Four days later…

d2:+ 2 years, 8 months

d3: − 4 months

Part XVII: Part of this

"Let me do it," Nick suggested, but Nina just smirked.

It was their last night, and although they had planned to stay out a little longer the rain had once again thwarted their plans. Neither of them had felt like sitting inside a noisy pub or bar, and so they had returned to the hotel where he had pulled Nina inside his room.

"What time is your flight tomorrow?" he had asked, leaning his back against the door, and she had turned around and taken a few steps away from him.

"Early."

Watching her look around, he had tried to ignore the fact that she was still keeping any information from him that could compromise her arrangements. It shouldn't bother him, should it? But it did.

He had waited until she had finished her inspection of the room, quickly seeming to check if anyone had been there in their absence. Another thing he tried to ignore: the way she was always on her guard, always looking over her shoulder. Reminding him constantly of their situation, of who she was, of whom he was with. Sometimes he managed, sometimes he didn't.

"How long until next time?" he had asked, moving into the room as well.

"I don't know yet," she had shrugged her shoulders and walked over to the window. Standing there and looking outside she had looked a little tired.

"Where?" he had wanted to know, noticing the little smile playing over her face.

"Where would you like to go?" she had offered sarcastically.

And then he had said it.

"Let me do it." But seeing her just smiling at him, smirking, a bit condescendingly, he repeated, insisted, "Let me pick a place".

And finally, she turned her head around to face him, frowning slightly but still looking a bit amused, as if to determine whether he was really serious. He held her gaze and she was the first one to lower her eyes.

"No."

"No?" he echoed, raising his brows. "That's all?"

"It's too risky," she explained, and although he knew that she didn't mean it like that, he suddenly couldn't hold back his remark.

"Right. I could set you up."

Rolling her eyes, she made a face as if to say: I'm too tired for this.

"You know that's not the point."

"Do I?" he countered but knew it was just a rhetorical question. Of course I do. He was just irritated. Because…?

She stepped away from the window and started to cross the room, moving towards the door.

"I still got some packing to do."

"No, you don't," he remarked annoyed, taking his jacket off and throwing it onto the bed. "I bet you're all set already," he added, noticing the glance she darted him and staring back at her. "Won't take you longer than five minutes, will it?"

She seemed to hesitate and for a moment they just stood like that, seizing each other up.

"Stay," he said a little softer, realizing he didn't want her to leave yet.

¤¤¤

Later she glanced at the clock on his nightstand, thinking she would have to get up again soon. Not to catch a flight, of course, but because she had to make it all the way to the border and further on to her next destination. She wanted to arrive in good time and go over everything once more before meeting with Amador again. She should probably try to get some sleep now. But feeling the warmth of Nick's body not to far from her own, she realized she wanted to stay awake a little longer, just lying in the dark, not thinking about anything beyond this moment or outside this hotel room.

"What if I don't show up?"

His voice snapped her out of her thoughts and it took a moment before she understood and another one before she reacted.

She sighed.

"What would you do if I just don't show up one day?"

Assume that you came to your senses, she thought but didn't say it. Sooner or later he would have to realize that this was not what he really wanted. And she was lucky if not showing up was all he would do.

Right….

"Assume that you missed your flight?"

"I'm serious," he retorted and she stifled another sigh, relieved he couldn't see her face in the dark.

"What do you want me to say?" she asked, trying to keep her voice neutral.

"How about the truth?" he asked after a moment's hesitation, and she wondered if he maybe hadn't planned for the conversation to take this turn. But it hardly mattered now.

"I'd try to find out if there's a specific reason for your absence."

That was the truth. She knew she wouldn't just settle with an assumption, regardless which one.

"Like if I got arrested or have someone tailing me?" he suggested, and she didn't have to think long before answering. If he offered her an easy way out she wouldn't turn it down.

"Yes."

She could hear him snort in disappointment and swallowed, glad he didn't ask any further. Cause she wasn't sure if that would be the only reason.

Silence fell as he seemed to lose himself in his own thoughts.

"Was that what you wanted to know?" she asked after a while, remembering the impression she had picked up earlier.

"What if I really miss my plane?" he explained, sounding a bit hesitant but not for long. He could get annoyed just as easily as she did, but just like her he was also ready to drop the mood any moment and get over it. He wasn't the sulking type. "Or what if I notice that I'm really being tailed? I couldn't even warn you."

She knew he had a point and worst of all she knew he really meant it. He would want to warn her.

"Are you asking for my number?" she sneered.

"A number, an email address, anything."

She needed time to think about it. It was a risk but she also understood why he was asking. Why he had demanded to pick a location for their next meeting. He wanted some sort of control.

"I just want to be able to contact you. Is that too much to ask?"

No. Control was what she wanted. What she needed. He just wanted to feel like he was actually a part of this.