Nico nods behind me, and I look over my shoulder to see Noelle’s family huddled around, talking to a firefighter I vaguely recognize—I think he works at the gas station.
“You have people,” Nico says.
“I barely know them.” Though it doesn’t feel like that.
“For now, but you’re going to. Right?”
“I hope so. You know, you could have people, too. You could start by taking Bryan up on one of his many offers to visit,” I point out, and he gapes at me.
“Seriously? You’re almost in a fire, and somehow still finding a way to worry about me?” At least he didn’t shoot down the suggestion immediately, for once.
I shrug. “I always worry about you. Just like I assume you always worry about me. I think that’s just how family works.”
“Maybe. Speaking of family, where’s your girl?”
My girl.I like the sound of that.
I point in Noelle’s direction, and Nico hums.
“She’s younger than I remember.”
“She’s thirty, it’s not that—” I protest until I realize his mustache is twitching. “Shut up.”
“You look happy,” he says, and he sounds relieved.
“I am. Just worried about how she’s going to handle this.” I gesture to the general chaos of Main Street.
“She’s got good people around her—you included. All you can do is be there for her.”
I raise a brow at Nico, because that’s weirdly good advice, considering how removed from people he is.
“And on that note,” he continues, “go be with her. She’s sitting on her own.”
I look over at her, still huddled in a blanket on the back of the fire truck, watching everything pass her by.
“She wants space.”
“I’m no expert, but she keeps looking over here when you’re not looking. I think she probably wants you,” Nico says, and, sure enough, Noelle looks up and catches my gaze on her. Even from here, I can tell her face is pale, whether from the chill in the air or the shock, I don’t know.
“Do you want to meet her? You know, like, as my girlfriend,” I ask Nico, and he doesn’t seem surprised by me calling her my girlfriend. I suppose finding me with her family painted a pretty clear picture.
“Of course I do. Just maybe not when she’s had probably the most stressful night of her life.” Nico’s smiles never quite meet his eyes, but he gives me one all the same. “Maybe I could come back down in a few weeks when things are settled?”
Hope swells in my chest, though I know better than to let it get its claws in me. Still, I nod. “I’d love that.”
“Right. It’s a plan.” For a moment, I think he’s going to hug me again, but he takes a step back. “I’ll call you tomorrow to check in, once you’ve caught up on sleep.”
Call, not text. I don’t know what exactly it means, but it feels like progress.
“Sounds good. Thank you for coming.”
“Always, Shay. Love you.”
“Love you.”
I watch him drive away, my heart hammering in my chest. Progress. Definitely progress.
My feet are freezing as I make my way over to Noelle. We didn’t have time to put socks on, and the adrenaline that kept me warm has long gone.
