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9

The following Friday morning, Nick went down the stairs, backpack slung over his shoulders, his Guardian costume stored safely inside. He was already running late. Jazz had decided they needed a day off from all the crap they’d been through, and had suggested a picnic in Metro Park, a long slash of green that cut through the heart of Nova City with winding paths surrounded by trees and seven different water features that would undoubtedly be filled with people trying to escape the summer heat.

Dad had already gone in to work with Cap, telling Nick he’d have his phone if he needed anything. Just as frustrated as the rest of them over the specter of Owen’s shadow looming, he said that he’d ask his contacts within the NCPD if they’d come across anything that would lead to Owen. He didn’t sound like he thought anything would come of it, but they had to use every option they had available to them.

“I still don’t want you going anywhere alone,” he’d said, leaning against Nick’s doorway, smirking at the enema bottle sitting on top of the instructions on Nick’s desk. “If you’re going out, make sure you’re with someone.”

Nick promised he would, which was why he was hurrying down the steps toward the front door. Seth was waiting for him on the sidewalk outside the house, and Nick was itching to do something that didn’t involve threats from a rich asshole or wondering if they were about to be attacked. A day off just to be stupid in the middle of their summer vacation was exactly what he needed.

He had almost made it to the door when he saw a figure standing in the living room in front of the window, peeking through the closed blinds.

Mom.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

Mom didn’t look at him. “Watching.”

“Uh. Okay? What’re you watching?”

The slat on the blinds snapped as she let it go, turning to look at him. Her hair was wet and slicked back, as if she’d just come from the shower. She looked soft, face free of makeup, her eyes glittering as she saw Nick carried his backpack. “Where are you going?”

“Out. Meeting up with my friends. Seth’s waiting for me.”

“Saw that,” she said, and Nick’s skin crawled for reasons he couldn’t explain. “He’s a good boy. But are you sure that’s the best idea? Maybe you should just stay home for now. You and me, what do you say? Feels like we haven’t had mom-son time in quite a while.”

She was right. He couldn’t remember the last time it’d been just the two of them. Strangely, he felt the urge to agree with her, to tell her that he’d love to stay with her. A smile rose unbidden, and he almost said, “Yeah, sure, of course. That sounds good.”

Almost.

But then he remembered how excited Jazz had seemed about the picnic, saying that they all needed a break from… well. Everything. Her eyes had lit up, and she’d made them all promise to let her handle all of it. It had been frankly rather adorable how much she’d taken charge over this, and Nick only wanted to see her happy. She’d earned it. They all had.

So he said, “Sorry. Already made plans. Maybe later? I’ll be back before too late. Got my phone. Call if you need anything.” He turned toward the door.

“Nick.”

He stopped but didn’t turn to look at her. The table next to the door rattled slightly. The air thickened, stagnant, heavy. The only sounds came from the clock.

He didn’t hear her move, but when she spoke again, it sounded as if she wasrightbehind him. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

“I think you should stay home,” she said again, and in his head, a voice whispered,She sounds so worried. You should listen to her. It’ll make her feel better. It’ll makeyoufeel better.

He laughed. It sounded hollow. “Jazz put together a picnic. Don’t want to disappoint her, you know?”

“Of course not,” she said, close, so close. He thought he’d scream if she touched him, and he didn’t knowwhy.“But your friends aren’t the be-all and end-all.”

He tried to move toward the door, but his legs wouldn’t work. “What isthatsupposed to mean?” he asked without turning around.

“They don’t understand,” Mom said, sounding melancholic. “Try as they might, Gibby and Jazz can never know what it’s like to be us. Seth, too, if I’m being honest. I know he has his own powers, but it’s not the same, is it? We’re telekinetic. Powerful. More than he could ever be. I’ve often wondered if he’s…”

Nick breathed through it, keeping his panic at bay. “If he’s what?”

She laughed quietly. “It’s silly, honestly. Probably just overthinking things. You get that from me, after all.” He felt her breath on the back of his neck. “Do you ever wonder if Seth is… I don’t know. Jealous of you?”

Nick blinked, unable to turn around. “Jealous? Ofme? That’s ridiculous. Seth isn’t the jealous type. He has no reason to be, at least not with this. He’s been an Extraordinary a hell of a lot longer than I have.”

“He has, hasn’t he?” Mom said, and Nick flinched when her fingers trailed along his shoulders, rubbing over the bumps of his spine below his neck. “Doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things, not with what you can do, but I suppose it doesn’t matter, does it? Just… be careful, kid. And if you ever need to talk, I’m always here, ready to listen. You won’t get any judgment from me. Do you want to do it right now?”

Cold, as if the temperature had dropped fifty degrees. “Yeah, that’s… that sounds nice.”