They shook hands, promised to catch up more thoroughly soon. And Nick drove away, heading back to Maisie’s with an eagerness in his entire being just to see her face. As he made his way through the Seattle streets, he thought about how nice it was to see his friend, someone he respected and admired. And how good it felt to not feel alone. He wondered if Maisie was right—what would Drew say if he opened up about the mental health piece? Was Nick selling everyone short? Including himself?
Chapter Twenty-Six
MAISIE FINISHED WRAPPINGNICK’Sgift. She’d already planned on giving it to him before he’d surprised her this morning with his jersey. How freaking fabulously high school was that? She’d never had a boyfriend in high school but she vividly remembered seeing girls wear their guys’ letterman jackets. Nick wanted her at his game, wearing his jersey, with his name, and his number. Tidying up her small studio, she was about to head back across the hall to her apartment when her phone rang and her sister’s face came up on her screen.
She sank down on her editing stool, accepted the call. “Hey, Nat.”
“Hey. How are you?”
Since Nick showing up had stolen all of her focus, she was better than her sister expected her to be. “I’m good. Working in my studio.” That actually wasn’t a lie; she had a series of photographs she’d beenconsidering for entering the gallery contest. “Enjoying my last few days before I start at the university. My next photo shoot isn’t until February.”
She heard rustling in the background but wasn’t surprised because her sister didn’t often sit still. “Have you talked to Mom and Dad?”
“No.”
Because they hadn’t phoned. A small piece of her thought her dad would.
“I think they’re just giving you some time to cool off,” Nat said, disappointment toward their parents evident in her tone.
Fissures formed in the wall she tried to keep up around her heart when it came to her family and their opinions. Looking around the tiny studio space she felt lucky to have, her gaze moved over the poster-size black-and-white photographs she displayed, the corner shelf full of framed photos, photography books—some of which she’d been part of—and different cameras.
“I love what I do, Nat.”
“I know. And you’re amazing at it. Sometimes I think the fact that nothing was ever good enough for Granddad, even when Mom got her PhD, made her believe she could take credit for all of us combined and really show him. I know she’s proud of you, Maisie. I’m sorry the trip ended the way it did.”
Maisie’s phone buzzed with an incoming text message but she didn’t check it. “Me too. I’ll phone her next week. Maybe I do need some space.”
They chatted for a few more minutes and when she hung up, she saw Nick had texted.
Nick
Okay if I pick something up for us to eat?
Maisie
If you don’t, we’ll either need to go out and get something or go to a store and buy some food. I really need to grocery shop.
Nick
Anything you don’t like?
She smiled at the screen.
Maisie
Fishy things, onions, and mushrooms
Nick
Very specific list
Maisie
The list of what I do like is longer
Nick
Am I on that list?
