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“Then maybe youshouldn’t talk—”
“I love you,” Dad said fiercely. “More than anything in this world. And I’m so damn proud of you and the man you’ve become. After everything we’ve been through, you had every right to curl up and let go. But you pushed yourself, and you pushed me. We survived, Nicky. I know some days it doesn’t feel like it, but we have. And we’re getting better. We’re still going to make mistakes. I know I will. But as long as you remember there is nothing I wouldn’t do for you, we’re going to be okay.”
Nick could barely breathe. “I thought… when you said that—when you asked me why I had to be this way… that you…”
Dad squeezed his eyes shut. “I know. I never should have said that. It wasn’t fair to you.”
Nick shuddered. “But you were right.”
Dad shook his head. “No. Never. Never that.”
“I was trying to be something I couldn’t, trying to change myself to make—”
Dad opened his eyes. “I don’t want you to change. All I ever want is for you to be healthy and whole and talk a mile a minute because your voice makes me happy—”
“I was trying to make myself an Extraordinary,” Nick blurted before he could stop himself.
An inscrutable look crossed Dad’s face, there and gone before Nick could begin to parse through it. “What?”
“This. All this… stupid crap. I was trying—I don’t know. It started out for all the wrong reasons, and by the time I figured out how to do it for therightreasons, it still didn’t work. And then I—”
“When was the last time you took your pill?”
That stopped Nick cold. “What?”
“Your pill, Nick. When was the last time you took your medication?”
Why the hell didthatmatter? “Uh. Earlier today. Mary brought it for me. Why?”
Dad relaxed slightly. “Just making sure. You’re talking a little fast. Your head okay?”
“Yeah. It’s fine. I’m not—”
“Why, Nick? Why would you think you needed to be an Extraordinary?”
Nick was getting whiplash at the changes in conversation. “It started out dumb. For reasons that don’t make sense now, when I think about it. But it changed because of you. I wanted to do what I could to keep you safe.” He shook his head. “I was too late. You’re already here.”
“I don’t need you to protect me, Nicky. I’m the parent here. It’s my job to do that for you.”
“Why can’t we do it for each other?”
Dad sighed. “Because you shouldn’t have to worry about things like that. All I wanted you to focus on was growing up and finding your path. I don’t need you to be an Extraordinary, Nicky. Not when you’re already extraordinary to me.”
Nick tried his best to hold back. But it was damn near impossible, and he burst out laughing. “Oh my god. That was terrible. You’re such a dork.”
Dad frowned. “It wasn’t terrible. It was heartfelt. Why are you—would you stop laughing? I’m being serious here!”
“I know. That’s what makes it hysterical. We were having a moment and you had to go and ruin it—”
“You’re grounded for the rest of your natural life.”
“Maybe I would feel more intimidated if you didn’t look like you were going to cry with every breath you took.”
“Broken ribshurt,you little jerk.”
“Why are you still talking?”
“Because you need to know that I love you just the way you are.”
