“Apparently, I did. Wouldn’t want you seeking revenge.” He flashes a grin that I’m sure has melted a few hearts throughout the years. I swallow, twisting my head in the opposite direction.
“I’ve gotta ask... what exactly are you seeking revenge for?”
“Lanie’s just being Lanie. She’s overprotective.” I shove the last piece of fried dough I can stomach into my mouth.
“That’s good. You need friends that have your back.” He continues to stare at the side of my head, so I turn back toward him. “But you didn’t answer my question.”
“Who knows what Lanie was talking about. She’s random.”
He purses his lips and I know he isn’t going to allow me to skirt around the answer.
I pull my hair over one shoulder, tugging at the ends. “It was just me being overly sensitive. I got my feelings hurt, which isn’t your problem.”
He chews slowly, eyes sweeping over my face and pausing just for a fraction of a second on my scar.
I lift my hand to my temple, running over the raised mark. With the help of an incredible doctor and persistent care on my part, it’s hardly noticeable, but it’s there. For the longest time I thought of it as a reminder of all that I’ve lost, but not anymore. It’s a reminder of all that I’ve endured.
I’m stronger because of the trauma I’ve experienced.
“Is it because I wouldn’t kiss you?” The way his husky voice delivers the question has my toes tingling.
I run my tongue across my bottom lip, wiping away the sugar that’s clung to it.
“That was... disappointing,” I admit. “But I understood why you didn’t. Lanie was referencing your refusal to believe in my gift.”
He lowers his head. “Alyssa, it’s not that. I’ve learned in this job to remain levelheaded. I was going down a path that would cost me my job.”
It’s not hard to see that Nick takes his job seriously, and it’s not hard to believe that not solving a case would haunt him. He’s too good of a man. Having to walk away from these tips can’t be easy for him.
“For the record, I did follow up on Clementine’s.”
My head snaps to him. “You did?”
“I asked the owner to pull up the recordings from their security cameras on the nights of both accidents. I haven’t heard back from her yet, but I know she’ll come through.”
“Thank you, Nick.” My eyes close, hope pouring into me. I might have a chance of ridding myself of Billy after all. “I appreciate that.”
“I’m not sure what I’ll do with it, but I did follow up.” His eyes bore into me, silently pleading to hear the truth in his words. “Every single case I’ve ever worked has kept me up at night until I was able to close it. The ones that went cold still bother me,” he says, echoing my thoughts. “If I find something on them and go to the captain with it, I’ll likely be reprimanded for going against orders.”
“I don’t want that.”
He wipes off his mouth, dragging his hands down his scruffy chin. “I also want you safe. I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating. When people are running around claiming that accidents could actually be murder and there’s truth in it, the person responsible will panic. That would not be good for you.”
I’m not trying to put myself in harm’s way. Not that I don’t want to help these spirits. I do. But not at the cost of my and my friends’ safety.
“Thank you for caring.”
My phone vibrates, and I pull it out to see I’ve gotten a text from Ava.
AVA
Can I hang w/ Carly and Simone for the night?
We’re having fun and I don’t wanna leave.
Carly said I could crash at her house.
Pleeeeease.
