{"id":1216,"date":"2022-04-18T19:28:54","date_gmt":"2022-04-19T00:28:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/?page_id=1216"},"modified":"2022-04-18T19:32:47","modified_gmt":"2022-04-19T00:32:47","slug":"part3","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/episodes\/episode14\/part3\/","title":{"rendered":"Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

Episode 14: \u00a0In the Wink of an Eye<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 3<\/strong><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nick trudged down the hall toward his office. He normally held his head high when he walked, but that day it hung low. His eyes were fixed on the dark marble floor, darting back and forth in search of his missing phone.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has<\/em> to be somewhere,\u201d he hissed to himself. \u201cWhere the hell could it be?\u201d<\/p>\n

He had returned to his dormitory right after the meeting that morning to retrieve it, assuming he had left it behind in his rush to get out the door on time. But he couldn\u2019t find the phone anywhere in his sleeping quarters.<\/p>\n

Next, he had run around the building to ask his fellow agents — even Grasshopper, whom he normally tried to avoid — if they had seen it. But none of them seemed to know anything about his phone\u2019s whereabouts.<\/p>\n

With increasing desperation, he had finally decided to retrace his steps again. Maybe it had fallen out of his pocket on the way to Diamond\u2019s office that morning. He supposed his black phone case could blend in with the slate-colored tiles.<\/p>\n

But the gleaming floor was immaculate as always, and before he knew it, Nick found himself standing in front of his own office, still empty-handed. With a sigh, he reached for the door handle, hoping someone else had found it and turned it in to his secretary.<\/p>\n

He could hear muffled Latin music coming from behind the closed door that grew louder as he opened it. \u201cHey, Lancy, has anyone returned my pho–?\u201d The word died on his lips when he saw what his secretary was doing.<\/p>\n

Mr. Lancybassy stood behind his desk, doing some sort of dance routine to the upbeat song that was blasting out of his computer speakers. \u201cOne hundred kisses, girl, straight to your heart\u2026\u201d<\/em> Nick watched with amusement as he blew kisses with both hands before running them down the sides of his body. Diamond had looked sexy doing the same move that morning, but Lancy just looked silly. \u201cOne hundred ways to show you I need you\u2026\u201d<\/em> He hadn\u2019t noticed Nick yet; he was too busy watching his own reflection in the makeup mirror he had perched on a pile of books on his desk. It was only once Nick burst out laughing that Lancy looked up. When he realized he had an audience, his eyes grew as large and round as the ceramic coaster under his cappuccino.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, sorry, boss!\u201d Lancy turned off the music, his cheeks tinged with pink. \u201cI didn\u2019t see you there!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick grinned. \u201cNice moves there, Lancy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?! You think so?!\u201d Lancy beamed. \u201cThanks! I\u2019ve been practicing all morning — between making phone calls and filing your paperwork, of course!\u201d he added hastily.<\/p>\n

Nick rolled his eyes — like he cared about paperwork. He would never scold his secretary for not working hard enough, especially now. With most of the agents grounded, there wasn\u2019t much to do. \u201cDude, did I miss something? I walked in on Diamond dancing like that earlier. What is this, Dance Behind Your Desk Day?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lancy\u2019s eyes widened again as he let out a dramatic gasp. \u201cDon\u2019t tell me you\u2019re not on Wink yet!\u201d<\/p>\n

Suddenly, his dancing made more sense. It was that damn Wink app again. \u201cI want to be!\u201d Nick insisted. He hated being left out of the latest tech trend. \u201cDiamond told me about it. I\u2019m gonna download the app as soon as I find my phone. Have you seen it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour phone\u2019s missing? Oh no! I haven\u2019t seen it, but I\u2019ll help you look,\u201d Lancy offered.<\/p>\n

