Chapter 45 Almost Hopeful

Chapter 45 Almost Hopeful
NOVA'S POV

"Can you drive a little less fast?"

He clutches onto his seat belt.

I laugh.

We just escaped our haux of an engagement party and he wants me to drive slow?

He's lucky I don't listen to the voices in my head.

"I can't. My security detail will catch up to me."

I focus on the road.

The truth? I haven't driven like this in the longest.

Maybe its because I've already lost what matters.

I slow down a little when i notice his tense posture.

I got carried away.

"Should I ask why going to the airport is that important?"

He scoffs.

"We're not friends. I don't expect you to understand."

A pause.

What wouldn't I understand?

Him wanting to run away from a forced life?

Or feeling hopeless because no one would ever understand why your name carries a weight you have no strength to carry?

"Yeah. You're right." I say simply making a turn.

I seriously don't care.

Unless he's planning on felling me he's already married nothing will change.

At the airport he reaches for the back seat.

"Put this hoodie on."

I roll my eyes.

I'm not putting on his clothes.

"No."

"I'm not asking."

"Don't forget who drove you here."

He sighs.

"Suit yourself." He says putting on a cap and black sunglasses.

A disguise.

I throw on the hoodie getting out of the car.

Even with a black hoodie over a white dress I still stand out.

I let the strands of hair cover my face as we walk inside.

It surprises me how smooth he is with getting past security.

"I need to get to the departure side for the flight that leaves for New York." He explains and I just stand there.

Trying to understand why he's telling me.

"So you're leaving just like that?"

"What?...no. there's someone getting on that plane."

He strides towards the airline departure side.

Is he going to stop someone?

Who?

"Rosie!"

I jump at the sudden yell in the busy airport.

Rosie?

Who the fuck is Rosie?

He jogs over to a woman pulling a small baby blue suitcase.

Her dirty blonde bobbed hair stands out.

She turns in our direction and her face flushes.

She didn't know he'd do this did she?

She steps out of the moving line and they meet halfway through the boundary set.

I remain in my spot still confused by what is happening.

I spot security speaking through their talkies so I move closer to the pair to warn them.

"You were right. Nova is also a person that deserves to be happy. And I was so hopeless in doing the right thing that I let you go. I love you and I don't want you to go. I'll do better."

My heart sinks.

He really is a hopeless romantic.

"I can't stay Fabio. I can't watch you ruin someone's life and still wait for a future with you. I deserve to be happy...even if I don't meet your parents rich expectations. My father owns a bread bakery and my mom runs a local restaurant. I'm content with that.

"I am too."

She sighs.

"You're not."

He remains silent.

"Did she drive you here? In your hoodie?" She scoffs. "Even now you still want to rub in my face. Goodbye Fabio."

She walks away from him. Back to the line.

This time he doesn't call out to her.

He doesn't react.

Why didn't he correct her?

It's not what she thinks.

Somehow that takes my mind to Sofia.

She must have felt that way.

Like she'd always be on the sidelines because there was never a spot for her on the field.

A spot next to me.

And I just ignored it.

In my head I thought her being patient was her settling into reality of things.

I'm no less of an asshole than Fabio feels right now.

"I'm so–"

"We should leave."

He walks past me in the direction we came from.

I look back and catch Rosie's gaze on him.

She really does care.

In the car he remains silent.

Maybe I should drive him back.

The drive is silent for a while.

Then it starts.

"You're lucky you know."

I pause.

Lucky?

That doesn't fall in the same sentence as Castiello.

"That's funny."

He sighs.

"Is everything a joke to you?"

"Is everything serious with you?"

He rans his hand through his hair.

"Rosie and I have been together for four years. I never stopped seeing her after my parents banned me."

I remain silent.

"The wedding announcement was sudden. I should've eloped with her when she suggested."

I nod.

"Why didn't you?"

He pauses.

"I don't know."

The silence sits after that response.

Maybe she was right about the content thing.

He's barely had to drive himself all his life.

How would he know what normal is?

"Do you love her?"

I make the final turn to his house.

"I do."

"Then do what's right for you" i say and he looks over to me blinking.

"What?"

"Nothing....it's surprising to hear that from you." He says.

His parents are waiting outside with arms crossed.

I step out of the car the same time he does.

"I think you should go home Nova." His mom says sternly.

I smile.

Usually it's hard to get away from that woman.

"I had a great time, Fabio." I say my eyes never leaving his mother's.

She's does my dad's bidding.

"Me too, Fiancé."

That catches me by surprise.

That he's playing along.

I want Sofia in my life again.

But I have to do that the right way.

The security detail leads me to the car, opening the door for me.

I look back to the Caruso family and spot Fabio mouth a thank you.

Maybe I'm not all that awful of a human being.

The car ride to the house helps me come up with a reasonable explanation if asked.

My phone rings as the gate opens to the house.

"Hey Luca."

"Hey Nova. Is this a good time?"

I pause.

His tone is far from reassuring.

"Yeah I just got to the house."

"Sofia has been moved to Rome."

My heart beats loudly in chest.

Moved.

Rome.

Huh.

"Why are you telling me?"

"Because your dad already knows."

I scoff.

Dad already knows.

And somehow...

I didn't.

"Thank you."

The call ends abruptly.

She was moved.

She didn't leave...she was moved.

Is she getting worse?