Nick and Larry were walked into the elevator and as the door closed Larry turned to Nick,
"So, how is little Mac doing?" He nodded,
"She's fine." Larry sighed,
"So, you've talked to Quinn lately?" His tone caused Nick to look over at Larry and once he saw the look on his face he knew it was a loaded question,
"What is she running and crying to you?" Larry shook his head,
"No, she's not but I guess you've answered my question." Nick sighed and shook his head as he stepped out of the elevator,
"You're my security, thats it so drop it." Larry stood there for a moment, he knew his place but still Nick never treated him like hired help. He walked him to his door, unlocked and opening it, making sure to give the room a once over just in case some crazed fan made her way in and was waiting on Nick,
"You're all clear. I'm across the hall if you need me Mr. Carter." Nick watched as Larry walked out the door and felt like a total asshole. He shouldn't have gotten mad at Larry for saying what he did. He should have been more responsible with keeping in touch. She was making such an effort but then again, she had everything to gain by them becoming closer again. He was sending the money, what more did she want? He wasn't ready to give more. Ready to settle down, have toys all around his tour bus and his hotel room. He flopped on the couch and flipped through the channels, hoping to find something to occupy his time.
Larry knocked on Nick's door, waiting for him to answer. Quinn didn't run and tell him Nick was being distant, Chris did and she wasn't happy. Nick was better off with him than Chris. If Chris got ahold of him there was no telling what kind of damage she would do to Nick, she was just that mad. She went off on how much of an asshole Nick was being and that if he didn't want to be a dad he should have been more careful. That Quinn didn't want a baby either but she stepped up and did what she had to do,
"Hey man, I'm ready." Larry nodded and led Nick to the elevator,
"I'm...I'm sorry about earlier, I shouldn't have said that. And you're not just my security. You've helped me more times than I can count." He looked down,
"Sorry for being a dick." Larry nodded,
"Its ok, I know you have a lot on your mind." They stepped in the elevator and Nick leaned back against the wall,
"I ordered a whole bunch of toys that make a lot of noise and they're going to be delivered to Mac in like three days." Larry frowned,
"Noise? Quinn's gonna be-" Nick nodded and laughed,
"Pissed." Larry shook his head,
"Rule number one kid. Never make your baby momma mad. She can make your life miserable." Nick smiled and closed his eyes,
"Not Quinn, she's too nice." She would always look out for him, he thought, no matter what.
Nick made it back to his room after a little shopping and settled down on the couch, ready to call Quinn. He kicked off his shoes and dialed her number,
"Hello?" He could hear Mac in the background screaming,
"Wow, listen to those lungs, that's definitely my girl." She sighed,
"I would love to talk but I can't, she's really cranky but call back ok?" He flipped on the TV,
"Ok."
"I'm serious Nick. Call back ok?" He nodded,
"I will, I just remembered I needed to do something anyway. I'll call you later." He hung up and turned on his laptop, he never did make that CD she wanted for MacKenzie he thought as he began to search for the perfect songs to sing for her.
Nick couldn't sleep after the show that night and decided to record the songs for Mac during the bus trip to the next city. He called one of the producers he worked with before the show and had him email him the instrumental versions to the songs so he could record them. As he settled in the chair he remembered he didn't call Quinn back. He looked at the computer, it was already around one in the morning back in Florida. She would kill him if he called and woke MacKenzie up.
He woke up to someone shaking him and looked up to see Larry,
"Wake up man, we're here." Nick looked out the window,
"It still looks dark." Larry laughed,
"It is. It was only a four and half hour drive to Des Moines from Minneapolis." Nick frowned,
"Da what? Where the hell are we?" Larry laughed,
"Iowa." Nick groaned,
"Iowa? What's in Iowa? Are we singing at a fair or something? Are we gonna be judging the best pig contest?" Larry rolled his eyes,
"Des Moines is the capital of Iowa, I think. It's a pretty big city. Tall buildings and everything." Nick shook his head,
"If nothing else maybe they got some hot farmers' daughters in those tight little shorts."
Chapter 22
Reunited
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