Nova and Quinton: No Regrets
By Jessica Sorensen
Release Date: April 15, 2014
Summary: Today is the first day of Quinton Carter's new life. The toxic guilt of his past left him in pieces-but one girl unexpectedly put him back together. Thanks to Nova Reed, Quinton can finally see the world with clear eyes. She's the reason his heart is still kicking behind the jagged scar on his chest. And he would love to have her in his arms every minute of the day . . . but he's not ready yet.
Playing drums in a band and living with her best friends are just some of the highlights of Nova's life. But the best new development? Talking to Quinton on the phone each night. She wishes she could touch him, kiss him, though she knows he needs time to heal. Yet shocking news is on the way-a reminder of life's dark side-and Nova will need Quinton like he once needed her. Is he strong enough to take the final leap out of his broken past . . . and into Nova's heart?
“I have to tell you something else,
but it’s not good—it’s bad.” Before I can chicken out, I hurry and sputter,
“Someone gave me a bag of meth today and I have it underneath my mattress.” As
soon as I say it, I wonder why the hell I thought this was a good idea,
throwing this on her. I need to stop relying on her so much—need to stand on my
own two feet.
I’m about to hang up, because
really it’s the only choice, but then she says, “Did you do any of it?”
“No.” My voice shakes as I grip the
side of the mattress and battle to breathe evenly.
“Do you want to?” she asks calmly.
“Yes.” My voice is full of
desperation.
“Are you… are you going to?”
There’s a hint of worry in her tone.
“I’m not sure,” I admit. “I want
to, but I also want to throw it away.”
“Then throw it away,” she says, as
if it’s the easiest thing in the world to do.
“I don’t think I can.” My hands
quiver just at the thought of it and I rest my forehead on the mattress, still
on my knees “It feels fucking impossible.”
“Yes, you can.” She sounds so
certain and I have no idea how she’s doing it—managing to sound so calm when I
know she can’t be. “Just take it and dump it down the toilet. You can do this.
I know you can.”
“You have too much faith in me,” I
say, slipping my fingers between the bed and the mattress, fighting the urge to
hang up on her and turn to what’s only inches away from my fingertips.
“No, I have the right amount,” she
replies. “Now let me know when you have it and you’re headed to the bathroom.
And don’t hang up on me.” It’s like she can read my mind.
I sit there forever, going back and
forth with what I want and need to do. At one point I grab the bag of crystal
and put it back. Then pull it out again and open it, staring at the white
crystals so close I can almost taste them. But I can also hear Nova breathing
on the other end. Soft and full of concern. Acting calm, when I’m sure she’s
freaking out. I want to throw them away just for her, but I have to wonder if
it’s possible to care for someone so much that I’d give this up. Do I care for
her that much?
After a lot of deliberating, I come
to one simple answer.
Yes. I care about her that much.
I get to my feet and make my way to
the bathroom, not speaking. Then I lift up the toilet seat and, shutting my
eyes, I tip the bag over, pour the contents into the water, and flush them
down.
“Did you do it?” Nova asks at the
sound of the flushing.
I press my lips together, resting
back against the bathroom wall, realizing how sweaty I am and how much I’m
gasping for air. “I did.”
“See, I knew you could do it,” she
says with relief in her voice. “I knew you’d do the right thing.”
The right thing? Is that what I
just did? Sometimes it feels like it is, but there are other times when it
feels like what I’m doing is so wrong and disrespectful to Lexi. But through
the right and wrong, there’s always one thing that gives me hope and that’s
Nova. She’s what keeps me going.
About the Author
Jessica Sorensen is a #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives with her husband and three kids in Idaho. When she's not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.
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