Chapter 68: Time to Cocoon

Everything worked out just like Byron's lawyer had said. Nick got off on probation and was not allowed to touch any drugs with a ten foot pole. He would have to go for drug testing each month. It was a great relief, knowing he would be forced to stay on the straight and narrow by legal means.

"Are you not going to come out from under there?" Emily asked.

Her brother was lying on the floor wrapped up in a blanket.

"No, I'm good."

Nick was just hanging out at home and vegging out most days, and Emily didn't pressure him to do anything. She knew he had been through a lot, and she wasn't mad at him anymore for what he had done. Deep down, she knew he had a good heart.

"Pam is coming over, just so you know," Emily reminded him.

He made an indecipherable noise.

Emily shrugged. Pam was tough enough to deal with anything, much less someone acting a little weird.

Pam didn't bat an eyelid when she saw Nick huddling away on the floor.

"Are you cocooning away from the world?" she asked.