Rider answered his door wearing shorts and a gray T-shirt with the neck and sleeves cut out, visibly surprised to find Nicco on the other side.
“What are you doing up so early? You never roll out of bed before noon on Saturdays.”
“Couldn’t sleep.”
Nicco followed Rider into the apartment and tossed his keys onto the table. Rider’s hair clung to his head in sweaty blond waves, and Nicco found himself staring at it as he shifted restlessly from one foot to the other.
“Did Alex get off okay?”
“You tell me,” Nicco said, and then winced.
“Huh? Something wrong, Nicco?” Rider sat on the couch.
Nicco took a huge breath of air and blew it out before sitting on a chair opposite Rider.
“Something’s bugging me.” He stared at his knees, unable to look Rider in the face just yet.
“Okay.” Rider s
