Page 6 (2/2)

"Your call"

Adalanced over at the next stoplight While he felt like the slightest noise would send hi out of his skin, Adaer seat Streetlights reflected off his hair and eyes, sparking with gold

"Relax," he said softly

Nick let out a breath "Sorry"

Ada coffee there, not getting naked"

Nick nearly juhed

Even this late at night, the Starbucks was packed, and they moved to the back of the line Nick worried that Ada close or drop quasi-sexual banter, but he kept his distance, and his conversation barely strayed from the mundane Questions about school, about Quinn, about the weather they were having

Worse, now that Adaht he needed, this safe distance--Nick found hi, the wars about later

The air in the restaurant changed, enough that Nick froze It didn’t feel threatening, just watchful He looked around, shuf-fling forhen the person in front of hi answers froround coffee Nick took a second look, trying to be discreet about it

Silver was in prison The middle school Ele, but this didn’t feel like a Fire Eleone, so subtly that Nick wondered if he’d really felt it at all

The barista gave hiht smile when they made it to the counter "One of the Merrick twins," she said "Which one are you?"

Nick blinked, surprised, then realized he knew her frohted hair, and clothes just tight enough to get a second glance fro

Nick felt hi as expected He had to, or people ave her their typical twin line "Does it ht she looked sexy It did absolutely nothing for hi in your cup?" she said

He ht back "Surprise ht up"

"Make the sarabbed a second cup, Adaa, but Nick felt the undercurrent ofso else Admonishment? Sadness? Disappointment? All three?

Before he could puzzle it out, Adaot it," said Nick

"No way You’re doingthrough his evening, and every step rong When Courtney-Carrie-Whatever handed theether to thank her

She’d written her nu with her nao?" said Adaoing to say "Yeah I’ed when they stepped outside After the warmth and bustle of the Starbucks, the sudden silence closed in around Nick

"I’ you off," said Adam "I just knee couldn’t talk in there"

"Okay" Nick thought he should apologize, but he couldn’t quite nail dohy The truck ruet the heat going again Cinnah the cab, warm scents that pulled some of the tension from his shoulders

"So what’s it feel like?" said Adam

"What’s what feel like?"

"The back wall of that closet you’ve buried yourself inside"

His voice wasn’t unkind, but Nick heard an echo of what he’d felt inside the coffee shop Not quite judgment But almost

Nick wrapped his hands around his cup and inhaled the steaht You don’t have to apologize" A hesitation

"Your family still doesn’t know?"

Nick shook his head

"But you came to the studio"

"Yeah"

Adam took a drink of his coffee and stared out the windshield, asmile on his face "When I saw you walk in with Quinn, I al"

"I didn’t think you noticed"

As soon as he said the words, Nick wished he could kick hiod’s sake Sulky

Adao, either His smile widened "Don’t you worry I noticed"

Nick busied hirateful for the darkness, because he was sure heat sat on his cheeks again But then he got to the edge of the lot and sat there, wondering where to go

If Adam invited him back to his apartment, he had no idea what he’d say An invitation equaled an opportunity to say no

A choice Making one decision led tohi

But Adam didn’t offer an invitation "My place," he said firmly "Drive"

CHAPTER 4

Adam’s place looked exactly like Nick remembered A simple one-bedroo No television, but three packed bookcases and an i else was note-worthy: a small kitchen with a two-seater table tucked in the corner, a tiny bathroom, and a bedroo roo door leading to the outside

Nick had gone to friends’ houses before Parents would either be home, or there’d be plenty of evidence they existed Parental involvement was a reality Even his own house had Gabriel’s sports equipe, or Michael’s bills and papers always left on the kitchen counter, or Chris’s laundry flung at the bottom of the base alone was practically impossible