face. Said, when he came out, “What else do you want to eat? A candy bar isn’t exactly breakfast.” That’s just being concerned, not clingy, right?
Brian stared at him, his eyes pale in his washed-out face. “Huh? What about Ariana? Did you see her? Is she okay?”
“I didn’t go look yet.”
“You didn’t? But… why?”
“You think I’d leave you passed out in the car, or this podunk motel, and go off to meet my sister?”
“Why not?”
“Jesus, Brian. When you’re out cold like that, a parade could march through firing cannons and you wouldn’t wake up. It’s not safe. I’d never do that!”
“Oh. Okay.” Brian ran a hand over his head, mussing his hair, and then looked up with a soft smile. “Thanks. But I bet you want to go now, huh?”
Yes! No. Now that Brian seemed okay, Nick was so eager his gut burned with it, and yet part of that burn was also that he was shit-scared of what he’d find. What if I missed keeping her safe by a month, a week, a day? What if I could’ve saved her from getting hurt, and didn’t? And a colder chill. What if she hates me for disappearing? She never tried to find me. What if she thinks her life is my fault?
Brian was waiting for his answer, so he plastered on a smile. “Soon. Yeah.”
“I’m fine.” Brian got out a clean T-shirt from his bag. Through the muffle of cloth as he pulled it over his head, he said, “You brought enough food and drink for an army. I can hang out here and recharge while you go meet her.”
Sounds like a plan got caught in Nick’s throat and didn’t make it out his mouth. I don’t want to go alone. I don’t want to leave you alone either, out of my sight.
Brian tugged the T-shirt straight, picked up his sweatshirt, and paused, watching him with those gentle eyes. “Or if you want me along for moral support, I can bring the food with me.”
“You just woke up.” He knew that was avoidance, but yes, please stuck in his throat.
“I used to get up after Finding and immediately go be Bry at the dinner table in front of Marston. I can manage a short car ride with you.”
“You did?”
“Heck, yeah.” Brian’s lips thinned and his eyes went unfocused. “He liked a firsthand report over a big, fancy meal. He and Damon would exchange these looks and assume I had no idea—” He cut himself off short. “Anyway, I’m happy to come, if you want me to.”
“Yeah!” Next to me, hell, yes. “I mean, it’d be good to have you and your talent around, in case she, like, moved on. Maybe she was visiting there. Or she worked there, babysitting or something.” Belatedly, Nick realized he’d brushed right past that little revelation of Brian’s. He went over, waited as Brian pulled on the sweatshirt, and put his arms around Brian’s shoulders. “Sorry you used to wake up to that Marston crap.” Oh, that was sympathetic. He substituted a tighter hug for inadequate words.
Brian leaned into him, though. “Thanks. Really.”
So maybe he’d helped. He hugged Brian hard, then let go. “What do you want to eat? There’s cheese in the cooler. That’s good, right? Protein and calories? And—”
A smile curved Brian’s lips. “Bring it all. I can eat while you drive. How far are we?”
“Five minutes. I stopped at the first motel I saw.”
“Cool.” Brian’s smile became a grin. “I can eat a lot in five minutes— if you don’t mind the mess.”
“I’ll make you detail the car later.”
Brian laughed and reached for the cooler.
Nick grabbed the strap before he could. “My turn to do some work. Let’s get this show on the road.”
Seven minutes later, he pulled over in front of the little yellow house Brian had Found. In the daylight, it looked shabbier, the paint peeling in a few places and the yard neat but barren. The windows showed plain blue curtains, open to the midmorning sun. A child’s plastic tricycle lay tipped on its side near the front steps.
Nick put the car in park but didn’t turn the engine off. The morning outside was cool but clear. Thin winter sunlight reflected off the driveway marker on its metal pole, the flash of red bright against the dreary gray-browns of a Midwest “green” Christmas.
Brian stuffed the last of the bread he’d been eating into his mouth and washed it down with a big chug from his Gatorade bottle. He looked