Page 139 of Blackout-

“I was out of line,” he adds, his voice strained and frantic.

“Damn straight you were out of line,” I snap, watching as he draws in a deep breath. There is something off with him. I noticed it before we left the house before my father asked him to drive me to see Blackie. I might be reading him wrong, but I don’t think whatever is bothering him has anything to do with me.

He pulls the car onto the shoulder and slams his head against the steering wheel. I jump slightly watching as he slowly unravels. He lifts his head and replaces it with his fists, punching the center of the wheel repeatedly.

“Stop it,” I say, reaching over the console to grab his wrist before he can throw another punch. His eyes slice to mine and I’m taken back by the dullness reflected in them. This isn’t Nico. This isn’t the carefree guy who lounges around and binges on junk food. He’s not the guy that will do whatever it takes to cheer up a friend in need. That version of the man in front of me is nowhere to be found and the one that’s taken his place looks defeated.

“I didn’t mean those things, Lacey, I swear,” he defends. “I’m going through some shit and I took it out on you. I had no right and I’m so fucking sorry you got caught in the crossfire of my bullshit.”

By the pleading way he’s staring at me, I don’t doubt his apology is sincere. He might hold a candle for the girl he once had a crush on, but Nico is harmless. He’d never light the wick.

“It’s okay,” I tell him. “Consider it forgotten.”

“Just like that, huh?”

I shrug.

“What can I say, I’m generous with second chances,” I reply, cocking my head to the side. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Seeming to contemplate the idea, he looks away. A moment later he leans back against the headrest and glances at me from the corner of his eye.

“Remember a couple of months ago told you my brother, Frankie, got himself into a jam?”

“The broken condom.”

“Yeah,” he grunts, shaking his head. “Fucking idiot.”

“You never mentioned it again,” I add when he doesn’t say more.

“That’s because there wasn’t anything to talk about it until today,” he replies, turning to me. “Guess who’s going to be an uncle?”

My eyebrows pinch together with confusion as I try to do the math.

“She’s pregnant?”

“Three months,” he confirms.

“And she just found out?”

“Oh, no,” he laughs. “That’s where the story gets better. They’ve known for a while. Frankie just didn’t say anything to me.”

“But he called you when he thought it could be a possibility. Why wouldn’t he tell you when he found out for sure?”

“They didn’t want anyone to know because they didn’t want to risk her father finding out.”

“Shit,” I wince, remembering Frankie’s girlfriend is the district attorney’s daughter. “Ritzer.”

“Yeah, fucking Ritzer,” he mutters.

“Well, did he find out? Is that why he told you?”

“No, he told me because he needs money to get her to a doctor. He’s afraid if she goes under her insurance, her father will get the bill. The kid can’t wrap his dick properly, but he can cover his tracks.”

“She hasn’t been to a doctor yet?”

He shakes his head.

“Your brother is aware he can’t hide this forever, right?”

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