“Extremely,” I agreed as his pasta was served.
Although soon the bowl was halfway between us. “Can I ask you something?” Nick said as we shared, his fork battling my fork for a juicy chunk of chicken.
“Only if I get this piece,” I said.
He conceded.
I smiled and popped it in my mouth. “Go.”
But Nick hesitated. “How long do you think she’s going to be upset?” he eventually asked, putting down his fork. “I feel really bad…”
I felt something inside me jolt.
“Sage, how long do you think?”
I opened my mouth, although nothing came out. How long did I think it would take Emma Brisbane to get over Nick?
“I don’t know.” I half-shrugged. “I don’t know her that well.” I bit my lip, not wanting to think about my own breakup with him. “But she’s definitely hurting. She really liked you, Nick.”
From the way he winced, it was obvious Emma hadmorethan really liked Nick, and told him that. And as much as it killed me, I assumed he’d reciprocated, too nice not to say those words back.
Those words…
Tell him!a voice inside me said.Tell him you love him!
But I couldn’t. I couldn’t, because even though Nick now knew about Charlie, and had broken up with Emma, there was still that part of me…that part of me that worried…
“I’m sorry,” I said instead, to fill the silence. “I’m sorry for everything.”
“Thanks,” Nick replied, then sighed. “It just blows that this place is so small.” He looked out the window, toward campus. “I have stuff to do, but don’t want her to have to watch.” His voice dropped to a mumble. “I still feel awful that you had to watch…”
A ripple went through me. “Stuff?” I asked. “What stuff?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Nick, seriously.”
He laughed. “Yeah, seriously,” he said, one side of his mouth curling up in a smile. “Don’t worry about it, Morgan.”
CHAPTER 32
CHARLIE
The end of January got weirdly warm, soSage and I started running again. “I think you may have a problem.” She shook her head as Dag’s door clicked shut behind me. “You havezerochill with college stuff.” She smirked. “And it’s not even your college.”
Not even your college.
“True, it’s not,” I replied, zipping up the navy-and-orange windbreaker. “Because UVA is technically auniversity.” I yawned. “Plus, you’re one to talk…”
She grinned and rolled her eyes. Sage was really pumped about being a Middlebury Panther next year. “The mountains!” she kept saying. “Skiing! Biking! Hiking!”
“And school,” I’d reminded her. “Don’t forget about school…”
That comment had earned me a punch in the arm.
“Okay, look.” I gestured to the windbreaker. “I couldn’t resist. I’m excited and want to support.”
“Right…” Sage said slowly, cocking her head. “You’re excited forLukeand want to supportLuke.”
