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Hearts Don't Lie Chapter 8 Kristin opened her apartment door, the next weekend, to find Kevin there, carrying a duffel bag. Kristin instantly felt warm. "Well, this is a surprise. Come in," she said, letting Kevin in. Kevin kissed her on the cheek. "Does your offer sill stand? Can I take a mental vacation here for the weekend?" "Of course! I'm glad you're here!" Kevin put his bag on a chair and flopped onto the couch. "Thanks. It was such a rough week. I just needed to run away for the weekend, so I hopped a plane and here I am." Kristin sat next to him on the couch and took his hand. "Kev, you know that's why I told you that you could do this anytime." "Kristin, I never called. Did you have plans for the weekend? Am I going to spoil them? If so, kick me out!" Kristin laughed. "The only plans I had for the next few weekends was a great deal of school work! I have so much. Your presence will be calming." That's so not true, she thought. I feel flustered when I'm around him. He hugged her. Electricity ran through her body. "Thanks princess. I gave Bri your number and told him this was how to reach me because I would be checking in with you a few times a day. So if he calls....." "You're not here, I don't know where you are, but give me the message and I'll relay it to you," she finished. "You're the best, you know that?" She smiled. "I try. Are you hungry? I was going to order a pizza for dinner." "Pizza sounds great. Can we watch a movie too? Or are you too busy with work?" "I think a movie sounds nice. Although I do need to get a little work done. Kev, I don't know how I'll make it to finals and graduation! I can't study here! I'm too nervous!" "Then there's only one thing you can do," he said. "You'll have to spend next weekend with me in Orlando. I'll return the favor. Plus, next weekend is going to be May! It's so nice there. I'll fly you out Friday morning and get you back by Sunday afternoon." "Kev, do you mean it? I'd love to relax in Florida, even if just for a few days." "Darlin', we'll book a flight tomorrow morning." He settled back on the couch. After dinner, they settled down to watch a movie. Kristin tried to study, but having Kevin so close distracted her. Halfway through the movie, he gave a huge yawn. "Are you tired Kev?" "A little," he admitted. "I'll go get my bed ready for you," she stood and headed for her room. "Hey, wait! Where are you sleeping?" "On the couch." "No way. I wouldn't feel comfortable putting you out of your bed. I'll take the couch." Kristin shook her head. "I won't be able to sleep knowing that you're sleeping on my awful couch!" "Well you're not sleeping on the couch!" "Neither are you!" she cried, getting angry. "Damn it! Take the bed!" "You take the bed!" He paused and began to laugh. "What?" she asked, irritably. "We're both adults here. Can't we share the bed? Would that make the most sense?" "Share the bed?" she echoed. He walked to her room. "You have a full-sized bed. There's enough room." "I don't know Kevin....." He took her hand. Kristin jumped at the sudden contact. "It's the only thing that's fair. I swear to you, I am not an animal and I won't attack you," he said with a nervous laugh. She blushed. "You go change. I'll lock up for the night and be in later." When she was gone, Kevin turned down the bed, changed and looked around her room. He noticed a picture of Kristin, Mattie and Gillian, obviously taken those 2 weeks in Disney. Framed next to that picture on her bureau was one of the three girls and the Backstreet Boys. Kevin picked up the next frame and studied it. It was the picture AJ had taken of himself and Kristin. He smiled looking at himself and Kristin laughing. He could understand having the group picture framed, but why the last one? Was she beginning to feel more than friendship between them also? Dare he hope that much? He sighed and crawled into bed. He turned off the light but couldn't fall asleep. Kristin crept into the room a few minutes later, ready for bed. He could tell she was trying not to wake him. She slipped into bed beside him, at the edge of the bed. "I swear to God I won't bite. You can come closer," he whispered. She jumped. "I thought you were asleep." "Not yet. I was thinking." She moved slightly closer. "About?" "Nothing," he sighed. "Oh. Goodnight Kevin." "Goodnight Kristin." Sleep didn't come easy to him that night. No matter what he tried, he couldn't relax. Finally, after hours of tossing and turning, he drifted off to sleep. Sunshine filled the room the next morning. He opened his eyes, at the feel of a presence in his arms. He gasped lightly. At some point in the night, both he and Kristin had curled up together in their sleep. She was sleeping soundly, cradled in his arms. She looked like an angel. It was at that exact moment he realized that he was in love with her. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. He slipped out of the bed as silently as he could and went to the kitchen to make coffee. While waiting for the coffee to brew, he rested his hands on the counter. "Oh my god, Brian was right. I love her," he whispered. The phone in the kitchen began to ring. Not wanted to wake Kristin, he forgot that he was "in hiding" and grabbed the phone. "Hello?" he answered. "Who the heck is this?" a female voice demanded. "Who's this?" he fired back. "This is Mattie. I call here all the time! Who are you and where's K?" she snapped. "Mattie! It's Kevin." "Kevin? What are you doing at Kristin's at 10 in the morning?" "I stayed here last night. How are you?" "Fine.....wait! You stayed there? Her apartment is tiny! Where did you sleep? No wait! I don't want to know!" she cried. "Matts, nothing happened. I just ran away for the weekend and came here." Kevin heard Mattie take a deep breath. "Listen Kevin," she began. "You can't tell me that you'll always be 'just friends'. There's a mutual attraction between you two. I know she's been lying to herself and everyone else that you two are friends, and that's it. I'm willing to bet you're doing the same to yourself and your friends. You both can't keep this up much longer. Hearts don't lie, Kevin. Just remember this. I'm fiercely protective of Kristin. And Kevin, if you hurt her, I will hunt you down and hurt you myself." "Mattie....." he began. "That's about it Kev. Think about it. Please tell her I called." "I will. And Mattie," he started. "Yeah Kev?" "Thanks. What you said makes sense." "I know Kev. Take care of you, and her." "I will Matts. With all my heart."Next: Chapter 9 |