************************* The Only Girl: Chapter Two *************************




“So what’s up with you and Corrie?”  

I look up from the video game to glance at Nick.  “Nothing,” I reply nonchalantly.  

Nick glances at the older man and curses when his character dies.  “What the hell do you 
mean nothing?  You guys have been doing stuff every day for the last month.”

“So?”

“So…” Nick drawls out.  I meet his eyes without flinching.

“So… you have a wife.  Stop nosing into Corrie’s business.  We’re friends Nick.  Always 
have been, always will be.”  

Nick flinches.  It’s a low blow.  For all that he loves and adores Tiffany Corinne would 
always hold a special place in his heart.  It kills him that she keeps a distance between 
them that never existed before. 

“That’s not fair Aje.”  

I stare at him with unmoved brown eyes.  

“Life’s not fair Nick.”  

We resume play with tension filled silence between them. 

**********************************************************************************

“So, Corrie, what’s up with you and Aje?”  

I glance up from my shoe where I’m trying to get the stupid strapy thing to buckle.  
Stupid strapy thing.  It never buckles.  “Nothing.”  

Nick raises golden perfect brows and I resist the urge to trace my fingers across the fine 
hairs, an intimate and familiar caress that we use to share.  Not any more.  We haven’t 
shared much that really meant anything in a long time actually.  Maybe because it was so 
hard to get over him.  

Because on a lot of levels I’m not ever going to be really over him.  Nick will always be 
part of my heart.  I’ve gotten used to that uncomforting fact, and missing all the little 
things we use to share.   Like his eyebrows.  

God, some days I really miss his beautiful eyebrows.  

“You’re kinda dressed up…”  

I roll my eyes as I tug on the strap impatiently.  “We’re kinda going to a club Nicky.  
That usually involves getting dressed up.”  

Nick flushes a bit and shifts on the bed as he watches me.  It would have unnerved me if 
it was anybody else but its Nick.  He likes to study people, always has, probably always 
will.  I think its some residual thing from being thrust in the spotlight at such an early 
age.  Social interactions fascinate him.  

Because he so is NOT staring at my legs.  Not when he has Tiffany’s legs waiting for him 
at home.  

“You guys have kinda been going out a lot lately.”  

Dammit.  I am so buying strapless shoes the moment my next paycheck comes in.  

“So?”  I stop completely and look at a very uncomfortable Nickolas Gene Carter.  “Nick, 
come on, you oblviously have something to say, spit it out.”  

“Are you and AJ dating?”  

I shake my head with amusement.  “No Nick we’re not dating.  If you really want to know 
I’m not dating ANYONE.  Not Backstreet, *NSYNC or otherwise.  Me and Alex have always hung 
out, even when we were together,” bravo I said that without flinching , “and we’ve become 
really good friends.  Better lately, yeah, but that doesn’t mean anything.  Besides, he 
goes through women like Kevin goes through clothes.”  

“Let me help with that thing…” Nick says suddenly and reaches across the bed to grab my 
ankle.  I swallow as his hands try to fit the blasted strap into the buckle, warms fingers 
brushing my skin.  Dammit.  Damn him.  

I don’t say anything though, can’t, as I stare at his bended golden head as he works on 
the shoe and wonder why I feel like crying.  He glances up at me through a fringe of 
blonde, blue eyes serious and dark as perfect sapphires.  “You should date Corrie.  You 
deserve to have someone make you happy.”  

I shrug helplessly.  “Yeah, I guess.  I…,” and I don’t know what on earth moves me to ask 
this, “Nicky, what would you say if I wanted to date AJ?”  

He doesn’t answer right away but his hands tighten on my foot.  “AJ isn’t good enough for 
you,” Nick states firmly.  

I stare at him, gray eyes wide.  “He’s not good enough for me?  Come on Nick…”  

And before I know it he’s standing in front of me, tall and so god damn familiar.  “Stop 
it Corrie.  You could have, deserve to have anyone you want.  Don’t ever think that you’re 
not good enough…”  

I step back, fire lighting my eyes, face twisted in betrayal.  “I wasn’t good enough for 
you!”  I don’t know where my bitterness comes from, or such raw anger.  All I know is how 
I hate the wounded look in my beautiful Nick’s eyes.  I cold never stand to hurt him.  
Even when he’s hurt me so badly.  But he’s not my Nick.  Some days I wonder if I ever had him 
at all.  

“Corrie…” he whispers and tries to step forward again.  

“Go home to your wife Nick,” I reply, miserable and near tears.  I hate crying.  I don’t 
cry dammit.  Haven’t in so long…

Nick shakes his head and walks out the bedroom door without another word, the front door 
slamming with an echo that shakes the house.  

Dammit!

I kick the useless shoes against the wall with two thuds that aren’t nearly as satisfying 
as they should be.  I’ll wear flip flops.  I don’t care anymore.  Don’t care about 
anything.  About Nick or AJ or men or making the stupid strap go into the stupid 
buckle.