Nick sighed, his shoulders slumping. \u201cThanks, but I\u2019ve already looked. I can\u2019t find it anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lancy\u2019s brow furrowed with lines of worry. \u201cI hope it wasn\u2019t stolen\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Now it was Nick\u2019s turn to frown. \u201cHow could it be stolen? I haven\u2019t left headquarters since we got back from DC.\u201d He felt a stab of regret as he remembered hugging a grief-stricken Brian goodbye after Opal\u2019s funeral. No one had seen nor heard from the former CIA officer since. Nick was worried about his friend, but he forced himself to focus on one problem at a time. He couldn\u2019t try contacting Brian again until he found his phone. \u201cThat means someone here would have had to steal it. What would someone from HimTak want with my phone?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you have any nudes on it?\u201d Lancy waggled his eyebrows.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Nick chuckled awkwardly, not sure whether he was joking or asking for real. \u201cNo! I don\u2019t need to send nude photos to my Carter Girls,\u201d he added with an impish smirk. \u201cThey can take off my clothes any time they want.\u201d Unless it\u2019s time for a meeting,<\/em> he thought, remembering his interaction with Diamond that morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly girls?\u201d Lancy asked, batting his eyelashes.<\/p>\n

Nick was suddenly suspicious. Lancy was behaving strangely — even more strangely than usual, he realized. \u201cDid you<\/em> take my phone, Lancybassy?\u201d he asked directly, narrowing his eyes at his secretary.<\/p>\n

Lancy\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cWhat?! No, of course not! I would never steal from you, Nick!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick stroked his chin as he studied the secretary. Despite his propensity for gossip, Lancy had never given Nick a reason not to trust him. \u201cNo, I know you wouldn\u2019t,\u201d he said finally, feeling guilty. It wasn\u2019t the first time he had falsely accused his secretary of taking something that was precious to him.<\/p>\n

But Lancy had brought up a good point: not everyone at HimTak could be trusted. K still hadn\u2019t caught the intruder who broke into his bedroom and implanted him with that bomb. Likewise, Pearl was still looking for the thief who took the alien device from her lab. Maybe Nick\u2019s phone had been stolen by the same person.<\/p>\n

This realization left him feeling violated and strangely vulnerable. He wouldn\u2019t be able to rest until it was back in his possession.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can always share my phone until you find yours,\u201d Lancy offered cheerfully, handing Nick his own device.<\/p>\n

Nick turned it over, wrinkling his nose at the sparkly pink phone case. \u201cUh, thanks, but that\u2019s okay,\u201d he replied, handing it back. \u201cI\u2019ve still got my watch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe one that doesn\u2019t tell time?\u201d said Lancy with a wry grin.<\/p>\n

Nick rolled his eyes. \u201cYeah\u2026 so I\u2019m gonna need you to help me stay on schedule. If you\u2019re not too busy dancing, that is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lancy\u2019s smile grew. \u201cI always have time for you, Nick,\u201d he said softly. \u201cAs for your schedule, let\u2019s see\u2026\u201d He looked down at the day planner lying open on his desk. \u201cOh! It says here you\u2019re supposed to help me with my Wink dance!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally.\u201d Nick smirked. Of course, he knew Lancy was kidding, but he also remembered what K had told his staff at the meeting that morning about taking advantage of this time to strengthen their relationships with each other. This would be a way to bond with Lancy. It might even be fun. \u201cOkay\u2026 so what do I have to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lancy\u2019s eyes lit up. \u201cLet me show you!\u201d he said, removing his yellow plaid jacket and tossing it over the back of his chair. \u201cIt\u2019s the latest trend on Wink: the \u2018100\u2019 dance challenge!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that the song you were listening to when I walked in?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah! It\u2019s by some new artist — I think he\u2019s trying to be the next Ricky Martin.\u201d Lancy giggled as he rolled up the sleeves of his dark purple dress shirt. \u201cSpeaking of Ricky Martin, maybe we can choreograph a routine to \u2018Shake Your Bon-Bon\u2019 next. I\u2019d sure love to see you shake yours.\u201d He gave Nick\u2019s butt a playful swat. \u201cLike that song you were singing this morning: \u2018The way you shake, shake, shake, shake that ass, it makes me wanna come, come, come get it fast\u2026\u2019<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cQuit it!\u201d Nick smacked Lancy back, feeling his face burn. He already regretted agreeing to this.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, okay. So the first eight-count goes like this. One hundred kisses, girl…<\/em> You blow kisses on one and two, first with your right hand, then with your left. Then you rub both hands down your body for the next two counts — three, four,\u201d said Lancy, demonstrating. \u201cStraight to your heart\u2026<\/em> You pop your right hip out to the side and point straight ahead with the same hand on five, six. Then pop your left hip as you fold both hands over your heart and sort of pulse them out and in on seven, eight. Ready to try it with me? Five, six, seven, eight\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

