Page 41 of Never and Always
“Oh my God!” Mia cried, rushing over to him. She threw herself into his arms and hugged him hard. When he put his arms around her it felt like coming home. “Thank you so much,Nick.”
“You’re welcome,” he said into her ear, then he releasedher.
“Thanks, man,” Glennsaid.
When Mia looked over to him she noticed that uneasy look again, but now something in the way of guilt filled hiseyes.
“It’s what I do. Got to have something that sets me apart from the lowlifes,right?”
Mia looked up at him wondering why he would say such athing.
“Nick, you’re so silly.” She smacked him playfully in hischest.
“I’m just saying. Anyhow, I think I deserve at least a cookie, because Sawyer and I also managed to seize a million dollars, which we tracked to an account in Switzerland. You’ll have that back by next week. The rest we’re still working on, but it’s unlikely that we’ll be able to get all of itback.”
Mia’s hands flew up to her cheeks. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing, and that he could say it so casually. She screamed and hugged himagain.
“Nick you’re amazing. I’ll bake you a whole batch of cookies,” she laughed. This time she didn’t let go ofhim.
“I’ll hold you to that.” He smiled, gazing down ather.
“You can. Thank you for everything.” She let go of him, then looked across to Glenn. “Give it all toGlenn.”
Glenn looked surprised to hear that. “No, we’ll split it,” Glennreplied.
“No. I don’t want to. That will be like me running to your rescue again. I’ll find a way. Thanks, though, it means a lot that you offered.” She simply had to decline. There was no question in it, even with hisoffer.
The other day she thought that Glenn had changed a lot, but now she was thinking that he’d always acted the way he had in the last few weeks. But this time was perhaps when she needed him the most and he’d shunned her, blamed her, made her feel stupid and worthless, and like she was a nuisance tohim.
“We’ll talk when I get back,” Glenn saidagain.
“Where you going?” Nick askedGlenn.
“L.A. for a few days for the Smith and Co. case. You can join me if youwant.”
There was something about the way Glenn was looking at Nick when he said that that seemed kind ofoff.
What was worse was the cold vibe that came from Nick. She’d seen these two have plenty of arguments, but they never really dragged anything out. They could argue in the morning and by lunchtime everything would be all rosy again. This tenseness in the space between them, between the five steps from where they stood to the counter where Glenn was, felt different, and quite unlike what you’d expect between best friends. Especially considering Nick worked so hard to get the money and the paintings back forthem.
Had they had some kind ofdisagreement?
Given the chaos that had reigned over the last few weeks, she wouldn’t have been surprised. Glenn had been a completeasshole.
“No,” came Nick’s simple reply. “I’m busy with police stuff.” Nick stared at Glenn, keeping a sharp eye onhim.
“Cool. Um, thanks for all that you’ve done. I’m impressed.” Glenn offered a smile but the tense atmosphere was still there and Nick still took on that rigidform.
Mia decided that she didn’t care if they’d had an argument. She was just glad she didn’t have to walk around the house anymore feeling like a leper. The weeks that had passed here had been the worst in her life, and the only compensation she had was seeing Nick, and yes, having the few connective moments she had withhim.
Things were going to change now and she decided she’d start withhim.
No more of this uncertainty and undercover flirting. Surely everyone would agree that they were both getting too old forthat.
“Well I better get going. Call me if you need me,” Glennsaid.
“See you in a few days,” Mia offered while Nick just tipped his head for a politenod.
When Glenn left them she turned back to Nick excitedly, loving that it was just them, now, and it would be just them in the house for the next fewdays.
