Page 62 of Never and Always
“Nick, we’re friends,right?”
Nick turned to face him and beheld the concern in his eyes. Sawyer was a great friend, the best kind. But then Nick thought so about Glenn, too, at onepoint.
He didn’t tell Sawyer what happened, only that he’dmoved.
Through the years he’d known Sawyer, he had never told him what happened to his father, either. He’d said he’d died while on duty. That came from the guilt he still felt over his father’sdeath.
“I don’t really know who to trust right now, Sawyer. You’re my friend today, but you might not be tomorrow.” Nick thought he’d be upfront withhim.
“That’s a load of bull crap, man. Friends today and not tomorrow? Have I ever given you cause to think that,man?”
Nick thought for a moment and had to admit that in all the time that he’d known him, the guy had always been the same. Whereas Glenn had his moments. They’d had serious arguments. Sure they made up, but the fact that they fell out a lot was a point tohighlight.
He’d put it down to knowing each other from their youth. They met when they were young boys, and sometimes they acted like they stillwere.
Nick had never argued withSawyer.
“No, you havenot.”
“Back in the Marines we went on some serious life-and-death missions, didn’t we?” Sawyersmiled.
Nick nodded. “I thought I was going to die more often thannot.”
“Me, too, but I knew you had my back. And because I knew you had my back, I made sure I had yours. There’s a different kind of friendship formed when you put your life in someone else’s hands. They become your eyes and your ears, your gut instinct. So, Nick, we’re friends.” Sawyer smiled again with moreconviction.
Nick held his gaze, appreciating his words. He felt a spark of hope against the distress he’d been feeling since leavingMia.
Nick noddedagain.
Sawyer cleared his throat and straightened up. “Now talk to me. Tell me why you’re holed up in this place when I need you at the station. Tell me why you aren’t answering mycalls.”
Nick still didn’t particularly want to talk but decided he would. And so, he told Sawyer everything. Everything in full detail right from the night his father died to Glenn’s deceit, and his loss ofMia.
By the time he was finished talking, Sawyer looked completely taken aback andperplexed.
“Glenn is no friend to you, man. That is not a friend. I appreciate the desire to protect his sister, but he’s gone too far,” Sawyer stated, lookingfurious.
“I don’t know. Maybe he’s right. He didn’t say anything that was a lie.” That was what got to Nick the most. There was some element of truth to what Glennsaid.
“Nick, we all did crazy things when we were younger. But it’s in the past. And as for your dad. Damn it, it’s really sad that he died, but saving you was an honor forhim.”
“He wouldn’t have died if I hadn’t gone to meet my friend.” Nick shook hishead.
“You can’t think like that. You can’t. Because he could have let that guy shootyou.”
Sometimes Nick wished that had happened. He reallydid.
“I know what you’re saying, but I still feel the pain, and Glenn threatening me like that just opened a wound that took years toheal.”
“You never toldMia?”
Nick shook his head. There was no way in hell that he would have told her. The fact that she was twelve at the time his father died made it easier for him not to talk about it withher.
“I don’t think she’ll see me in the same way if sheknows.”
“How do you knowthat?”
He thought of Glenn’s taunts and imagined him telling Mia in that nasty, vindictive manner, along with everythingelse.
