“What about Nick working with the Tennessee branch?” Alex asks.
“The FBI can’t discuss ongoing investigations, but Eddie has a friend in the Tennessee branch, and he made sure he was aware of Nick’s situation.”
I rest my head in my hands. I’m so worried about him. He has to be okay. This no-contact situation is so hard. It reminds me of when I woke up from the medically induced coma and had no one to talk to. Without Mom, Lily bee, and Jake to turn to, profound loneliness and unbearable pressure bore down on me.
“I’ve contacted the school and the principal to let them know Nick is away for a while. They don’t know the details. Ceres has also been updated,” Troy adds.
“So we just pretend everything’s all right?” Gabby asks with a wobbly lip.
Troy kneels down in front of her while Seb pulls her to his side. “No Gabs. Everything isn’t okay, but Nick would want us to keep going and live our lives, wouldn’t he?”
“Yeah, but he just left. I’m not ready yet.”
“That’s okay. I know it’s going to be strange, but hopefully he won’t be gone long,” Troy tells her before kissing her hair.
“What would everyone like to do for the rest of the day?” Zander asks.
Alex, E, and Bay are heading home for dinner. The rest of us are going to eat here.
After dinner, Seb, Gabby, and I sit under the live oak in the backyard. We’re all scared for Nick, so we end up talking about him until dark. Troy insists Seb and Gabby go home with him, so I walk them out to the Jeep with hugs goodbye.
When I get back inside, I find Zander on the couch watching sports, so I take a seat in the couch corner. “Holding up okay, darling?” He asks.
“Not really. I’m terrified for him, and I miss him so much already,” I cry. He slides over to wrap mein his arms.
“You two have gotten close. It’s not forever, darling. Remember that. I have faith he’ll be okay. You must believe that.” He slides closer to give me a hug.
“I hope you’re right because I can’t lose anyone else.” Zander holds me until I settle, then gets up and grabs us some ice cream. I sit with him until Seb calls, then excuse myself to my bedroom. “Hi Hurry.”
“Sunshine, how are ya?”
“The same. You?”
“I’m pretending Nick’s just out somewhere and not gone, so it’s not so weird to have this room to myself.”
“I don’t blame you. What are we going to do?”
“There’s nothing we can do. Pray he’s alright. Are you gonna go to school tomorrow?”
“I dunno. Haven’t thought about it yet.”
“Troy wants me and Gabs to go. Bay and Alex are going, too.”
“I’ll go too, then. What about E?”
“I haven’t talked to him. Why is everything such a mess, Sunshine? I feel like you and Bay are all that’s left of our friend group.”
“I don’t know, Hurry. Maybe I should enact my plan for Alex, see if that helps?”
“What’s your idea?”
“I’m gonna call his dad directly and tell him what’s happening. I really think his dad doesn’t know about most of what’s going on, and he’d help Alex if he knew.”
“Good idea. I think you should.”
We talk for a while longer before I hang up to get ready for bed and take a sleeping pill. I try to review for the test I missed today, but it’s no use. Hugging Jake’s pillow isn’t enough tonight either. Poking my head out into the hallway, I see the lights are off, so Zander must be in bed. I tiptoe into the guest room and crawl into Nick’s bed. His scent envelops me like a cocoon, and I breathe deeply. Tears fall again as I hug his pillow, eventually falling asleep.
Chapter 29