After half an hour of practice, Nick was able to perform the routine in sync with Lancy. \u201cKiss, kiss, rub your body, point, point, pulse, pulse!\u201d Lancy called out the steps as the music played in the background.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne hundred kisses, girl, straight to your heart.<\/em>
\nOne hundred ways to show you I need you.<\/em>
\nOne hundred reasons why we\u2019ll never be apart.<\/em>
\nOne hundred ways to say that I love you.<\/em>
\nI\u2019m giving you one hundred\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cCha-cha!\u201d Lancy\u2019s voice rang out. \u201cGet sassy now!\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve gotta see if Di knows this one,<\/em> thought Nick as they wiggled their hips to the fast Latin rhythm. It would look a lot better with a woman dancing next to him instead of another man, no matter how effeminate Lancy was.<\/p>\n

When the chorus ended, Lancy cut off the music. \u201cThat was perfect!\u201d he praised Nick. \u201cYou\u2019re a natural! I think you\u2019re ready for your next reality show appearance, Mr. Carter: Dancing With the Agents<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick laughed. \u201cI dunno about that, Lancy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, one thing I do know: it\u2019s time to take a video of this and post it on Wink for the whole world to see!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh\u2026 wait,\u201d Nick started to protest, not sure he wanted to let the whole world see them dancing that way together. But before Lancy could pick up his phone, Nick\u2019s watch beeped. He raised his wrist and pressed one of the buttons on the side.<\/p>\n

\u201c008.\u201d K\u2019s face appeared in the watch\u2019s tiny display window. \u201cWe need you in Pearl\u2019s lab, pronto.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c00Carter,\u201d Nick corrected him automatically. \u201cAnd okay, I\u2019m coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the double, 008!\u201d<\/p>\n

As the watch face went blank again, Nick looked up at Lancy, pretending to be apologetic. \u201cSorry\u2026 can\u2019t keep K waiting. Gotta go!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAww, too bad. But that\u2019s okay! We can record the video later!\u201d Lancy replied brightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah\u2026 sure. See ya!\u201d Saved by the boss<\/em>, Nick thought with relief as he rushed out of the office.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

As usual, Nick slid into Pearl\u2019s lab, catching her chair to force himself to stop. \u201cReporting for duty, K.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour dance was cute.\u201d Pearl grinned.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think so?\u201d Nick grinned back teasingly as he leaned toward her. \u201cBe even cuter with you as a partner.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn your dreams, Blondie.\u201d<\/p>\n

K cleared his throat. \u201cWe\u2019ve received a strange report and need you to investigate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it this time? Aliens? Weird robots? Giant monsters? Poltergeists?\u201d Nick wiggled his fingers as he laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems one Diamond Divine has removed her tracker and left headquarters.\u201d<\/p>\n

That was weird. Nick frowned, furrowing his brow. She\u2019d said she was getting bored, but that Wink app should\u2019ve been keeping her busy if online shopping wasn\u2019t. And heck, he was always here, too, and so was Lancy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need you to go retrieve her. She\u2019s at the Wynn…\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick\u2019s frown became a devilish grin. It looked like Di had already started planning their dinner date, with an interesting twist. Wonder what she told K to get us out?<\/em> he thought as he glanced down at his anchor necklace.<\/p>\n

