Chapter 459
Eight years later.
“I swear I’m going to kill him p>
Nova’s voice echoes through the living room, startling both Noah and me out of our quiet moment on the couch. One-month-old Liam is asleep against Noah’s chest while I’m trying to finish folding tiny baby clothes that somehow never seem to end no matter how many loads of laundry I do, while our fourth-born, Oliver, is on the floor sprawled on the floor coloring.
He’s six, and I swear nothing fazes him. Not even the drama that’s always seemed attached to Nova’s name.
Noah immediately sits up straighter. “Language p>
“I don’t care!” Nova snaps, throwing her bag onto the floor so aggressively that Val, who’s sprawled upside down on the armchair doing homework, blinks at her in alarm.
At ten years old, Val is still smaller than most children her age, her body slower to catch up after everything, but her sharp grey eyes miss absolutely nothing.
“It can’t be that bad,” I say pausing my task and focusing on her.
Nova starts pacing the room, her pink nails flashing as she waves her hands around. “I’m serious, Mom. I’m actually going to commit murder p>
“Are teen girls this dramatic?” Noah whispers, looking at me in alarm. “I don’t remember my sisters being like this p>
“That’s because you had already moved out by the time they became teenagers,” I whisper back before turning to Nova. “What is it? What happened p>
“I swear I’ll skin him alive, then skink his stinking body to the bottom of the ocean!” she screams, fury waving off her in waves.
Val snorts while Noah coughs into his fist, clearly trying not to laugh.
Nova points accusingly at both of us. “This isn’t funny! He’s messing up my damn life p>
“Well, you first have to tell us what you’re talking about,” Noah says carefully, adjusting the sleeping baby against his chest. “Who are we murdering p>
“Nolan p>
Right on cue, the back front opens and Nolan walks in carrying a football under his arm, completely unbothered. His dark hair is messy from practice and there’s a bruise forming near his jaw, but the boy has the audacity to look relaxed.
The moment Nova sees him, she jumps on him and hits him on the head. “You psychopath p>
Nolan barely flinches. He just pries her hands off him before moving to the side. “Good afternoon to you too p>
“How dare you act like nothing is wrong! You locked Ethan in a locker p>
“What?” I ask slowly, her words finally getting my attention.
Nolan reaches into the fridge and grabs a bottle of water. “And? It’s not like something terrible happened to him p>
Nova lets out a shriek so loud Liam startles awake against Noah’s chest and immediately begins crying.
“Oh my God,” I mutter. “Please tell me your sister is exaggerating p>
Noah starts bouncing the baby gently while staring at Nolan. “You locked a kid in a locker p>
“He was bothering Nova p>
“He was not bothering me! In fact, he was being very sweet,” Nova practically screeches. “He asked me out p>
Noah pauses, then very seriously asks, “And you said yes p>
Nova throws her hands into the air. “THAT’S NOT THE POINT p>
Val is openly grinning now, clearly entertained while I press my lips together, trying very hard not to laugh because Noah already.Jooks like he’s going to be constipated.
Nova turns toward me. “Mom, do you know what your son has been doing p>
“Nope, but I have a feeling you’re going to enlighten me p>
“Ethan asked me out three days ago and then today he comes up to me looking terrified and tells me he doesn’t think we should date. So ask him why and he says he’s terrified of my brother… Then I ask around and apparently this psycho” she points at Nolan ha been threatening every boy that even looks at me p>
I slowly turn towards my son and all he does is shrug without a shred of shame.
“They’re idiots and cowards…. None of them are good enough for you p>
“How can they be anything but afraid when you threatened to cut off their fingers before finishing them off by castrating them p>
“And toes,” Nolan corrects. “You forgot the toes part p>
My mouth falls open and Val bursts into laughter.
Nova screeches before spinning toward Noah desperately. “Dad! Say something p>
Instead of being horrified like a normal parent, Noah leans forward and fist-bumps Nolan.
“Well done, son… These boys need to be taught to think twice p>