“Hey Chachi.” Elisabeth said, walking into her and Peyton’s apartment. The white Yorkipoo barked happily at her as she made her way out of the entryway and towards her room.
She passed by the kitchen and saw a bouquet of lilies sitting in a blue vase on the counter. Elisabeth dropped her book bag in the hallway and made her way to the vase.
A note said near the center of the flowers, with ‘Lily’ written in Nick’s handwriting. Elisabeth pulled out the note and smiled. “Dear Lily, I know you are probably freaking out about last night but you do not know how much it means to me that you were willing to wait. Give me a call if you want to hang out. And if you really want, invite everyone else and we all can play a board game or something. Love, Nick.” Elisabeth read, leaning up against eh counter.
She had a smile as she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. She quickly dialed a number and waited for him to answer. “Hey Nick, you think you guys feel like pizza?”
************************************************************************
“Who ate all the cheese?” Katie asked, walking back into the living room with the empty pizza box.
“Bella did it!” Joe said, pointing at the baby sitting in his lap.
“I sure she had some help from her uncle and dad.” Katie replied, walking back into the kitchen.
“I don’t know. I think she was just showing her love for pizza.” Kevin replied.
“I am so feeding her fruit tomorrow.” Katie called.
Kevin made a face as the group laughed. “What if she’s allergic like me?” He called. Katie laughed as she came back into the living room.
“You’re not allergic to fruit Kev.” She said, sitting back down on the floor next to an asleep Chachi.
“So, what should we do now?” Nick asked, looking around the group.
“Actually, we need to be getting home. It’s almost Isabella’s bedtime.” Kevin quickly said. Katie looked at him in surprise for a second until she saw a familiar look.
“Peyton, let’s go clean up all the boxes in the kitchen real quick.” Katie said, grabbing Peyton’s hand and dragging her into the kitchen.
“I’m gonna go help them.” Elisabeth said, getting up and following them into the kitchen.
Peyton was squishing the cardboard boxes into the trash can while Katie was sticking the extra pizza into the fridge. “So, what do you think you guys are doing?” Elisabeth asked, looking at the two.
“You and Nick haven’t had any time alone to talk.” Katie answered.
“You know he won’t stay long. It’s just going to be a quick talk.” Peyton added.
“But now you’re all leaving.” Elisabeth said.
“You have my cell phone number, Kevin’s cell phone number and our house number. Call me if you nee to and I’ll come running.” Katie said, stepping back into the living room.
“And I’m just going to go for a walk. I’ll have my cell phone on me.” Peyton said, following Katie into the living room.
Elisabeth took a deep breath and felt herself starting to get flush. She opened the fridge, praying that the cold air would keep the freckles at bay.
“Hey Beth, thanks for having us over.” Kevin said, stepping into the kitchen. Katie followed, helping Isabella wave good bye to everyone.
“Bye Uncle Joe, bye Uncle Nick, bye Aunt Peyton.” She said, turning to Elisabeth. “Bye Aunt Elisabeth. Call Mommy or Daddy if you need anything.”
“I’ll see you guys at work tomorrow.” Elisabeth said.
She staid in the kitchen as she heard the door open and close. She heard Peyton call for Joe to join her on her walk and then another yell that they’d be back.
Once the door closed, Elisabeth knew that she was alone with Nick.
It wasn’t like they hadn’t ever been alone before. They were always the two staying at the sidelines when the group went out. That first night she had met Nick, Joe and Peyton were pretty much on the dance floor. Kevin and Katie had been there with them, except for that time they had disappeared…..
“Hey.” Nick’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “I’m just gonna head out.” He didn’t sound too much like he wanted to leave. His voice was begging her to give him a reason to stay.
“Don’t go.” Elisabeth quickly said.
“Why not?” He asked.
“Because we really haven’t had much time to talk.” Elisabeth replied.
“About last night.” Nick added.
“Or about the Yankee’s spring training. We don’t have to talk about last night, if you don’t want to.” Elisabeth said as she walked into the living room and took a seat on her couch.
Nick followed, sitting down by her. “You know I really care for you, right?” Nick started.
“I know.” Elisabeth replied.
“And if I hadn’t made this promise, we would have probably done so much more last night.” Nick kept going.
“I know.” Elisabeth replied.
“And I want you to know that this is a tough decision….” Nick started to say, but Elisabeth took one of his hands in hers. He looked from their hands to her eyes.
“If you say anything other than you have decided to stay with your vow, I’m breaking up with you.” Elisabeth said, causing Nick’s mouth to drop open in surprise. “You’re not the only one who had all day to think about this.” She added.
“I love you.” Nick said, surprising Elisabeth. They had never said that sentence. They had picked on Kevin and Katie for saying it. They had joked with Joe and Peyton when they said it. But they themselves had never said it to each other. It made the moment, the exact moment they were living in, seem perfect.
“I love you too.” Elisabeth said, smiling. She watched Nick slowly lean over and kiss her.
************************************************************************
“Hey honey?” Katie called towards the bathroom where Kevin was.
“Yeah babe?” Kevin called back, his curly head popping out the door.
“What did you tell Joe about the night we… about that night Beth came to visit and I had that party we had to go to?” Katie asked, playing with the forest green comforter on the queen sized bed.
“Not much. Why?” Kevin asked, stepping into the bedroom. It was never a good sign when Katie fidgeted.
“Peyton just mentioned it earlier today and I was wondering what could have been said.” Katie said, watching Kevin pull the comforter and sheets to where he could climb into bed.
He was in bed and sitting against the headboard before he answered her. “I just told them the truth.” Kevin said.
“You did what!” Katie exclaimed, her hands flying up to her mouth.
“Kate Lynn May, nothing happened that night.” Kevin said.
“Kevin…” Katie started.
“Kate, nothing happened.” Kevin said again.
“Kevin, do we really believe that?” Katie asked.
“I did call you Kate Lynn, didn’t I?” Kevin pointed out.
She pulled the comforter and sheets back from her side of the bed and climbed in. “If the topic gets mentioned, they won’t believe it if we swear nothing happened.” She said, scooting closer. Kevin wrapped an arm around her, holding her close to him.
“I know.” He replied, kissing her forehead. “I know.”