“Word travels fast.”
“That’s because nobody minds their own business.”
I pause on the last step and watch Ian and Nick argue.
“How is it doing?”Nick asks.
“What do you think?”
“We’re in the shit, as usual.”
“If you came here to be a dick…” Ian says.
“I came for Jamie.”
“Jamie is here and can hear you,” I say, stepping in.
“Hey, man, what’s up?”Nick asks.
“You’re really asking him?”Ian snaps.
“What did I say?”
“Stop it, please.My head is bursting.”
“You look like you haven’t slept,” Nick says.
“You think so?”Ian turns to him.
“Is there any coffee left?”I ask as I walk into the kitchen.
“Yeah, I just made some.”
“Oh, good,” Nick says, following me, though he doesn’t really care about the coffee.
I pour two mugs and hand him one.
“So…” He takes a sip.“Things are…”
“We’re not talking about it, Nick.”
“Fine, we won’t talk about it.But if you’re listening, I still have something to say…”
I shake my head and lean against the counter.
“I don’t know what happened between you two.I just know one friend is falling apart, and the other — who isn’t really a friend, but I can’t just ignore him — is struggling too.”
I try to push the pain down.
“And I don’t think either of you should be like this.Not that I care much about the Doctor.”
“Nick…” Ian warns.
“It was nice to see you finally giving a fuck about your business.”
“Are you saying you were happy to have me out of the way?”
“Something like that.”
