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Chapter 4
Abe smiled down at the blob laying the middle of her bed. A flutter passed through her stomach. Was it love or fear? Both. Nick sleeping there in her bed made everything so real and more than a little scary, but then love would always come sneaking up behind the fear and win out.
She brushed the hair out of his eyes. �Nick.�
�Yeah.�
His voice was scratchy from too much road life. He cracked up one eye.
�What time is it?�
�Almost 1:30.�
�AM or PM.�
She chuckled, �PM. Sunday.�
Flipping to his back and yawning, he asked, �How long you been up?�
�Awhile. Come on. Let�s get some food in you and then it is�dun dun dun�Laundry time!�
�Do we have to?� His bottom lip jutted out.
�Well those clothes aren�t coming in here until they�re washed and they can�t stay in my car much longer, because I can�t have that stench making its way through the whole car.�
He was more awake than she realized. He pounced and she found herself looking up at her.
�They are not that bad,� he argued.
She cocked an eyebrow and they both said, �Yes, they are!�
He silenced her giggle with the brush of his lips. His stomach growled.
�Ready for breakfast?�
�Not just yet.
�You sure?� Her voice hitched as he tugged on her earlobe.
�Breakfast later. You now,� he growled.
********
�Can you believe we got all this laundry done in under two hours,� she asked leading the way into the apartment.
�Yeah. Not to sound all pop star, I can�t do that all the time. Especially, once word gets out I�m in Nashville.�
�In the future, we can do the laundry here, but it would have taken all day. Besides, the chocolate chip pancakes were so worth the price of admission.�
�True.� He dropped the pile of clothes he was carrying in one corner of the bedroom.
�What are you doing?�
�Putting me stuff over here.�
Smiling, she said, �Actually, the top two drawers of this chest of drawers are yours.�
�They are?�
�Yep and come here.�
He crossed the room and stuck his head inside her closet. It was a nice sized walk-in. One entire side was empty except for hangers.
�This side is yours.�
�Wow.�
Something in his voice made her turn. �Is this okay?�
�Yeah. Yeah. Sure.� He quickly kissed her cheek.
�Good.� She smiled, before busying herself with hanging his clothes.
�I guess I�ll work on the drawers,� he stated, backing out of the closet.
They quietly worked on putting his things away. Being so engrossed in organizing his side of the closet, Abe did realize just how quiet he was. Hanging the last jacket, she stood back to admire her work. Soon, she felt arms wrapping around her waist and lips on the back of her neck.
�So, what do you think?�
Nick forced his attention from his girlfriend to his surroundings. He was surprised to find that in the same time it took him to throw his stuff into the two drawers and pull his remaining bags with all his junk out of the car, she had not only hung up everything, but also organized it. It wasn�t just a matter of placing shirts with shirts, pants with pants, but she had separated them by color and style. Not even their stylists had ever been this meticulous with their clothing. Glancing at the other side, he found her things organized in the same fashion.
He said, �Don�t know if I can keep it this way.�
His cell rang before she could say anything. She watched him answer it as he headed for the living room. She couldn�t believe he was acting so weird. Suddenly, her warning bells were going off. She knew what the problem was. He was regretting being there. The she thought about it the more upset she got. She heard him ending his call and quickly jumped on the bed and grabbed the paper.
�Wha-cha doin�?�
�Reading.� Her tone was neutral, but the foot she had propped up was bouncing.
�You okay?�
�I�m fine.�
He muttered, �Shit.�
�What�s wrong?�
�Nothin�s wrong with me.�
�Good. I�m looking the classifieds.� She may have changed the subject, but her tone remained the same.
�Yeah?� His foot was now going too.
�Do you prefer an apartment or house?�
�Huh?�
Looking back at the paper, she said, �Maybe a condo.�
�What the hell are you talking about?�
�What kinds of place to do you want to live in?�
�I�m living in an apartment.� He cheeks flushed and his voice raised a notch or two.
�So, you want to continue living in an apartment.� She never looked up from the paper.
�I live with you,� he exclaimed.
�Yes, but we both know you don�t want to.�
�What the fuck!�
�Don�t worry, I will help you find a place and take care of getting everything there.� She suddenly looked up at him. �Or do you want to move someplace else entirely? Like LA?�
He just stared at her, his chest rising and falling rapidly. She saw the hurt in his eyes, but couldn�t stop herself.
�Doesn�t matter I can still help you get settled in.�
�Where are you gonna be?�
�Right here. I�ve thought about moving, but my lease isn�t up for another six months.�
�Then you fuckin� do that,� he yelled.
�I will,� she screamed back.
He recoiled from her hurt and anger. Spinning on his heels, he marched out of the apartment. The slam of the door seemed to shake the whole building.
She listened to the silence that followed. Falling back on the bed, she began to weep.
