Tracefinder: Choices by Kaje Harper

Author:Kaje Harper [Harper, Kaje]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-07-29T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Brian glanced around the local bar as he waited for Nick to come back with their refills. It was far from the worst place he’d ever hung out. In a weird way, it made him remember those bad old days of sitting silent, watching Nick be Nok Nick, loud and wild and shining and distant. Before. It wasn’t the way he’d planned to spend his New Year’s Eve, but Charlie had called to say he and Lori both were heading to bed early with a cold. When Nick had floated the idea of going out, he’d said yes.

Now he was wondering why. Why did Nick ask? Why did I agree?

At the bar, Nick paused, holding two bottles by their necks, to say something to the guy next to him. They laughed. It wasn’t Nick’s warm friendly laugh, it was Nok Nick’s reckless one. What’s he up to? It was deeply unsettling to realize he didn’t know what Nick was doing here. Is he tired of just hanging out with me? It’s sure not an exciting life. I’m happy, but what if Nick isn’t?

He picked up his empty mug for something to do, pretending to drain the last drop of cider from the bottom. On the TV over the bar, some kind of band was playing at an outdoor concert. It was snowing there, although here, the temperature was hovering above freezing, with a cold mist in the air. I wonder what Damon’s doing right now?

He licked the inside rim of his mug slowly, swiping the drops with his tongue. A woman at the next table caught his eye. She was staring at him with distaste. He grimaced and set the glass down. That was a Bry thing— a way to kill time while keeping people at a distance. His past and present were too close together tonight.

Nick came back, set the taller bottle in front of Brian, and dropped into his chair. He ran the amber beer down the side of his mug so it barely foamed. “The bartender says live music starts in ten minutes.”

Brian tried for a dry adult voice. “In a small southern country bar, is that a good thing?”

Instead of grinning, Nick flinched and looked over his shoulder. “Let’s give them a shot, okay?”

“Do you know someone in the band?” They were setting up in the corner. The two guys were middle-aged and ordinary, in single-color shirts and loose-fitting jeans, and the girl had a tight dress and spike heels. None of them looked like Nick’s type. What do I know about Nick’s type? No one looking at this table would pick him out as Nick’s date either. He lifted the bottle to his lips without bothering with the mug and sucked down a long, sour swallow.

“No, but they’re kind of big locally. I’m fitting in.” Nick pitched his voice low and private.

Why? He didn’t ask, but when they got home, he was sure going to. He was done with the days of being the dumb white potato on the side of someone else’s plans.

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