Page 201 of The Storm

“Talk,” she says.

I raise a brow at her, but I don’t say anything. Wouldn’t even know where to start.

“When? How? For how long?” she asks impatiently. “What the fuck, Nick?”

“Are you annoyed that there’s something between me and Blue or are you annoyed that you’re only now finding out?”

She stares at me, speechless again. “Blue?” she repeats.

I look away.

“Oh my God!” she exclaims. “How long?”

I don’t really hesitate before I shake my head. “You’ll have to have this conversation with Blue. Whatever he wants to tell you is how much you’ll get to know about this. Everything else is ours.”

She sits back with a huff. “Fine. Fine. But don’t think you’re off the hook. We will talk about this.”

I shrug, and she huffs with even more annoyance, so I end up sighing.

“I don’t know what to tell you,” I say.

She throws her hands up. “Try anything.”

I consider it for a moment. “I think I’ll pass.”

She glares. “Okay. Fine. Whatever.”

We’re both silent for a bit.

“I don’t like it,” she blurts.

“None of your business, Dia,” I say, as calmly as I can.

“It’s kind of my business. I love you both, and you already had a falling out, and now you’re just… How the hell did it even happen? I seriously don’t understand.”

“None of your business,” I repeat.

“Oh, shut up.”

Now we’re glaring at each other.

“So… what? Go moved back, and you two took one look at each other and started hooking up?”

I make the mistake of looking away.

The room goes impossibly silent.

“Nick,” she says slowly while my stomach drops.

I don’t answer. For some reason, I can’t seem to form words.

“Nick.”

I meet her gaze. I can see puzzle pieces clicking into place for her, one after another. I can practically see the timeline form in her brain and the connections settle.

“Oh my God,” she says softly. “The summer.”

I refuse to look away.