Chapter 3: A Conversation that Changes Everything

A Conversation that Changes Everything The conversation with Emily had lifted my spirits, and I felt more at ease as I went about the rest of my day. I had decided to take her advice and not pry into Nick's business, but instead focus on my own life and hobbies. I spent the afternoon reading a book and working on a puzzle, trying to clear my mind. As the evening approached, I decided to make dinner and enjoy a quiet night in. I was just about to put the chicken in the oven when I heard a knock at the door. I wasn't expecting anyone, so I was a bit surprised. I wiped my hands on a towel and made my way to the door. To my surprise, it was Nick, standing on the porch with a look of concern on his face. "Hey," he said, as I opened the door. "I was thinking about you and wanted to talk." I stepped aside, letting him in. "Come on in," I said. "What's going on?" As we sat down in the living room, I couldn't help but notice that Nick seemed a bit distracted. He kept looking around the room, as if he was searching for something. I tried to push the thought aside and focus on our conversation. But just as we started talking, there was a strange noise coming from outside. It sounded like a car driving away, but it was a bit too loud. I looked out the window, and that's when I saw him - Nick's dad, standing in the driveway, waving goodbye as he drove away. I turned back to Nick, who seemed completely unbothered by his dad's sudden departure. "What's going on with your dad?" I asked, trying to sound casual. Nick shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "He's always off doing his own thing. I'm used to it." I raised an eyebrow, sensing that there was more to the story. But before I could press him for more information, Nick changed the subject. "So, I was thinking," he said, "maybe we could go out for dinner tonight? Just the two of us." I smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. "That sounds like fun," I said. "Where did you have in mind?" As we made plans, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. But I pushed the thought aside and focused on the evening ahead. Little did I know, this night would change everything.