After a few more drinks, a few more dances and stalling for forty-five minutes waiting on Nick, I decide to call it a night. Samantha and Tamara had left and I begin to walk out with David and Elliott when I remember I still have the unused pager in my hand,
"I'll meet you outside, I have to hit the girl's room." They nod and don't hesitate then I make my way over to Nick's table. The girls were gone but he and his friends were there drinking when I dropped the pager on his table and stood for a couple of seconds before walking away. His friends get up as he scrambles to stand up,
"Hey, nice to see you again. It's been a long time." He wraps his arms around me and I can't believe this drunk bastard. Like nothing has happened, like time stood still,
"I thought you wanted to talk to me? I have to go, my friends are waiting on me." I pull back but he doesn't let go as I look up at him,
"Let's go hang out, we can talk. I haven't seen you in a long time baby." I look at him and I can't believe this. He's treating me like I'm some girl he met along the way, like I'm just another one of his little play things. Maybe he treats everyone like he treated me. Maybe I wasn't special, maybe I wasn't the only one he paid for and took on the road this tour. How many times had he told that Mandy story or the childhood memories? How many girl's shoulders had he cried on?
"I can't my friends are waiting, they're my ride." He shook his head,
"I can give you a ride. Come on." He grabs my hand and we walk out of the club,
"Hey Nick, Quinn you ready?" I look over at Nick,
"Remember Elliott and David?" Nick nods and shakes their hands,
"Yeah man, what's up?" They both nod at him and Elliott nearly freezes when he sees my hand in Nick's,
"You ready Quinn?" Nick shakes his head,
"We're gonna give her a ride dude." Elliott nods,
"Ok, walk with me to the car, your stuff is in there." I nod and look at Nick,
"I'll be back." He nods as his friend gives a piece of paper to the valet. David walks ahead of us and Elliott turns to me, his voice considerably low,
"Are you crazy? I know you're not going off with him. What about John?" I shake my head,
"He's just giving me a ride home, you act like I'm going to sleep with him." He gives me a look and I sigh,
"Remember I used to sleep in the same bed with him and nothing happened." He rolls his eyes,
"That was before your relationship became sexual. You think he looks at you now and doesn't see sex? That's all he sees when he looks at you...someone to have sex with. He'll never want to be around you and NOT have sex, watch and see. From here on out you're just someone to have sex with, he's already had you so unlike girls he's never met he doesn't have to work for it. He knows you'll sleep with him, you're a sure thing." A sure thing, just like when I was in college. I'm sure he doesn't realize what he just said. How much pain that brought back,
"I'm just getting a ride home ok?" We walk into the parking garage,
"Quinn, please. Why are you about to risk a good relationship just to have sex with Nick Carter? You're gonna risk losing a good guy just to take a ride on Nick's pimp train? You're one of MANY Quinn." I shake my head, that's it, thats too much,
"Drop it ok, just stop. You don't know what you're talking about." He sighs as we step in the elevator,
"Fine, whatever." The rest of the time was silence as they drive me to the front of the club and I hop out, without saying good-bye, and climb into Nick's truck.
Home
Mixed Feelings
Chapter 77