I take it you're okay with me dropping by?"

"You came for me. I can't believe you're here."

Nova slid down to her feet still holding him tight. She was afraid to let go thinking it was just the dream she was having earlier about him.

"Of course I came. I heard it through the grapevine that my girl was alone on Christmas, so I headed straight here. No one should be alone during the holidays."

"Your girl?"

"Damn right you're my girl. I don't care what is going on with you. I'm not letting you go."

"Oh, Beck. I'm so sorry. I miss you."

"I miss you too, baby. Now, can we go inside? I'm freezing," he said with his teeth chattered.

"Oh, yes. Come sit by the fireplace. I'll make you some hot cocoa."

"That would be great." As Becket walked in his eyes got wide seeing her massive penthouse. "Wow. This place is bigger than my whole house."

"I figured you lived in a mansion."

"No. I own a house on Lake Michigan. It's not that big, but I never liked all those fancy things. I like to keep it simple."

Nova came back with two cups of hot chocolate. "I know it doesn't seem like it, but I'm more of a simple girl myself too. This place was my old manager's idea. I wanted a little cabin in the woods or just a small place with a view. He hated that I like to do normal things and didn't want all the glitz and glam."

Becket sat next to the fireplace taking the cup from her hands. As he took a drink he closed his eyes and hummed as the warmth slid down his throat, warming his whole body. "This is good. It tastes like peppermint, just like my mom, always made. Hot cocoa always reminds me of my mom on the holidays."

"My granny used to always make it that way. It feels Christmasy."

"So what sort of normal things do you like to do?"

"Humm? I like to fish and go to the water parks. When I was a kid my dad used to have an old bass boat. We would fish all day until the sun started to go down and then we would have a fish fry."

"That's cool. I love to fish. That's why I have the house on the lake. I thought you were more of a girly girl."

"Heck no. I also like to ride motorcycles, camping, hiking. I love the outdoors."

"Well, guess I had you pegged wrong then. We have a lot more in common than I thought."

"Beck, why are you here?"

Becket gave a slight chuckle under his breath and sat down his cup. "Getting my girl back. Nova, I'm trying here. I want to be with you but I need to know you want it to."

"I do… it's just…"

"Stop right there. I'm not giving you a chance to tell me no again. Just answer me. Do you want me?"

Nova pressed her lips together looking into his eyes as her hands started to tremble. "More than I've ever wanted anyone."

"I want you to answer a question for me. Just yes or no. I don't need details until you are ready to tell me. Okay?"

Nova nodded. "All right."

"Is this about your old manager? Did he threaten to out us to the media? He seems like a snake. I saw him at that club on the night of our date and he was taking photos of us."

"You knew?"

"Yep. I also knew he was probably why you went from hot to cold so quickly. Is he why you're pushing me away?"

Nova dropped her head, fiddling with the hem of her sweater. "Yes. I guess I should have talked to you about it. Liam can't be trusted, Becket. He's a horrible person."

"Screw him. I don't care what he is telling you or trying to hold over your head. I know he's pissed about you firing him. I care about you and I'm not walking away. He has no control over our relationship."

"I care about you too."

"I know you do. That's why I'm still fighting for us. I see it in your eyes when we're near each other. I see you have this turmoil going on inside, and I wish you would tell me what's going on so I can help."

"I wish you could. I promise, one day when I'm ready, I'll tell you everything."

"That's all I need to know." Becket reached for her pulling her onto his lap.

"We can't go public if we are going to do this. At least not right now. He'll smear your name in the media."

"I don't care what people think of me," he noted. "If it worries you that much we will take it slow. Are you willing to at least start dating? We don't have to rush into anything."

"What if it comes out to the media? I know you don't like all that attention. You're really a private person outside of wrestling."

"Sweetie, if I was worried about that, would I want to date the most publicly recognized female rock star in the world?"

Nova giggled. "I guess not."

"I know the risk. Now stop worrying and let's just let things happen naturally."

"Okay. Just don't say I didn't warn you."

Becket kissed the tip of her nose. "Noted. And Nova?"

"Yes?"

"Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Becket."