I said nothing as he drove, still trying to process what I had seen.
 
 Was surprised when he went back to my apartment.
 
 He grabbed a duffel bag, then got out of the car, circled the vehicle, and pulled open my door.
 
 Then he led me inside.
 
 “Shower,” he said.
 
 I kicked out of my shoes, undressed, and did as he said.
 
 When I returned, he was wearing different clothes, and mine were nowhere to be found.
 
 Neither were my shoes.
 
 “Do you still love me, Hope?” Nico asked.
 
 Before I could speak, he cut me off.
 
 “Think about it before you answer,” he said.
 
 Then he left.
 
 THIRTY
 
 Hope
 
 “Earth to Hope,”Molly said.
 
 “Yeah, I will make sure all the water bowls are full before I finished today,” I said.
 
 She smiled at me, the amusement lighting her eyes.
 
 “Good to know, but that’s not what I said,” she said.
 
 She frowned, a deep crease between her eyebrows. “What’s up?”
 
 I looked at Molly, thought about what I would ordinarily said.
 
 I’m fine!
 
 I’d wave her off and then be left with my thoughts. But so much had changed recently.
 
 I wanted, more than anything, talk to someone.
 
 “Do you have plans after work?” I asked.
 
 Her eyes widened with shock, which I understood.
 
 She practically had to twist my arm to get me to go to coffee with her.
 
 And over the years, she had been the driving force in our friendship.
 
 I couldn’t think of a time where I had asked her to make plans.
 
 “I don’t,” she finally said.
 
 “Would you mind if we went somewhere after work to talk?”