Chapter 5
It suddenly felt like an elephant was sitting on her chest. What had she done? She had to stop him from leaving her. Running to the door, she threw it open and abruptly stopped when something solid fell against the front of her legs. Nick.
�I don�t got anywhere to go.�
�Please don�t go.�
�Ya gotta make up your mind Bella.�
�I�m sorry.�
�Don�t be sorry.� He stood. �Tell me what the hell is going on?�
�You didn�t act like you wanted to be here.�
�No I didn�t.�
�Oh please! You had that look like a wild animal that chews its leg off to get out of trap.�
Her hands were on her hips and her foot was tapping. He started to argue, but realized she was right.
�So, I figured it was better if I helped you get away.�
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. �No, you were scared and hurt and figured it would be better to push me away.�
�Yeah, well you looked like you were ready to run.� Her chin coming up and her eyes holding a challenge.
Steps on the stairs stopped the conversation. One of her upstairs neighbors came down carrying a laundry basket. The guy gave them a curious look, but moved pasted them out the breezeway.
�Can we go in?�
Sighing, she turned on her heels. He followed. She flopped down on the couch and he followed.
�You better start talkin�.�
�What is your problem,� he yelled.
�I�m scared!�
�Well me too!�
A fresh set of tears were spilling over her lashes. �Nick, what are we doing?�
�Don�t cry.� He pulled her onto his lap. �I hate when you cry.�
�I hate when I cry, too,� she sniffled. �Is this a mistake?�
�What?�
�Us.�
�No.�
�Then what�s wrong? Why are you scared?�
�I�ve never done this before.�
�What?�
�Moved in with someone.�
�You�ve had other girlfriends and you�ve lived with them before.�
Brushing the tears from her cheeks, he said, �I know, but they always moved in with me or I bought a house and we�d play house.�
�What�s the difference?� She searched his eyes trying to understand.
�This is your place. Your home and you let me come in. No, its more. You made room for me here.�
�So?�
�Bella, no ones ever taken me in and no one has ever made room for me. At first, I was scared, because it felt familiar, like those other times. Then it was realizing how huge this was and we aren�t playing house.�
�Are you still scared?�
Twisting her hair around his finger, he thought. �Still a little, but it is a good kind of scared, because it�s new. Scared of new I can deal with. Now your turn.�
�What?�
�You don�t get off that easy. Tell me why you�re scared.� He forced her to look at him.
�I�m scared that you changed your mind and did want to do this. Least not with me. That you realized it was big mistake. I thought I had screwed up and you didn�t want me. I figured you figured out you were wrong and that everyone else was right.�
�Right about what?�
�That I�m not the kind of girl that gets the happy ever after. I don�t get the guy.� Her voice trembled and she looked down at her hands.
�Well you got this one and you do deserve a happy ever after. I want a happy ever after with you. Why can�t you see what I see when I look at you.�
�What?� She asked.
Catching her chin, he lifted her head again to bring her eyes back to his. �I see this beautiful, funny, strong woman. And you�re so damn smart. Not to mention sexy as hell!�
�Nick,� she giggled.
�Don�t do that.�
�Do what?�
�Deflect a compliment. You do that so much.�
�Sorry.�
�And don�t do that either. You deserve every compliment. You are this amazing woman and I�m lucky, because for some unknown reason you love me.�
�One of the reasons I love you is this. You always know what to say to make me feel better. You are kind and generous. I�m lucky you love me.�
�Don�t forget I�m kind of sexy,� he teased.
�You damn sexy and you�re just a good person.�
�Do you feel better now?�
�I�m in that new scared.�
�Glad to know I�m not swimming in it alone.� He smiled before kissing her forehead. �I guess we just had our first official fight in our new home.�
�Yeah. So�� He placed his finer against her lips to silence her and then frowned. She asked, �What?
�I really don�t know if I can keep up with the little system ya got goin� on in the closet.�
Laughing, she said, �We can work on it together. Okay?�
�Okay,� he smiled, brightly. �So this is our first official evening at home.�
�Yes. Boy, we are getting a lot firsts in today.�
�Sure are. Hmmm?�
�What?� Her eyebrow was cocked.
�I was just thinking another first or two we could do.� He grinned at her.
�Can you?�
�Yep.� He stood with her in his arms. �We have the whole making love for the first time.�
�Are you aiming to rectify that?�
�Hell yeah!� He was making his way into the bedroom.
�You said a first or two. What is the second one?�
�Your first make-up sex.�
�Oh yes, we can�t forget that one.�
was now standing at the side of the bed. �So, which one first?�
�Definitely make-up sex,� she almost purred.
�You got it,� he said, dropping her on the bed.
Chapter 6
�Do you have lunch money? Play well with others and mind your teachers.�
Abe growled at her little brother, Allen.
