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?”