Would she even want to go back? Didhe?
“I still can’t figure how she got onto the island,” Tyler mused.
Nico frowned. He had no idea either, and Opal had refused to tell.Smugly.
“I’m just saying, think about it.” Emma lowered her voice. “I don’t think Opal means to be a jerk. I know she feels bad for … about that day.”
The sympathy he’d felt evaporated in a blink. The image of his drone vanishing into the fog still riled Nico every time. “I’ll think about it,” was all he managed.
“Good.” Emma sat back. “By the way, did you hear what the town is planning?”
Nico shook his head, thrown by the change in topic.
“A freakingradishfestival.” Emma giggled. “To boost tourism.”
“A what?” Nico cringed. “Why?” Tyler just blinked in confusion.
“It’s the official vegetable of Timbers,” Emma said in a mock-scolding tone. “Remember? We learned that in second grade. Because of all the radish farms outside of town.”
“But a radish festival?” Tyler ran a hand over his face. “Oh boy, that’s bad.”
“Uh-huh,” Emma agreed. “And it’s a big deal. There’s gonna be a pageant, a parade, and lots of things on Main Street. All about radishes. It sounds totally ridiculous.”
“Hey, show some respect,” Nico joked. “You can’t make radish tacos without radishes.”
Tyler snorted, but then his gaze flicked to the door. A four-letter word escaped his lips. Nico turned. Logan was walking toward him with a vicious twinkle in his eye.
Jeez. Not again.
“Hey, flyboy!” Logan stopped directly behind Nico and loomed over him, talking loud enough for every table to hear. “Have you packed yet?”
Nico’s eyebrows rose. Whatever this was, it wasn’t what he’d expected.
“Packed?”
“For your move,” Logan said matter-of-factly. Then he leaned over and mock-whispered in Nico’s ear. “Or maybe you don’t know?”
Nico spun awkwardly so he could stand and face Logan. Tyler scowled across the table. Emma had a white-knuckle grip on her tray.
“Say what you came to say,” Nico muttered, resigned to another public humiliation.
Logan made a sad face, but he couldn’t keep the glee from his voice. “I just want to wish you luck, wherever your family ends up. Getting transferred is rough, I know, but it’s part of the ranger life, right, buddy? You’ll do fine in Alaska, or wherever there are trees that need hugging.”
Nico blinked, unable to process the taunt. “What are you talking about?”
Logan chortled. “Oh, wow. I guess I really do have to deliver the bad news.” He clapped a hand on Nico. “My father made some calls last week.Yourfather isn’t very popular around here, except maybe with owls. Everyone agrees he’d be better off in another park, somewhere far away from Timbers.”
The blood drained from Nico’s face. “That’s … that’s not …”
“Happy trails, I guess.” Logan squeezed Nico’s shoulder, acid coating his words. “Your dad shouldn’t have messed with my family. Lesson learned, but too late for you. See ya.” He turned and strode from the cafeteria, igniting a firestorm of whispers.
Nico’s head spun. His knees felt weak.Moving? From Timbers?Emma and Tyler were on their feet, mouths working, but he couldn’t hear them. Couldn’t take any more. He had to get out of there. Everyone was staring at him.
Nico shoved his chair aside and ran from the building.
Fifteen minutes later, he was home. His father’s beat-up old Range Rover was in the driveway, which relieved and terrified Nico at the same time. He found him in the kitchen eating a bagel. Bags of groceries littered the countertop.
Warren Holland looked up with a frown. “Nico? Why aren’t you in school?”