\u201c…being held by their security team for questioning,\u201d K finished.<\/p>\n

What?<\/em> Nick gasped audibly, then quickly turned away from Pearl and K as he crossed his arms. That wasn\u2019t like Diamond at all. What could she have possibly done that a security team would nab her? \u201cWhat hap–\u201d<\/p>\n

A beep from Nick\u2019s watch interrupted him. One word flashed across the screen: Desiree<\/em>. Nick accepted the page, and her face popped up in the small window. \u201cCan you help me? I tried to call you already.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStill don\u2019t have my phone. What\u2019s going on?\u201d Nick frowned at the dejected look on her face.<\/p>\n

\u201cWill you keep a secret?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick flashed his wrist toward the screens, hoping that Diamond could see K and Pearl. \u201cPretty sure it\u2019s too late for that. I\u2019m coming to get you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026 I\u2019ll tell you when you get here.\u201d The feed on his watch went black.<\/p>\n

\u201cWanna fill me in before I go?\u201d Nick gritted his teeth. Of all the things he felt, anger was easiest.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey refused to give me many details. Would you rather have a summary from me or her?\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead of answering K, Nick stormed out of the lab. What was wrong with Diamond today?<\/p>\n

Sure, he hadn\u2019t minded her early morning flirting. And, just once, he would love to hook up with her in one of their offices. And he was glad she had completely ignored Lame-o-nerdwad during their morning meeting. And obviously he had been intrigued when she wrote back \u201clet\u2019s sneak out\u201d<\/em> on her notepad after he asked her if she had dinner requests. But she only acted like a bad girl when it came to flirting; she wouldn\u2019t ever do something that would make security at a casino go after her.<\/p>\n

These thoughts continued to race back and forth in Nick\u2019s head as he sped away from HimTak and toward the Las Vegas Strip, a place where they\u2019d always had fun together. Maybe she wasn\u2019t in trouble. Maybe she was hurt. Maybe she\u2019d seen something suspicious. Nick groaned as his stomach twisted and turned. She hadn\u2019t sounded hurt when they spoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019d you do, Di?\u201d he whispered as he pulled up to the valet. After slamming the car door shut, he strode over to the valet stand and held out his keys to the attendant. \u201cI\u2019ll be back in less than half an hour. Thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n

After getting pointed in the direction of security, Nick wandered the casino; conflicting thoughts of previous dates with Diamond and nightmares of her pulling her gun on tourists spun through his head. When he reached the door, he gingerly pushed it open to find Diamond sitting forlornly in a chair, staring at the Bottega Veneta shopping bag next to her feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cDesiree?\u201d Nick frowned.<\/p>\n

She didn\u2019t answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t look or sound like her \u2018Daddy.\u2019\u201d The security officer at the desk spoke with a deep voice. \u201cHe wasn\u2019t too pleased when we finally spoke on the phone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Figures, Di would actually pick \u2018Dad\u2019 for K without the sexual innuendo,<\/em> Nick thought as he hid his face in his hand to cover his laugh and tried to come up with a lie. \u201cYeah, he couldn\u2019t leave… the house, so he asked me to come get her. I\u2019m… her boyfriend.\u201d He hoped they didn\u2019t notice his pauses as he thought.<\/p>\n

But Diamond definitely did, because she finally looked up at him with that soft smile and some sort of gleam in her eyes, but it could have just been light catching some remnant of a tear.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop. Damn,\u201d<\/em> Nick mouthed to her, then walked over to the security officer\u2019s desk. \u201cWe didn\u2019t get to talk on the phone for long. What happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re the one she kept trying to call?\u201d The officer smirked. \u201cFigures, I wouldn\u2019t want to be in trouble with her dad either.\u201d<\/p>\n

