Chapter 14 I THINK I HAVE A CRUSH ON MR HANDSOME
NOVA'S POV
He smiled, and it wasn't that fake polite smile strangers usually gave each other. It looked genuine. "Sorry, am I blocking your path? I can move out of your way."
"No, you're completely fine where you are." I tried to step around him but the mountain of clothes in my arms started sliding and I had to grab at them awkwardly before they ended up all over the floor.
"Here, let me help you with that." He moved closer and caught a blazer that was about to fall. "That's quite an impressive stack of clothes you've got there."
"Yeah, I'm starting a new job next week." I tried to adjust my grip on everything. "Apparently I need an entirely new wardrobe for it."
"Where are you going to be working, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Blackthorn Industries. I start Monday morning."
Something flickered across his face for just a fraction of a second. Gone too fast for me to figure out what it meant. "That's a very solid company. I'm sure you'll do well there."
"If I don't completely die from stress on my first day."
He actually laughed at that. Not that polite sound people make when they're just being nice. A real laugh. "That's completely fair. The first days anywhere are absolutely terrifying."
He held up the necklace again, turning it so it caught the light. "Can I get your opinion on something? I'm trying to apologize to someone important to me and I'm completely lost here. I have no idea what I'm doing."
I looked at the necklace properly. Delicate gold chain, small diamonds set carefully along it. Elegant without trying too hard.
"What did you do to her?" I asked directly.
"Does it really matter what I did?"
"Yeah, it matters. Because if you cheated on her, there's no necklace in the world that's going to fix that kind of damage."
"God, no. Nothing even close to that." He ran his free hand through his hair, messing it up. "I was just an ass to her. Said some things I shouldn't have said when I was stressed. She deserves so much better than the way I treated her."
"Then yeah, that necklace will work perfectly for an apology. It's pretty without being over the top or showy. Shows you actually put real thought into choosing something for her."
"You really think so?" He turned it over in his hands, examining it from different angles.
"If she doesn't forgive you after that, then either she's crazy or you're way worse than you're admitting to me right now."
"It's probably that second option, honestly." He carefully set the necklace back down on the display and held out his hand to me. "I'm Matthias, by the way. Matthias Hale."
I awkwardly shifted all the clothes to one side and shook his hand. It was warm, his grip firm but not aggressive or controlling. "I'm Nova. Nova Sinclair."
"Nova." He said my name slowly, like he was testing out how it sounded in his mouth. "That's actually a beautiful name. You don't hear it very often."
"My mom was really into astronomy when she was younger." I pulled my hand back. "She named me after a type of star that explodes. A supernova."
"A supernova. That's actually kind of perfect for you, I think."
I blinked at him. "You literally don't even know me at all."
"No, but I can already tell." He gestured toward the scar above my right eyebrow. "That scar right there. It's got a real story behind it, doesn't it? You're not someone who lives a boring, safe life."
My hand automatically went up to touch the scar. "It’s nothing really exciting."
He grinned at me. "Look, I know this probably sounds forward, but can I give you my number? Not in any kind of weird way, I promise.”
Something about the way he said it made it feel completely safe.
"Sure," I said, awkwardly pulling my phone out of my pocket with one hand while trying to keep all the clothes balanced with the other.
He gave me his number and I saved it in my contacts.
"Perfect." He picked the necklace back up off the display. "I should let you get to your fitting before your arms fall off from holding all that."
"Thank you so much, I really appreciate it," I said honestly.
He headed toward the register to pay and I made my way to the fitting rooms, trying really hard to ignore the weird fluttering feeling that had started up in my chest.
Riley was waiting right outside the fitting room doors, her arms already full of more bags from other stores.
"Who was that man you were talking to?" she asked, her expression curious.
"Just some guy who needed advice about buying an apology necklace for someone."
"Hmm." Riley's face did something strange. Like she was thinking about something but didn't want to actually say it out loud.
"What's that look supposed to mean?"
"Nothing at all." She shook her head quickly. "Come on, let's see how all those clothes look on you."
I spent the next hour and a half trying on outfit after outfit while Riley and the saleswoman offered their opinions and suggestions.
Everything fit me perfectly, which was actually annoying because I really wanted to find something wrong so I could complain about it.
By the time we finally left Maison Noir, I had enough professional clothes to last me at least two full weeks without repeating anything, and a total shopping bill that made me physically ill even though it wasn't my own money being spent.
Riley was carrying about half of the bags, chatting away about where we should go next to find shoes and accessories, when my phone suddenly buzzed in my pocket.
Unknown number calling.
I pulled it out and looked at the screen, frowning. Then I opened the text message.
Stay away from Blackthorn industries.
This is your last warning.