Rumi: The Hawthornes (The Aces' Sons Book 10) by Nicole Jacquelyn

Author:Nicole Jacquelyn [Jacquelyn, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Fiction, MC
Publisher: Nicole Jacquelyn
Published: 2023-06-25T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Nova

I was absolutely miserable, and I was hiding it like an award-winning actress.

When Rumi and I arrived at the club barbecue, we’d naturally been absorbed into different groups and separated. I’d known it was going to happen, and that’s why I’d been so anxious to get there. Rumi had also known, and I was pretty sure that’s why he hadn’t wanted to.

Micky’s girlfriend, Emilia, was cute. She was a couple years older than me and seemed like a deer in the headlights, but anyone could see that she adored Rumi’s older brother. Her feelings were so damn transparent that I couldn’t help but wonder what people saw when they looked at me.

Had everyone been able to see how much I loved Rumi, or had I successfully hidden it?

At least Rumi didn’t know. That was a small consolation.

I figured that until things became easy for us again, we’d just have to fake it until we made it, and Rumi must have had the same idea because whenever our paths crossed, he treated me the same as he always had. He was friendly, annoying, flirty, Rumi—and part of me was glad.

A small part of me, a tiny part that I refused to acknowledge, wished that Rumi looked at me the way Micky was looking at Emilia.

Instead of dwelling on it, I made the rounds, saying hi to people I’d known since I was little. The club was Pop’s. He was the member. But Nana had her posse, too. The women had always treated Nana like she was an integral part of their group, even though I could tell that she kept herself just slightly apart.

Once when I was younger, I’d asked her why she did it.

Lots of old ladies cling to the club, she’d explained, make it their entire personality, even. But what if their man dies? What if he’s disgraced somehow? What happens when the club’s no longer there? I’ll stick with me and mine, honey. You, your pop, Bird, and your mother whenever she graces us with her presence are all I need.

“How you been, sweetheart?” Rumi’s grandpa Grease asked me, throwing his arm over my shoulder and kissing the top of my head.

“I’ve been okay. How about you?” I asked, grinning up at him. I liked most of the guys in the club, some more than others, and Grease more than everyone else. He was so gruff and blustery, but he had a serious soft spot for women and children and it showed.

“Samson said you got into that school you’ve been waitin’ to hear from,” he said, giving me a squeeze.

“Yep, I start in the fall.”

“Outstandin’,” he boomed, smiling. “We should be havin’ a party for you!”

“It’s just a trade school,” I murmured, embarrassment making my cheeks heat.

“Bullshit,” he spat, giving me a gentle shake. “You’ve been savin’ up and you worked hard in school and now you’re goin’ to finish your education so you can get a job you dig. Don’t downplay it.”

“Okay, you’re right,” I said with a little laugh.

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