Nova is a recent law school graduate, clinging to her dream of becoming a sports lawyer through an internship with New York City's NHL team, hoping she can land a full time position. One problem though, the captain of the hockey team is someone she...
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I give Declan a side eye, worried about the apology he just gave me. I'm already here, though. There's no going back now. I guess I'm meeting Declan's family. At least, most of them.
Immediately after Declan lets go of me, Dakota envelopes me in a hug. I stiffen for a moment, before I relax and hug her back. Dakota and I met when she came to visit Declan, before we stopped talking, and we really hit it off. I've never felt so seen or understood by anyone. Lennon may be my best friend, but sometimes it was like Dakota and I had the same brain. We thought about the world in the same way, and it was comforting knowing I wasn't alone in that regard. I hadn't realized how much I missed her until a few tears begin to line my lower lids. I blink rapidly, reigning them in so I don't have to meet his entire family with watery eyes.
Dakota and I both pull back, and it makes me feel better that I see a few tears lining her eyes as well. "How have you been?"
A soft smile tugs at my lips, "I've been alright. How have you been?" I know Dakota struggles a lot with her mental health, so my question has more meaning than others realize, and Dakota recognizes the double meaning behind it.
"I've been alright." Darkness looms in her eyes for a moment, but with a blink it's gone. I give her arm a reassuring squeeze before letting go of her completely. Obviously there's some things we need to catch up on. She just gives me a slight nod before gesturing to Delia, her twin. I recognize her from photos Declan shared with me years ago, but she's grown up a lot since then. She's really grown into her hourglass frame, looking like a runway model. "This is Delia, my twin."
Delia has the brightest beaming smile and quickly wraps me in a tight hug. "Hi, you must be Nova." I just nod and hug her back. As I look over her shoulder, my eyes connect with a stare that I presume is Declan's mother's. I gulp, nerves beginning to pool in my gut, but the wide smile on her face has me relaxing. I feel a comfort from her I never felt from my own mother. Declan's Mom exudes warmth and comfort, things my Mom hasn't been towards me in a long time.
Delia releases me and Declan's Mom steps forward. "Hi, Nova. I'm all of these menaces' Mother."
I extend my hand for her to shake, "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Tate."
She scoffs, "Please, call me Thea." She knocks my hand to the side and wraps me in a hug as well. I don't remember the last time I've been hugged this much in such a short span of time. Tears spring to my eyes yet again, but I shove them back. I'm embarrassed that something as simple as being hugged is making me this emotional. Get a grip, Nova.
Mr. Tate quickly swoops in for a side hug, a bit awkward and shy, but no less endearing than the rest of the Tate family, "Hello, I'm, as their Mother put it, these menaces' Father. But call me Daxton." I chuckle and return his stiff but heartwarming hug.
I take a step back, feeling a bit awkward as if I should excuse myself and leave them to their reunion, but Dakota catches me before I can go, "So, on a scale of one to ten, how insufferable has it been to see my brother's awful face again?"