No kidding,<\/em> Nick thought, glancing over his shoulder at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe suspect she was shoplifting in Bottega Veneta, but the camera footage isn\u2019t very clear. She claims this fell into her bag.\u201d He slid a pair of small, silver twisted hoop earrings across the desk.<\/p>\n

\u201cShoplifting?!\u201d Nick glared at Diamond, who remained silent and refused to look at him. No wonder they tried to keep her. That wasn\u2019t like Diamond at all. He groaned and held his head in his hand again. \u201cCan I see the footage? That\u2019s really not like her, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

The security officer fast-forwarded through the lengthy footage of Diamond browsing the store. That was the Diamond that Nick knew, not someone who used a five-finger discount. When Diamond started browsing a jewelry and sunglasses display table, the officer allowed the footage to play at normal speed. Diamond continued with her usual business, trying on various items, then picked up the earrings in question, held them to her face, then loosely put them back into place on the display\u2019s jewelry tree and tried on a pair of gold sunglasses with dropped lenses like the bottom of a heart.<\/p>\n

Nick frowned. Clever sleight of hand to get something without being noticed. If she planned on taking it, she\u2019d bump into it later and retrieve it without suspicion.<\/p>\n

The footage sped up again, showing her purchasing the sunglasses, but nothing else. Then at normal speed, it showed her walking by the jewelry display with her bag held high beside it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll notice the earrings are gone after she walks by, but she doesn\u2019t pocket them.\u201d The officer pointed to the footage. \u201cWhen she left the store, the alarm went off, and we found the earrings in her bag, but only the sunglasses were on the receipt.\u201d<\/p>\n

As he swallowed, Nick glared at Diamond again. Even though he hated lying for her, they had to get back to HimTak. \u201cCan you rewind that?\u201d He pointed to the jewelry tree again. \u201cLook, she just bumped the stand with her bag. You said yourself that that\u2019s not enough evidence to be sure she shoplifted, especially after she bought something else. You can\u2019t arrest her for an accident.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe agree; that\u2019s why we\u2019re going to let her go home. That being said, we\u2019ve had a string of thefts lately, and Bottega Veneta would like her banned…\u201d<\/p>\n

Diamond hid her face in her hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s okay, Desiree. It\u2019s just one store. Let\u2019s get you home to your dad.\u201d Nick knelt beside Diamond and picked up her shopping bag from the ground, then grabbed her shoulder as he held it out to her.<\/p>\n

\u201c…from the whole resort.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick clenched his hand around the handles tightly as his dreams of days off at the Wynn with Diamond shattered around him. It didn\u2019t matter if she couldn\u2019t shop there anymore, but it sure as hell mattered if they couldn\u2019t go there together again. He whirled back on the security officer. \u201cThe whole resort when you can\u2019t prove she shoplifted? Isn\u2019t that a little much?\u201d He pointed to the earrings. \u201cI\u2019ll just pay for those, and we can put this whole incident behind us. How would the store feel about that?\u201d<\/p>\n

The security officer held up a finger as he made a quiet phone call.<\/p>\n

\u201cNick–\u201d Diamond started.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll talk in the car.\u201d He frowned and held the shopping bag toward her again.<\/p>\n

Her head sank back to her shoes as she grabbed it from him.<\/p>\n

\u201cBottega Veneta is amenable to that solution. They apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.\u201d The security officer picked up the earrings, then opened the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure they do.\u201d Nick said through gritted teeth.<\/p>\n

He grabbed Diamond\u2019s hand and dragged her after the security officer back to the store, paid for the earrings after making her apologize, shoved them into her shopping bag with the receipt, and dragged her back to the valet stand. Though they shared a few quick glances, most of which ended with Nick glaring at her, they remained silent until the valet attendant closed the passenger side door.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Nick. Since we managed to sneak out, should we start our date early?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t \u2018thanks, Nick\u2019 me and change the subject! What the hell is wrong with you?!\u201d Nick started the car, letting the Wynn fade in the rearview mirror behind them. \u201cShoplifting?!\u201d<\/p>\n

