Chapter 37: Morning Protocol

Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Morning Protocol

Nicole finished her plate faster than I expected for someone who’d been asleep for hours, and then we stayed at the table, talking. About nothing, really: which of her cars she’d take on a long drive, whether the pineapple in her fridge was really as expensive as it looked. She even said she’d pick tomorrow’s place overnight and tell me in the morning, and she wouldn’t tell me anything else, no matter how many times I asked.

Somewhere in the middle of her telling me why I would never guess it, her sentences started getting slower.

"Sorry," she said, blinking. "What was I saying?"

"That I’d never guess."

"Right." She covered a yawn with the back of her hand. "You won’t."

I looked at the clock, then at the small container of pills she’d left beside her water glass.

"Night dose, huh?"

She glanced at the container. "Knocks me out every time."

I smiled, stood up, and held out a hand. She looked at it for a second, then took it and let me pull her to her feet.

I walked with her up the stairs and down the hall, one hand hovering near her back in case she drifted sideways. She didn’t. Her pace just got slower with every step, like the house was getting longer.

At her door, she turned around. Her eyes were half-closed, but she was smiling.

"Goodnight, Nathan."

"Goodnight."

I waited until the door closed behind her, then headed down the hall to the guest room.

—

The next morning came fast, like it couldn’t wait around for the rest of the day.

I woke up to sunlight on the wall and a very full bag by the bed.

I’d asked Chloe for a pair of jeans and two shirts. What she’d actually packed was four tops, three pairs of jeans, and two pairs of shoes, one of them a pair of white sneakers.

I stared at the pile for a moment.

Typical.

I pulled out a black top, a pair of blue jeans, and the sneakers, and changed without overthinking it. Then I checked myself in the mirror, ran a hand through my hair, and headed downstairs, following the smell of breakfast.

By the time I reached the kitchen, Chloe was already setting plates on the table while Nicole stood beside her, helping with the last few things. They were talking about something I couldn’t quite hear from the stairs, both of them looking far too comfortable for people who had apparently decided to start the morning without me.

Nicole noticed me first.

"Morning."

"Morning," I replied. "You’re up early."

She smiled. "I feel better."

Chloe glanced over at me, then back at Nicole with a small grin. "Probably because you two are going out today."

I looked at Chloe and decided not to ask how much Nicole had told her.

"Good morning to you too, CeCe," I said instead.

Chloe smiled. "Morning, big bro. Sit."

She picked up the plate she’d prepared for me and set it down in front of the chair before pulling the chair out with her foot.

I walked over and sat down, glancing between them.

Nicole looked at Chloe, then back at me. "CeCe?"

I took a bite of my food. "That’s her nickname."

Chloe smiled proudly. "Nathan gave it to me when I was like six."

Nicole’s eyes moved back to me, her expression softening with curiosity. "When do I get one?"

I swallowed the bite of food in my mouth before looking at her. I already knew exactly what she was trying to do.

"You already have one," I said.

She looked at me with a slightly confused expression.

"Your actual name is Nicolette," I continued. "So Nicole’s definitely a nickname."

Chloe’s lips curled into a smirk, but she kept eating.

Nicole paused for a moment, thinking it over, before speaking. "It’s not the same thing."

I smirked. "How is it not the same? Nicolette. Nicole. That’s pretty much a nickname. Right, Chloe?"

Chloe giggled into her food and kept eating, clearly enjoying the little argument happening across the table.

Nicole gave me a small pout. "Fine. If you want to call that a nickname, then I want one that’s just yours."

I raised an eyebrow. "Just mine."

She nodded, looking completely serious. "Something only you call me."

I stared at her for a moment. "I don’t even have a nicknam—"

"Nate."

I blinked. "I’m not even going to ask how long you’ve had that in mind."

Chloe looked at Nicole. "Nate’s actually pretty solid."

"I know, right?" Nicole said. "But only I get to call him that. You find your own."

Chloe shrugged. "Already got one. Big bro."

I stared at both of them for a moment, trying to figure out how we’d gone from breakfast to holding a meeting about my nickname.

I shook my head and looked over at Nicole. "So, are you finally ready to tell me where we’re going today?"

She smiled, clearly pleased with herself. "Of course."

I waited.

She took another bite of her breakfast, chewing slowly while looking at me.

I stared at her. She smiled.

I narrowed my eyes. "Nicole."

She giggled. "Fine. I’ll tell you." A pause. "In the car."

Chloe giggled.

I ignored both of them and went back to eating.

—

After breakfast, Nicole went back upstairs, saying she wanted to change into something different.

I didn’t really see the point. What she was already wearing looked perfect to me, and I was pretty sure anyone else with functioning eyes would have agreed. I didn’t bother arguing about it, though. Chloe and I simply headed into the living room and settled onto the couch to wait for her.

About twenty minutes later, I heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

I looked up.

Nicole walked into the living room wearing a black top, blue jeans, and white sneakers, with a small white designer crossbody bag resting against her side.

I stared at her for a second, then I looked down at myself. Then back at her.

Chloe noticed too. She slowly looked between the two of us, and a grin started spreading across her face.

Nicole stopped beside the couch and looked at me. "What?"

"Nothing."

She smiled.

I shook my head and stood up. "Ready?"

"Yep."

Chloe leaned back, still wearing that same grin. "Have fun, you two. And get me something on your way back."

Nicole smiled. "Of course. I’ll make sure we bring something back for you."

Chloe looked at me with a knowing grin.

I ignored her, picked up my keys, and followed Nicole toward the door.

Whatever she had planned for today, I was finally about to find out.