He was kind of surprised by the sheer size of Nova's loft and that it was clean. She was usually the messy one growing up. Because his father was ex-military he was extremely neat, and Nova's place could pass her father's test. Also, it looked way above a teacher's salary, especially a young one just starting.

But it wasn't his business. Maybe she had a nice savings stashed away.

"Have a seat, what do you want to eat?"

"Nov, you don't have to make me anything, we can Door Dash something."

"It's not much to whip up some burgers and fries. My cooking skills have improved since high school."

He chuckled at that. Nova cooked a lot growing up, being the oldest and both of her parents working. That did not mean she was the best cook. She was good at warming up frozen foods and reheating leftovers. Once he rushed over because he thought she was burning the house down because she tried making burgers on the indoor grill and burned them.

"I like my burgers well done, not crispy," he said to her, following her into the kitchen. "Let's make them together."

"So, you don't trust me? I burned burgers one time when I was a kid and you think I can't cook."

"Well.." He grinned but did not finish the statement.

She playfully pushed him. "Get out of my kitchen. Find something on TV and I will make the food."

He had to trust her, though his stomach was aching he hoped the food would be edible. He left the kitchen and walked around the place. She did not offer him a tour, so he was going to be nosy. The furniture was nice, she had great taste. Dark colors to match the granite-colored walls. Very open living room-dining room-office area. He could still see into the kitchen from every side of the open room.

There was a large flat-screen television mounted to the wall with a sound system underneath it. A few pictures of herself and her sister and brothers. None of her parents, which he found strange because she was very close with them. He envied that about her. Her parents were totally into her life, came to every play and event she performed. His father never came to see him perform, he never even told his mother. Neither praised him for his work either.

His father wanted him to enlist in the military like him. His mother wanted him to go to college. Doing neither, he was sure he was their disappointment. The bad seed, unlike Davina who held high grades in school and on to college. Even with his success now, they never once said how proud they were of him.

He stopped short of going into Nova's bedroom and came back to the living room to sit on the couch. He wanted to be a better parent than his. That was going to be extremely hard since he missed the formative years of his son's life. If he ever was going to have a relationship with Anthony, he had a lot of catching up to do.

He wanted Nova's opinion about things, but he didn't know if she would talk to him about it.

Whatever she was doing in the kitchen started to smell good.

"You need help in there?" he called out to her.

"No! Turn on the TV and watch something."

He picked up the remote, cut the television on, clicked on Netflix, and scrolled through her watch history. Nova still loved her horror movies. He smiled at the memories of them staying up late watching movies at her place. With popcorn, candy, and drinks, it was like a date for them. He wanted her to get scared and cuddle with him, but she never even flinched at the movies.

He found a scary movie for them to watch but did not start the movie yet.

"I still remember how you like your burgers, with everything on it, right?"

"If you have it."

In no time she walked over with two plates of food and sat them on the coffee table. Nothing smelled burnt, the buns toasted, and burgers topped with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes mayo, mustard, and ketchup like he liked. The fries looked like some frozen seasoned fries and they looked amazing. She had a pickle spear on the side.

"See, and you thought I was drunk or something. I may be a lightweight with the drinks, but those did not do me in."

"Let me taste it and see first." He grabbed the burger and took a bite, chewed as she watched him. "Not bad little November."

She rolled her eyes at him and walked off. She came back over with bottles of Fitz root beer, their favorite when they were younger.

"You still drink these?"

"Of course, why not? I stock up on them. Remember we used to go down to The Loop and have Fitz floats and people watch?"

"Yeah." He ate a fry. "We had plenty of dates."

"You call those dates?"

"They were," he said. "I asked you to come with me and you said yes and we would hang out. That's what you do on a date."

"I wouldn't know, I didn't get to go on any dates with anyone else."

He felt so bad for that. "Look Nova, that was my fault. I used to scare the guys off from asking you. I didn't want you to be with any of them."

"Get over yourself," she said, picking up the remote and starting the movie. "I knew you were doing that and guys still asked me out. My parents would not let me go out with any of those other guys. For some reason, they liked your dumb ass."

He grinned. "They want us together?"

"Eew! No! They looked at you like one of their own kids as much as you were at our house because your father left you alone. You were fourteen the first time he left you all alone for a week and my stepfather had you sleep on our couch. Your father barely left food for you in the house."

She was right about that. He was too embarrassed to tell her parents that, but Nova knew. Many times he would not eat if it weren't for having dinner at their house.

"What are your parents doing now? I owe them a lot."

Nova did not say anything, she ate her food and focused on the television. He was afraid something bad happened to her parents and he really liked them. She didn't want to answer, he would not push.

"Have you seen this movie already and not going to tell me?"

She shrugged, not saying anything.

Now she was back to not talking to him and he did not like it. They ate and watched the movie, no words. He had so many things to say but did not know how to start.

"I told my mother and father about my son, his name is Anthony." That got Nova to look his way, not on the movie. "My mother was so disappointed of course. My father, I don't think he cares either way. They both said whatever I do they will support me, which is shocking."

"You always act as if your parents didn't care about you Leek, but you know they did."

"Really? My dad cared more about chasing women than looking after me. My mother cared that I didn't act too Black for her."

"What?" Nova laughed at that but it was not funny to him. He did not think his mother was racist, but she had issues raising biracial children. Probably why she had no issues tossing him aside and letting him stay with his father.

"I bet she appreciates the fact that Anthony can pass. I think she wished Davina and I could."

"You know I never met your mom."

"Because she never came to anything. I never told her about any shows I did in school. She's the one that pushed me and Davina into piano lessons and singing, yet, I didn't invite her to come to any of my performances."

"Why?"

"I always felt it wouldn't be enough for her. I'd rather her not judge me."

"My mother loved your singing." She smiled, looking down at her hands. "When we did the Wiz together, remember that?"

"Yes, Dorothy," he said with a chuckle at her.

"She thought you were amazing and she always said you were better than Michael Jackson."

"That's blasphemy," he said with a laugh, "But go on."

"My mom died three years ago."

"Nova! Why didn't you tell me that? You know I loved her."

Nova quickly wiped at a tear, and he instinctively pulled her in his arms. He felt so upset that he was not there for her. He was so stupid to leave and not keep up with her. What was he thinking? So afraid of his feelings. So wrapped up in being what he despised, like his father with women.

"Is that why you came back to St. Louis instead of pursuing your dreams?"

"Somewhat." She cuddled in his arms and it felt so great, but he let her speak. "I really hated New York, it wasn't for me. I still loved acting so I jumped at the chance. And my sister and brothers needed me here. My father...stepfather hasn't been doing so great since. He just gets angry and drunk all the time. Junior and Jayson still live with him in our old house."

"Maybe I could stop by sometime and hang out with them. How old are they now?"

"Twenty-two and twenty-one, I don't think they need you trying to big brother them." She squeezed her arms around him. "I miss my mom. But I don't let my sister and brothers see me broken up about it. They need me to be strong. I have to take care of them."

"Yeah," he said as he kissed the top of her head. "But who takes care of you?