It was hard to interpret that as anything but a sign from the heavens. But in which direction, he wasn’t sure.
“Shit,” said Simon. A lighter clicked, and the candle in the center of the table illuminated.
Niko carefully made his way to the window that faced into town. There wasn’t a single light as far as he could see.
“I wonder if a transformer blew,” he said, but all he was thinking about was how Dev had mentioned that he and Oliviawere going out of town for the weekend to a friend’s wedding. Which meant that Merritt was probably all alone in a pitch-black house.
She’d told him a story about a night on her first tour when the power had gone out in the hotel where she’d been staying with her band. She’d been so freaked out that she’d asked everyone to stay in her suite, pillows and couch cushions and blankets piled high in the living room in a spontaneous slumber party.
It had stuck with him, because he couldn’t understand how someone so brave—to expose herself the way she did, to perform in front of thousands, and then to walk away from the thing she most cared about—could be so fearful at the same time.
He tried to keep himself occupied, building a fire in the fireplace as Jo and Simon lit candles. Maybe the power would come back on if he stalled long enough. She probably didn’t want to hear from him, anyway.
But as soon as he was done, seated by the dark window with nothing to distract him, he found himself reaching for his phone.
He wouldn’t have done it if she weren’t all alone.
Hey
Are u ok? Do u have power?
Her reply was immediate.
No, it’s out here too
I’m fine, but my phone’s about to die and i can’t figure out where olivia and dev keep the emergency candles and stuff
Thank you for checking in, though
Niko gnawed on his bottom lip.
we have candles
& firewood
I can bring them over
He saw three dots appear, then disappear, then appear, then disappear.
That’s okay, she wrote back.You don’t have to do that. I’ll be fine.
I know i dont have to. i want to, he replied, almost immediately, before he could think it over.
It was a long moment before she responded.
Okay
Thank you
I really appreciate it
Niko’s heart thundered even louder than the storm outside.
He stood up, trying as hard as he could to keep his movements unhurried and casual. He picked up his work bag, then moved around the living room, throwing in a few unlit candles and a lighter.
Simon glanced at him. “Where are you going?”
“Um,” Niko said, pulling on his flannel. “I was just going to run over to Merritt’s. She’s alone and doesn’t have any supplies or anything.”
