Even Through the Storm

8. Nicole

I wake up the next morning on the couch. The clock on the wall says it's nine. A blanket is draped over me. Asher is nowhere to be seen. I get a text. It's from my dad.

"You still at Asher's?" He asks.

"Yeah, sorry. Were you worried?"

"A little, but it's fine. When do you think you'll be back?"

"Maybe after breakfast. For sure by noon."

"Okay, no rush. Love you!"

"Love you too!" Asher comes down the stairs. I can tell he's trying to be quiet.

"Oh! You're up," he says.

"Yeah. Did you do this?" I ask, referring to the blanket.

"Um, yeah. Sorry, you fell asleep like halfway through last night. You looked cold."

"It's fine. Is there..."

"Breakfast? Yeah"

"Omelets?"

"Yep."

"Okay." He starts to head upstairs. "Wait!" He stops. "I know this may sound weird, but is there a possibility of having some clothes I can borrow?" He pauses before running upstairs. I follow him into the kitchen. Ms. Reynolds is setting the table.

"Um, sure. Do you think they'll fit?" She asks Asher.

"Yeah, I mean they're both skinny, and practically the same height." he responds.

"Who's the same height?" I ask.

"She's awake! You and Ash's sister, Nicole."

"Nicole? Who's Nicole? You have a sister?"

"Um, yeah. Well, half-sister. I've only met her once. Like a year ago. She's sixteen, um, she's uh, my, father's."

"Oh, um, okay."

"Yeah, it's fine. She came over last year, just for a few days. But she left some clothes behind. I think they might fit you."

"Oh, okay. Thanks." We sit down at the table. "So, why have I never heard of her?" Asher looks at his mom before speaking.

"Oh, um, after, uh, my dad, um, when my father was still, uh, living with us, he, even before Mom had me he was having an affair." I look over at Ms. Reynolds. It looks like she's going to start crying. She gets up.

"I'll be right back." She goes into the bathroom. Asher sighs.

"Like a month after he had me, he found out that he got the girl pregnant. A week later he left. He hasn't come back since. I learned from Nicole that he's had three more kids." He starts to tear up. "Two of them boys. Twins. He coaches their baseball team." He gets up and walks into the living room. I finish my omelet, then follow him. He is sitting on the couch crying. I sit next to him and give him a hug. His head rests against my shoulder. "He, he moved back here. For all I know, he could be my neighbor. And I wouldn't know. I've never seen a picture, nothing." I want to say something, but I can't. I wouldn't know what to say. So, we just sit there.

An hour later, I get a text. I'm now in Nicole's 80s band t-shirt, and jean shorts. It's from my dad. "You alive?"

"Yeah," I text back. "I'll be home in ten."

"Okay." I say thanks to Ms. Reynolds, then walk to Asher's car. He has already started the engine. I get in.

"You, know, that looks really great on you."

"Really? Thanks."

"Keep it."

"What? Really?"

"Yeah. We don't have any use for it."

"Okay, thanks." He starts driving. "I'm sorry about your dad."

"I'm sorry about your mom."

"It's not the same."

"I know. But I am. And you're going to delete that video of me, right?"

"Oh my god!" I burst out laughing. "I totally forgot about that!"

"But, you are, right?"

"Nope. It's going all over social media. One hundred percent."

"You know, it has you kissing Dri in it too right?"

"Yeah, so? I can edit that out. And besides, the gold is yours."

"Well, he kissed me back!"

"And that makes it ten times better." We pull up to my house. "Bye Babe. Love you!"

"Love you too."