Chapter 255: Not Instead Of
SEDONA
Nick came in with his usual fast walk. He was a step ahead of Mrs. Peterson. He hugged me as usual. He hugged me with full-body, unguarded, and no trace of whatever I'd heard in his voice on the phone.
I let the first twenty minutes be ordinary. Let it be questions about school, about the drawing he'd brought to show me. And story about a substitute teacher who'd apparently pronounced everyone's names wrong in a way the whole class had found hilarious. I let him have the warmth of it before I touched the thing underneath.
Then, gently, when there was a natural pause: "I heard you met Drew. At the family centre, before I came in."
His face changed.
It wasn't dramatic. Just a small closing, his shoulders coming in slightly. Nick's eyes dropped to the
