Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Night Out

“Aki!” Mom called from downstairs. “Are you up? Nick’s here to see you!”

“I’m up.” I answered from my bed where I was finishing off my homework.

Nick’s smiling face appeared at my doorway and before long, I was engulfed in a bear hug. “Aki! How are you today? Does your head still hurt?” He gushed all at once.

“Nick, calm down! I’m fine.” I moved out of his embrace. “I’m fine, okay. Don’t worry.”

“You know I care about you, Aki. You matter to me.”

Because you matter. Ethan’s words reverberated through my mind. Why did I just compare them anyway?

“Alright, no more stressful thoughts.” Nick smiled that innocent smile—the smile I grew up seeing—of his that has the entire female population of our school, except me, falling at his feet. “Hey, want to go out for dinner tonight? Mom got two free dinner passes at that new French restaurant that opened last year, next to the clinic. Call it a… recovery gift from me.”