Diamond stared at her shoes again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you love this stuff, but you\u2019ve always had enough money that you can buy it when you want! Why the fuck would you do that?! That\u2019s not like you at all!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou never yell at me. I don\u2019t like it.\u201d She hugged her knees to her chest and stared out the window. A couple of tears fell down her cheeks. \u201cIt was an accident. Promise you won\u2019t let K yell at me either.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDamn it, Di.\u201d Nick sighed and put an arm around her. Even though he was confused and frustrated, he hadn\u2019t meant to make her cry. \u201cI\u2019ll see what I can do about K, but you have to tell me the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

The trickle of tears became endless, blubbering on like her words. \u201cI thought about it when I first picked them up. That they were small, and it would be easy. I\u2019d always wondered what shoplifting felt like, if it was fun. But I reminded myself that I\u2019d never do it, and I decided I didn\u2019t really need them, so I put them back. Then when I left, I don\u2019t know\u2026 I guess I thought, if they fall, they fall, and I\u2019ll see what happens.\u201d She hugged her knees tighter and leaned her head on them. \u201cI guess I\u2019m glad they were alarmed; I learned that I really don\u2019t want to shoplift. It was really scary. Technically, it was only sort of an accident, but I wasn\u2019t really trying<\/em> to steal them\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDi, that\u2019s not great.\u201d Nick frowned. \u201cBut you know I get out of things because of loopholes all the time. K said they didn\u2019t give him a lot of details, so that\u2019ll be our story to him, that it was an accident. Just\u2026 promise me you won\u2019t do anything like that again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t; I promise.\u201d She wiped her hand under her eyes, smearing the streaks of mascara.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou probably don\u2019t need K to punish you; you look like a raccoon.\u201d Nick laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop teasing me.\u201d A very faint smile formed on her lips. At least she\u2019d stopped crying.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe honest with me one more time. Why\u2019d you take your tracker off and leave?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tears streamed down Diamond\u2019s cheeks again, and she flung her hands over her face. \u201cI\u2019m just really tired of being stuck at HimTak! It\u2019s fine if I don\u2019t have any missions, but I didn\u2019t steal from Pearl! I would never steal from her! And I wasn\u2019t even there when it happened! Why am I being punished for something someone else did?! And K almost died while I was gone! I couldn\u2019t do anything to help him! And Opal! But we\u2019re not doing anything about her death except hiding! She doesn\u2019t deserve that!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, hey, I get it. I get it.\u201d Nick ran his hand through her hair as he pulled the car to a stop on the side of the road. After putting it in park, he thrust her into a tight hug. \u201cI know. We\u2019ll do something about it. All of it. K\u2019s just being cautious. Of course he wants to help, we all do. We just\u2026 don\u2019t know how yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diamond flung her arms around Nick\u2019s neck. \u201cI\u2019m the worst! Crying about it to you when you\u2019re really upset about the whole thing! I\u2019m just really lonely! I\u2019m sorry, Nick! For everything today! I\u2019ll pay you back! I\u2019ll return them! You shouldn\u2019t have had to lie for me today; you already have a lot going on!\u201d Her tears dripped down his neck. \u201cWhat can I do to make it up to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick frowned. That wasn\u2019t supposed to be a burden on anyone else, especially when he\u2019d just sought Diamond out that night to do something fun and think about anything else. But in a moment of vulnerability, he\u2019d admitted to her that he felt like he was failing K, and then she\u2019d been the third, and last, person he told about what actually happened to Opal, right after Brian and K. And she\u2019d said\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not your fault. You would have done anything you could have if there was time. Just keep smiling when you can, and if you can\u2019t, that\u2019s okay. I\u2019m here if you need me. \u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

