Page 278 of Before We Were

And if there's one thing I'm good at, it's being patient. Because some truths take time to surface, and some secrets need to be dragged into the light.

And I plan to do exactly that.

For Nate. For Nora.

It's what family does.

Kat steps closer to me, her smile lighting up every fiber of my being. She leans in and kisses me with the kind of familiarity that still makes my heart skip.

"You sure you're okay?" she asks, her voice laced with that gentle concern that's become her trademark.

"I definitely am now," I say, placing a soft kiss atop her head. "Have you heard from Nora and Ol? They both settled?"

Kat beams, her eyes bright with maternal pride.

"Nora sent me pictures yesterday of her and Camilla on the London Eye. She looks happy." Her voice softens with wonder. "And Ol and Mia may have found an apartment together. God, when did my babies become full grown adults?"

"They'll forever be babies in your eyes, even when they're forty and have kids of their own," I smile, watching the emotions play across her face.

"Oh don't say that. I'm not ready to be a grandma yet." She laughs, but there's a wistfulness there that makes me want to hold her tighter.

Kat leans against the railing, her expression softening.

"So," she begins, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, a gesture I've come to recognize as her way of preparing to share news, "I need to head back to Boston for a day or two. Ollie needs help packing up the house. I'm flying out this afternoon. Lydia's picking me up in fifteen minutes and dropping me at the airport."

I arch a brow, already missing her. "You sure you don't need backup?"

She smirks, that playful glint in her eye that first made me fall for her. "I think I can handle a few boxes, Nick." Then, her tone shifts, a little more tentative. “But, I do need a favor."

"Name it." No hesitation. Never with her.

"The wreckers called," she says, a shadow crossing her face so quickly I almost miss it. "They still have a few items from the car they managed to salvage. Not sure what, but they called before. Can you swing by and pick it up?"

"Of course." My response is immediate, though my mind flickers back to the twisted metal of Nora's car, to the night that changed everything.

"Thank you." She leans in for another kiss, this one softer, full of gratitude. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Well," I tease as she tries to pull away, wrapping another arm around her waist, feeling the curve of her against me, "you'll never have to wonder." I kiss her deeply, trying to memorize the moment. "Have a safe flight. Call me when you get there."

She throws me a wink before heading out the door, leaving the scent of her perfume lingering in the air like a promise.

Before I can dwell too much on what the wreckers might have found, my phone rings and Jay's name lights up the screen.

"Hey, boss."

Jay's been working for me at Sonder for a month or so now, ever since Nate left for Europe. I offered him the job partly because I needed someone to fill the gap, but mostly because I saw a kid who needed an opportunity and a second chance.

Credit to the kid, he's been looking and sounding more put together than I've ever seen him. Like he's finally finding his footing in the world. I think the night of Nate's overdose scared Jay straight. He doesn't talk about it much, but I've noticed the changes: showing up on time, staying out of trouble, even offering to take extra shifts. Sometimes the wake-up calls we need come in the hardest ways.

"How's it going?" I ask, already hearing the nervous energy in his voice.

"Good. Kinda," he says, voice pitching higher in that way it does when he's about to confess something.

Before I can worry, Jay starts rambling in that endearing way of his.

"But, uh, I think I broke the dishwasher. Just thought I'd let you know. I'm happy to pay for the damages. I think I used the wrong detergent or some shit. It's leaking and making weird ass noises. Shit. Fuck. I didn't know??—"

"Jay, relax," I cut him off gently. "It's fine. I'll swing by tomorrow and check it out. It's probably just a loose valve. Don't worry about it." I've learned sometimes the best way to help someone grow is to show them that mistakes aren't the end of the world.

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