MATTEO POV

It's been a week, and I haven't seen Nick at all since then, almost as if he's purposefully dodging me. It's not that surprising honestly, I'm still just a stranger to him. What I don't expect, however, is for him to walk through the doors of the station at 7:30 on a Tuesday morning. He looks around briefly before spotting me and coming over.

"Hey" He runs his hand through his hair before shoving it back into his pocket.

"Hi"

" How are you?" His words are softer than I expected, less guarded.

"I'm okay, what about you?"

 I'm so confused.

"Good"

 Nick nods to himself briefly, " Look I just wanted to come and say thank you for the uh- for the food, so yeah, thank you" He finishes and I can't contain my amusement.

"Only took a week for your conscience to catch up huh?'

He glares at me weakly, before turning to leave and I catch his arm.

"I was only kidding, you're welcome" He nods again stiffly, still looking ready to leave.

"Sorry, bad joke. I always seem to be saying the wrong things to you. How about breakfast as an apology?"

His eyes narrow coldly, "You can't buy me with food"

"No? Thought they said the way to a man's heart is through his stomach" Nick finally smiles, rolling his eyes before accepting.

He leads the way out and it isn't until we're already on the road that he questions me.

"Where are we going?"

"Mama's Kitchen" His smile brightens ever so slightly, eyes closing in reminiscence before he turns towards the window.

"Only the best for our apology breakfast, I have a feeling we might be doing this often" I joke and it manages to pull a laugh from him.

Mama's kitchen is a diner on the outskirts of Twin Pines which arguably has the best food in this god-forsaken town, with its extensive menu and laid back theme, it's a regular stop for a lot of people here and the first restaurant that popped up when I searched for places to eat on my first day in town. 

It's not so crowded yet and I hang back so Nick can choose where he wants to sit. He doesn't disappoint, sliding into a booth in the very back of the restaurant, looking right at home.

"You come here often?" 

" I did,yeah" He's distracted thinking about memories before his dark brown eyes meet mine and he continues, " Now a days not so much, it's quite a walk and it's not like I have money to spend" 

" Well lucky for you, this apology outing and all of the ones that follow are on me"

He eyes me sneakily before opening the menu in front of him and covering his face.

"So, what are you gonna get?" And immediately the curtain drops and he's talking animatedly, eyes wide and smile even broader.

"Eggs Benedict, they have the best here only second to my mom"

" Now going into this my expectations are very high"

 A waitress comes over, distractedly adjusting her apron.

"Good morning, what can I get yo- Oh Nick! Haven't seen you in a while, how're you doing?"

He smiles at her but I can see the slight strain in the way the corners of his lips quiver, " Been good Em, nice to see you"

Emilia, according to her name tag turns to me, "Hiya, welcome to Mama's kitchen, what can I get you guys?" Her eyes move between us before settling back on me and not so subtly giving me a once over.

"Eggs benedict for the both of us, some pancakes with bacon, and a coffee" I answer easily, "You want anything else, Nick?" He hums at hearing his name, focusing again.

"Oh um, no" He's too timid to ask for anything else so I add another coffee to our order just so he has something to wash down his food.

Emilia leaves with the promise of being back soon with our food and I turn my attention back to Nick who's trying his hardest to find something interesting about the picnic-themed tablecloth.

"She seems cool, you guys close?"

"We were when we were little, not so much now" He mumbles.

"Why not?"

"She has her life together, I tend to fuck those up"

"Language" I say automatically and his lips part in surprise before pursing, quirking an eyebrow at me in amusement.

"What, you gonna turn me into a respectable young man or something?" He mocks

"Something like that " I tease back, earning a tiny grin.

We make small talk while we wait for our food and when it arrives I slide the plate of pancakes over to Nick whose eyebrows furrow in question.

"Do you see how tiny this thing is, you're gonna be starving still" 

He chuckles.

" So are you but it has nothing to do with quantity, it's the quality. Try it" He urges, taking a bite at the same time I do.

"Right!" Nick exclaims happily after seeing my reaction before going back to munching on his own yolky goodness.

Despite his claims, he manages to put a dent in the plate of pancakes and I watch him enjoy his food. An uncomfortable sinking feeling hits my chest and I rub at the spot absentmindedly, turning my eyes to the light drizzle behind the glass. 

" You okay?"Nick's eyes are wide, syrup smeared over his lips and it makes me smile.

"Fine, thanks" He nods slowly his gaze roaming over me as if to determine if I'm actually okay, and only after he's satisfied with his assessment does he turn back to his food.