Page 155 of The Storm

“When did you get a dog?” he asks. Nova tries to lick his face, and Nick smiles, and I feel like I’m going to die right here and now.

“She’s not mine. Callum promised to babysit her and forgot he’s away for the weekend. So here I am.”

He scratches under Nova’s chin, and I swear that puppy swoons.

“That was nice of you,” he says.

I roll my eyes. “I work for him, so it’s not really about being nice.”

He sends me a long, thoughtful look. “You and I both know you would have helped anyway.”

I still know you. I still see you.

I look away.

“Callum’s not here,” I say.

“So you said.” There’s a small smile playing in the corner of his lips. I mean, he obviously knows it already, so it’s not like he needs me to recite Callum’s schedule for him. It was in the calendar, for crying out loud!

“So…” I say.

“I still have to make sure the guy’s fed. Stack the fridge. Prep the meals for the next few days.”

“Right. Yeah. Sure. That makes sense. Knock yourself out. I’m going to take this escape artist for her evening walk, then. While you… do your thing.”

Exactly how I manage to sound this dumb around Nick should be studied.

He holds Nova while I put the harness on and then puts her on the floor.

We stand there, looking at each other, neither of us saying anything for a bit until Nova lets out a bark, and I jerk back to reality.

“I’m just…” I point at the door.

“And I’m just…” he says, still with that smirk, and points toward the kitchen.

He steps past me, and I clutch the strap in my hand tighter.

“Do you want to come with me?”

I’m not sure where that question even comes from. Spending even more time with him is the worst possible idea I could have, but then, I like to torture myself where I can.

He studies me for a moment without saying anything before he nods slowly.

“Okay.”

We both put our shoes on and grab our jackets before making our way outside.

“Harborwalk?” I suggest.

He nods again, and we head that way.

My mind is empty. I feel like I should say something or ask something, but I’ve got nothing. Instead it’s just a rhythmic barrage of I-can’t-believe-he’s-here-I-can’t-believe-this-is-happening.

It’s so unbelievably stupid to feel this way. To be excited that he’s walking next to me. After everything that’s happened and knowing what I know about his life now… Surely, I can’t be this stupid. Apparently I am, though.

Reckless and stupid. A lethal combination.

“How do you like Boston so far?” I ask, then I wince, because what the hell kind of question is that?