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Yeah, he knows exactly who is spending the money

“That would be aweso to keep the moisture from my eyes I hate to lie to him, but to completely throw my mom under the bus isn’t easy

He understands, so he doesn’t ever really push I’ so absent, but I don’t hold it against him as much as I do my moes to call or text me a few times a here I live with er seems interested

We spend the rest of dinner talking about school and the work he’s currently doing, safe topics that don’t cause too ht

Within an hour, I’ back inhome

I text Nico, but get no response, so after a shower, I decide to call it a night and head for bed earlier than normal

The next day, when I still don’t hear froure it’s another one of his random miss days he used to have s and it’s tirow concerned

I try calling, but it goes to voice and I forceabout my normal routine instead

On Tuesday, when it happens again, I decide I’ to Trent, to see if he heard from him, but I have no idea if he and Nico have talked yet and I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes, so I throw out the thought as soon as it comes

As soon as the bell rings, I head home, and walk around to his front door His truck isn’t in the driveway, but it could be in the garage, so I knock

I’m about to walk back home when the silvery voice of a woman floats from the other side

His mom Shit

I take two backward steps, turn to leave, and buht into Nico

I sturound as he swiftly jerks forward to catch me

He’s slow to let go, heavy creases paved across his forehead, his under-eye heavy from a clear lack of sleep

Concern pulls atmy hands over my shorts “Hey”

“One second,” colare intensifies, snaps to the door and back to me

“What are you doing here?” he asks quickly, a sense of urgency and so I can’t quite place in his tone

Not necessarily anger but a deep frustration I’m not sure is for me

“You’ve been gone”