�If you don�t don�t know, why�d you say so?
Would you mean this please if it happens?
If you don�t know, why would you say so?
Won�t you get your story straight?
If you don�t know, honey why�d you just say so?
�Cause I need this now more than I ever did
If you don�t know honey, then you don�t.�
Angie told me he lived about half an hour from our hotel, so on the ride there, I insisted for the top to be down and for no conversation to take place.
She�s never been good at listening to me.
�I�m sorry Kara. Really I am. I don�t know what got into Brittney tonight.�
Besides the fact that she�s always a bitch? And Nick blew her off twice?
�Angie, I don�t want to talk about this.�
Just get somewhere where I can get rid of my contacts.
I rubbed my temples, hating the blood pounding at my temples.
�Just� please don�t be upset. I�ll try to keep you and the girls as far away from each other as possible. When the boys come, everything will be all right. Until then you can hang out with Nick. I think the two of you will get along really well. He�s a really sweet guy.�
We do get alone. And he is sweet.
That�s the problem.
If he manages to break down just one of my walls, that�ll be it. I won�t want to leave him.
Then he�ll see who I really am.
And he�ll disappear.
Which will leave me where?
Simply, nodding, Angie left me in peace for the rest of the ride.
*
Her room ready - check.
Right next to mine - double check.
Took a shower - check.
Shower took a little longer than usual because I couldn�t get her out of my head - triple check.
And Kara still haunts my mind.
They should be here any minute.
Would it be appropriate to slam her against the wall the moment she walks in the door and kiss her and run my hands all over her and hold her close and�
Dude. I just want to hug her.
This afternoon didn�t count because I was angry and happy and overwhelmed.
A real hug with her arms around me and all that raspberry vapor surrounding me with her body so close to mine.
And there�s the doorbell.
My heartbeat racing, I walked into the entryway.
Why am I so nervous?
Taking a deep breath, I swung the door open to find Angie and Kara standing on the porch. She looked nervous and frail. Nothing like the overpoweringly sexy woman who fell into my lap in the confines of a vintage store�s dressing room.
�Come in. Let me help you Kara.�
Reaching for her suitcase, I was a little confused when she seemed reluctant to let it go.
But she did and didn�t attempt to take her backpack or her guitar case, deciding it best to lead them inside. Kara�s eyes immediately grew wide as she looked around, hesitantly sitting her guitar in the hallway and walking further into the house after looking at me for permission that I immediately granted.
Turning back to Angie when she put her hand on my arm, she leaned forward and spoke quietly to me.
�Thank you for this. Kara doesn�t really get along with my friends.�
Don�t blame her.
�But there are� some things you need to know about her, so you don�t think it�s you or anything.�
I stuffed my hands in my pockets, afraid of what she might say.
�She doesn�t really talk anymore, and my aunt says that she doesn�t really sleep either.�
Probably why she�s so pale.
�When her friends come in on Wednesday, she�ll open up a lot more. Then again, she seems to get along with guys better in general, so you probably won�t have any problems.�
Fuck, how much damage have these people done to her?
When Angie walked away from me, I followed her into the living room where Kara studied pictures of me and the guys from years past.
�Hey, you gonna be okay here?�
Kara turned and looked at her cousin with an incredulous look on her face.
�I�ll be fine Angie. I don�t think Nick will attack me.�
I might. Not in a bad way though.
Angie laughed before giving her a hug and walking towards the front door.
�See you tomorrow Kar.�
�See ya.�
I walked her to the door as she thanked me again.
�Hey, just on question. Why do you treat her like she�s a little kid?�
She looked taken back by my sudden questioning accusation.
�Well, she�s not acting like a normal eighteen year old anymore, if she ever did. Plus she�s the youngest in the family. Habit I guess.�
She shrugged before hugging me and walking outside.
�Goodnight Nick.�
Shutting the door, my heart jumped.
We�re alone.
In my house.
All night.