Laughing, Nick kissed her temple. �Have a good day and call when you are ready for us to pick you up.�
�I will. You two try to stay out of trouble.� She stepped out of the car.
�We are just going car shopping.�
Sticking her head back in the car. �What?�
�We can�t keep sharing your car.�
�True, but don�t you have a car down in Marathon?�
�Yeah.�
�Then we just need to get it.�
�I guess.� He frowned.
�WhooHoo Road trip dude.�
�Baby brother, I thought you came to spend quality time with your sister.�
Allen laughed, �Sure.�
She leaned back in the car and kissed Nick on the cheek. �Have fun car shopping.�
************
She had been bombarded the moment she walked into the office. It was now 1:30 and she closed her door to have some privacy while eating lunch. While she munched on the grilled chicken sandwich on of the interns had gotten for her, she took time to answer an email from her best friend.
�What are you still doing here?� She looked up to see one of her bosses, Rich, propped against the door frame of her office. �Working. You know that thing you pay me to do.� �What? We pay you? Billy must have set that up behind my back.� �Funny Rich.� �I thought so. Now get out of here. We�re keeping you so you don�t need to hang around for brownie points.� �Okay. Okay. I�ll call Nick and get out of here.� �Good. Tell him I said hi,� he said already disappearing down the hall. �I will. Night Rich,� she called after him. Dialing Nick�s number, she waited. �Hul-lo.� �Hey. Where are you?� �Huh? Oh you ready to leave?� �Yeah,� she replied straining to here him over the loud music in the background. �Okay we will be there in like 10.� �Okay�Nick?� He was gone. She smiled, �Dork.� She was locking the office up when she heard tires squeal. Turning she realized it was her car. �Anna, you suck.� Allen was hanging out the back passenger side window, but was abruptly yanked back inside, hitting his head on the way. �Ow Mother Fuck � The driver�s door opened and Nick started to get out, but quickly had to hop back in when the car began to roll. Once in park, he got out and trotted up to her. He planted a sloppy kiss on her lips and she smelled the alcohol even before his lips made contact. �Hi baby.� �Hello. I�m driving.� Once they pulled out onto the street, she said, �You guys must have been close by when I called.� �Yeah,� Nick quietly responded. �Oooo. Can we go there next time,� asked Allen. Abe didn�t have to look to know he was talking about the Vue, a strip club just down the street form her office. �So which one did you visit today?� �Christie�s Cabaret. Did you know it is the same place Kid Rock hit the DJ at?� �Yes ,I did. So you took my little brother to a strip club.� Her eyes never left the road. Nick slumped further down in the front seat. �Yeah. He said he wanted to go.� �Don�t bitch at him Anna. I�m old enough.� �I know you are legally old enough to get into a stip club, but not drink,� she agreed. �And you let him get drunk.� �Damn, Anna. I�m 18. I don�t do nothin� I don�t want to. It ain�t like I never drunk before. Oh shit � She looked in the review to find her little brother looking pale yet green at the same time. During their conversation, she had maneuvered her way onto the interstate. Now, she pulled off into the emergency lane. Looking at Nick, she ordered, �Help him get out of the car.� Cars zooming past made the car move. Without a word, Nick eased out of the car. He managed to get Allen out of the car and to the grass on the far side of the emergency lane, before he threw up. Abe watched as Nick closed his eyes and refused to look back until Allen was standing again. He helped the younger into the back seat where he stretched out, where him mumbled about how puke sucked. Getting back in the front seat, Nick secured his seatbelt. His stomach was churning. Glancing at Abe, she saw no sympathy in her eyes. �Allen, you better not throw-up in my car.� �Then get me home quick.� She pulled back into traffic, before looking over at Nick again. He looked pale. �Same goes for you. We will be home soon.� He merely nodded as he covered his eyes and attempted to shut out everything. Next thing he knew they were parked in front of the apartment. Abe got out and never looked back. He climbed out and helped Allen get out. Just as they reached the door to the apartment, Allen said, �Man I gotta puke.� �Abe.� �Yes?� She appeared from the bedroom. �He�s gonna be sick again.� �Then I suggest you get him to the bathroom or you will be cleaning up the mess.� They stared at each other until Allen began to wretch. Nick moved quickly, but not quickly enough. They made it to bathroom before Allen let loose. He left a trail from the just inside the bathroom to the toilet, where Nick dropped him. While balancing the young man over the toilet, Nick heard something behind him and turned to see Abe sitting down a mop, bucket, and cleaning supplies. Yep. No doubt about it. Nick was in trouble.
The characters and events portrayed are fictitious, and any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental.
Copyright ©2004 All Rights Reserved No part of this text may be copied or reprinted without the author's permission.
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