Chapter 20

Ransom

"Wanna tell me why you wanted to hang tonight?" I ask Nick as we sit in the backyard, watching some brush I've removed from my fence-line burn. We're both nursing beers, but he hasn't been talking much. If I don't move it along, we may here until the sun comes up, and I may never figure out what the fuck is going on in his head. "Not that I mind, but it sounded urgent, and now that you're here, you haven't said ten words."

Looking over, I watch as he drains his beer, crushes the can, and throws it in the fire. It's obvious he's conflicted, but he's not ready to talk about it yet. He cracks open another beer and has a seat next to me, letting his arms dangle between his legs. He sighs deeply, running a hand over his jaw. He hasn't shaved, which is unlike him. He isn't like me, a little lazy most of the week; he's more on the clean-shaven side. That is enough to worry me slightly about what is bothering him.

"Kels made a move on me last night," he finally speaks, almost low