Nova Read Online Free Page B

consider it and then Brock said, “Sure, we’ll play. I’ll go first.” With a cheesy smile he said, “I’m Brock, I’m twenty-two, and I’m studying law at USC .”
    Hmm, wanting to be a lawyer? Not a big surprise.
    “Will? You’re up, buddy,” he said.
    “Uh, I’m also twenty-two, and I’m a history major at Davis.”
    Nash shrugged and said, “I’m twenty -one and I’m in animation.”
    I tried not to react because I pictured him drawing the Simpsons.
    “Austin?” Brock motioned. “Which career would you like to share?”
    He paused for a few seconds before he replied. “I’m twenty-three and, uh, I’m in business.”
    Two of the guys chuckled and I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to take that. Maybe “business” meant something I didn’t want to hear.
    “So?” Brock smiled at me. “Now it’s your turn.”
    I took a moment before I replied, “Well, I’m twenty- two .”
    There were various reactions for several seconds —apparently it had been quite a debate—and three of them slid money across the table to Austin. But I was kind of surprised that he didn’t really have much of a reaction at all. He didn’t even touch the money, and took a drink of his water instead .
    “Well, I’d better get back to work guys. Please give me your orders, if you still plan on staying.”
    Thankfully they did order, and when I finally left the table, I had to take a deep but silent breath of air.
    “Holy cow, spend much time at table ten?” Robin whispered.
    I didn’t really feel like responding, so I j ust gave the order to Roger and busied myself with another table.
    We got pretty busy after that—two separate groups of six came in —and I only gave table ten the necessary amount of attention. Robin was cashing them out as I breezed by, and just when I thought the coast was clear, someone caught my arm.
    It was Austin, and without saying anything he put two fifty-dollar bills in my ha nd. I didn’t know what to say. M aybe I was waiting for Brock to make some sort of response for the group , but he kind of seemed a little…subdued. Nobody said a single word until they were about out the door and Austin said, “See you, Nova.”
    I stood there for a few seconds, feeling a bit stupefied.
    “Why the frowny face?” Robin asked. “One of them say something mean , sweetie? ”
    “No, they just… I don’t know. I’ll explain it to you later.”
    So I did go over the whole situation with Robin when we had a few minutes, from the bet to all four guys leaving me with the money.
    “So you actually wanted to go out with him?” she asked. “Then just say so, Nova.”
    “No, I just… I don’t know why I’m a little confused. Maybe they were disappointed with the outcome. I think it was Brock that wanted the date—you know, the forward one that asked me for my number last time? Maybe the whole thing was just about him hoping the odds were in his favor.”
    “So who won the bet?”
    “Austin.”
    “Uh…which one is that again?”
    “He was sitting in the far corner again. The guy in the black shirt with the baseball hat on . ”
    She started to laugh, and it made me really confused. Insecure at the same time since I thought she was laughing because she felt the guy was a wad or something.
    “What’s so funny? He’s not that bad. He’s actually pretty cute. Kind of quiet, but really cute.”
    “I know.”
    I gave her a peculiar look.
    “Nova, he’s been in here before. Without his buddies. He comes in here by himself.”
    “What?”
    “Yeah, I’ve seen him two other times. T he last two Fridays for lunch.”
    “I was working the last two Fridays.”
    She laughed again. “I know; that’s why I think it’s funny. You didn’t even recognize him without his friends.”
    I had to take a moment to think it over, wondering what it was supposed to mean. “Well…where did he sit?”
    “Two,” she replied, nodding to the opposite end of the café.
    I took instant insult to it,