“No, it’s fine,” I tell him, and I’m surprised to find I mean it.“I know Mom needs someone to talk to.I’m glad she has you.”
And I am, truly.
For so long, it was just Mom and me clinging to each other in the aftermath.But she deserves someone who can hold her fears without me having to be the adult all the time.
Nick studies me, choosing his next words carefully.
“I want you to know,” he says, “I’ll never try to fill the space your dad left.That’s not something anyone can do.But I’ll always be someone you can come to, if you need it.”
And just like that, emotion hits me like a rogue wave—sudden, overwhelming, ridiculous.
My throat tightens.
My eyes burn.
What the hell is wrong with me?
One kind sentence and suddenly I’m five years old with a scraped knee.
Maybe it’s because he’s not trying to fix anything.He’s just someone you could hand a terrible truth to and trust that it won’t shatter the world.
“I know who caused the accident,” I hear myself say.
Nick freezes—the quiet, controlled kind of stillness that belongs to someone who knows this moment matters.
“The driver that night,” I continue, my voice steadier than I feel.“I know who it was.”
His expression tightens—concern, surprise, something protective.
“It was Scott,” I say.“And there was a woman with him.I didn’t see her face, but… he kept telling her to get back in the car.”
The memory rises too easily: the metallic tang of twisted steel, Scott’s panicked voice, the perfume that didn’t belong there.Sweet and heavy and wrong.
“That’s why I haven’t been sleeping,” I whisper.“The nightmares were manageable for a while, but being back in Eden—being in the same town as him—it’s making everything louder again.”
“Have you talked to your mom about this?”Nick asks quietly.
“No.”It comes out sharper than intended.“She has enough going on.With the wedding and everything.She deserves something good right now.She doesn’t need this mess added to her plate.”
“Nora,” Nick says softly, “first of all your mom is stronger than you think.And she’s been afraid for you without knowing what she’s afraid of.And second of all, your mess isn’t something you need to carry alone.You have so many good people around you that would do anything to help you through any mess.Me included.”
I look away, because he’s right and I hate that he’s right.
“Do you remember anything about the woman from that night?”he asks.“Anything at all?”
I shake my head.“No, not really.”
He nods, thoughtful.“If this ever becomes a case against Scott, if you’re ever asked to testify?—”
“No.”The word slices out of me.“Absolutely not.And you can’t tell Nate.Promise me you won’t.It would destroy him, Nick.After all the progress and the work he’s done—I will not be the reason he spirals again.”
Nick studies me for a long moment.“I get why you feel that way.But I’ve known Nate long enough to understand something fundamental about him.He needs truth, not more secrets.”
He’s right again.And I hate that too.
“I’m gonna go to the clinic,” I say quietly as I stand.“But please, keep this between us?”
Nick rises as well.“I won’t say a word until you’re ready.I promise.”
