CHAPTER 173: PERMISSION AND PIE

Nathaniel

Georgia puts a hand on his shoulder, and that seems to relax him. I know that feeling.

I look over at Via.

I didn't feel that feeling when Hazel would try to comfort me, but I felt it when Via was present anywhere around me. Her presence made me feel comforted and at ease.

That's probably why I was internally panicking like crazy right now, waiting for Andres to say something—quite literally anything.

"And Justin?" Andres finally speaks. "Does he know you're going to date his stepdad and his stepdad's friends?" His words make all the walls around me begin to crumble.

That's a no. I can already hear the two letters come out of his mouth.

"No, he doesn't know anything about this subject, but I don't think it really matters." She looks at Alexander, then back at her father. "Justin is moving in with his mother, Amanda, as soon as winter break starts."

That makes Alexander go still next to me.

Alexander may argue with Justin. Alexander may argue with Amanda about Justin. Alexand