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?”