Page 20 of Everything We Found

“You get used to it,” he said, watching her. Heat crept up her neck. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, suddenly interested in the saltshaker. He unzipped his backpack and took out a notebook and his calculus textbook, pushing them aside instead of cracking them open. He twirled a pencil, drumming the eraser end on the table as he stared across the restaurant where his friends sat.

“You don’t have to sit with me.” She unzipped her own bag, mirroring his actions. Needing something to do with her hands.

“It’s all right.”

She smiled slightly. They fell into awkward silence despite how loud the restaurant was. It was a popular hangout spot for the high school. Students occupied most of the tables.

Nadia stared down at her books, feeling a little weird she’d ended up here tonight. Aimee was probably wondering when she’d show.

“My parents don’t like each other either.”

Her head rocketed up. “What makes you think mine don’t?”

He shrugged. Aimee must be talking about her to James.

“They hate each other,” she heard herself admit, liking the fact hers weren’t the only ones. She felt less alone around Thomas.

“Mine can barely stand being in the same room together.”

“Do you get along with your dad?” She loved hers, but feared she wouldn’t see him much once he left for good. Lisa would chase him away.

He shook his head. “He’s always on my case.” Thomas bounced the pencil on the table. “He wants me to go to work for him after I graduate college. That’s the last thing I want to do.”

“What would you rather do instead?”

“Something cool. The CIA would be off the hook. What about you?”

She shrugged. She hadn’t thought about anything past eighth grade graduation. If she graduated. She was barely getting by in her classes.

Angela returned with Thomas’s sundae. Her eyes widened at the vanilla ice cream scoops buried under a flood of hot fudge and mountains of whipped cream. Thomas shot a spoon across the table. “Dig in.”

“You sure?” Nadia’s appetite might have ditched her but she was a sucker for sweets.

His spoon shoveled into the scoop nearest him. “I wouldn’t have asked for two spoons.”

Nadia ate her fill and set down the spoon, and surprised herself by saying, “My parents are getting divorced.”

“I wish mine would.” Thomas scraped a spoon along the bottom of the bowl, finishing off their treat.

Two hours later, Thomas dropped her off at Aimee’s house. They never got around to doing their homework and spent the entire time talking. He’d kept her mind off the troubles at home. And somewhere between complaining about exams and debating the best item on Joe’s menu, he’d stopped beingThomas and started being just Tom. Nadia was glad she went to Joe’s instead of the Goat.

“Hey, Nada. Call me again?” he asked before she got out of the car. Her eyes widened. “When you need a ride to study. We’ll go to Joe’s.”

She tried to play it cool, but his offer meant more than she’d ever let on. So she did call him again, and eventually, he’d just show up whenever he was heading to the diner.

Two unexpected things emerged from their frequent meetups. Nadia passed her classes. She also found in Thomas the friend she hadn’t realized she’d needed. With him, she’d felt safe.

Nadia swiped the burner phone she’d left on the bathroom counter. Where Thomas had been the friend she hadn’t known she needed, Aimee was family.

She was probably sick with worry after Thomas had cut off their conversation earlier. Nadia should have already been at her and Ian’s house to care for Caty and Fenwick while their parents went out.

Nadia wiped her nose and steeled herself with a breath. She texted Aimee from the new phone.

It’s Nadia. I’m OK. Please don’t worry.

Aimee called immediately. Nadia answered on the first ring so she wouldn’t alert Thomas.

“You text me from an unrecognizable number and tell me not to worry?”