…And he\u2019d loved it. But instead of taking her up on it and confiding in her, he\u2019d been spending a lot more time by himself as he tried to process everything and left the people he cared about alone to worry about him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not your fault,\u201d Nick mumbled. \u201cIt\u2019s\u2026 hard for everyone right now. I haven\u2019t been around as much as usual, but it\u2019s not that I don\u2019t want to be. I don\u2019t always pay attention, so just tell me if you\u2019re feeling down. And hey, I bet Lancy would hang out with you in person and not just on Wink, too.\u201d Nick laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re probably right.\u201d Diamond sniffled and pressed a light kiss to his neck, then pulled back and smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere she is, the cutest little raccoon.\u201d Nick smiled back at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cNick, stop.\u201d Diamond laughed and wiped at her eyes again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m serious.\u201d He grabbed her chin lightly. \u201cJust keep smiling when you can, and if you can\u2019t, that\u2019s okay. I\u2019m here if you need me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNick\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat really did mean a lot to me, so\u2026 keep them.\u201d He pulled up his anchor necklace and grinned. \u201cI already know that you always have my back, so instead of looking at those earrings and remembering that you made a mistake, remember that I always have yours too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diamond flung her arms around his neck, pulling him into a heated kiss.<\/p>\n

Waking up early, making great jokes, giving good advice, buying presents, giving compliments. Damn, I am so smooth today, must be a Tuesday thing,<\/em> Nick thought to himself, mentally giving himself a pat on the back as he ran his hands down Diamond\u2019s waist. He chuckled against her lips. \u201cStill wanna start our date early? I promised K to bring you back, but we could pretend it took a little longer than expected.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not wearing a bug?\u201d Diamond pulled back from him, scrutinizing his clothing.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot today. It was a top-secret mission.\u201d Nick laughed. \u201cSo secret, even K wasn\u2019t watching.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPearl can still trace your tracker. Let\u2019s just go back, and I\u2019ll apologize to K.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe if we smooth things over with him early, he\u2019ll stop paying attention to us later, and we can still sneak out for our date.\u201d Nick grinned as he started the car again and pulled back onto the road. \u201dHey, do you know that 100 dance? Lancy was talking about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course. Lancy and I learned it together.\u201d Diamond smirked. \u201cWhy don\u2019t we start our date now, pause so I can talk to K, and then we\u2019ll find something fun to do whether we leave HimTak or not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, what kind of date did you have in mind where we still end up back at HQ on time? Tell me it\u2019s not playing Two Truths and a Lie while we drive!\u201d Nick laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t I just show you?\u201d Diamond winked, then unbuttoned and unzipped his cargo shorts before resting her hand in his lap. \u201cWanna play?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh, yeah definitely, but I can\u2019t crash the car.\u201d Yet another thing she had never suggested before. He shrugged and grinned. \u201cGuess I\u2019ll just pull over for a minute if I need to.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the same time, she giggled as she unbuckled and said, \u201cJust pull over for a minute if you need to, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJinx. Damn, I owe you another<\/em> drink.\u201d Nick leaned in to kiss her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWouldn\u2019t miss it.\u201d Diamond smiled gently and met his lips. \u201cKeep your eyes on the road if you\u2019re still driving.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick gripped the wheel with one hand and pulled her closer with the other. As she leaned down toward his lap, one thought consumed his mind: Damn, I should buy presents for Di more often.<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Part 4<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Episode 14: \u00a0In the Wink of an Eye Part 3   Nick trudged down the hall toward his office. He normally held his head high when he walked, but that day it hung low. His eyes were fixed on the dark marble floor, darting back and forth in search of\u2026<\/p>\n

Read more<\/span><\/i><\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":1201,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/template-onecolumn.php","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1216","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P5xaHX-jC","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1216","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1216"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1216\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1217,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1216\/revisions\/1217"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1216"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}