A few months later, Jenna sat on her back deck after getting home from a long week at work. She was watching Colby and Emma playing catch, enjoying the nice July weather. When the phone rang, Jenna looked at the caller ID.
Before answering the phone, Jenna yelled for Colby and Emma to go to Colby�s room and play his Gamecube or something. She didn�t want them to be around for this phone call. As soon as the kids were inside, Jenna answered the phone.
�Hi, Jenna?� The man asked.
�You should know the sound of my voice, we were married for a while.� Jenna answered him coldly. �But then, with all the sluts you went around with, I�m not surprised if you can�t remember me that well.�
�You know, I didn�t call to be harassed by you.� Kyle told her.
�Well then, enlighten me. Why did you call?�
�I was just calling to see how you were doing. See how everything has been for you. I miss you.� Kyle said, trying to turn on the charm.
�Maybe you should forget how I am and ask about your son. You haven�t called to talk to him or ask to see him since I kicked your sorry ass out. You didn�t even call him on his birthday! What is wrong with you!?� Jenna cried incredulously.
�Oh, I missed his birthday? It was last week, right?� Kyle asked nonchalantly.
�No you jackass, it was March 20th. God, you are such a fucking moron. Colby is so much better off without you in his life, don�t even bother asking to see him.� Jenna yelled.
�Well, that�s what I was calling about. I don�t really want to see him. He�s really more of a bother than anything, and I�m giving up all of my parental rights to him. Because of that, I wanted to ask if it would be ok for me to stop paying child support for him.� Kyle said.
�Are you on something?� Jenna shouted. �What makes you think that you don�t have any obligation to your child? I didn�t make him alone Kyle! I think you know that. He is your son and your responsibility, even though you don�t want him! You try to stop paying child support and I�ll have your ass back in court so fast your head will spin, do you hear me ass hole?�
�Why do you have to be such a bitch about everything Jenna? You have plenty of money without getting the child support.� Kyle started to get mad.
�You know what, you�re the only bitch here Kyle. Yes, I have plenty of money, but that�s beside the point. All of that money you send, it goes right into an account for Colby for when he turns 18. He has a right to that money, so don�t even think about taking it away from him.� Jenna was furious.
�Well darling, we�ll just see then won�t we?� Kyle said sarcastically and Jenna hung up on him.
�Argh!� Jenna growled. She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around to find Nicholas standing there with a concerned look on his face. He kneeled down beside her and took her hand in his.
�Sorry, I wasn�t trying to eavesdrop, but I couldn�t help overhearing your conversation.� Nicholas told her. �Is there anything I can help with?�
�No, it was just that bastard. He didn�t even have a clue that he missed Colby�s birthday, months ago. Now he wants to take away his child support? He said we don�t need it anyways because I have plenty of money. Doesn�t he understand that�s not the point? How can he be so insensitive and heartless? This is his own flesh and blood that we�re talking about!� She exclaimed.
�It�s beyond me how he can act that way about his own son.� Nicholas told her.
�What a perfect end to a perfect week!� Jenna said as she began to sob. �This was the worst week at work, everything that could go wrong, did. Now I have to deal with Kyle�s bull shit! I�m losing my mind!�
�Hey, it�ll all work out. You have the whole weekend off, so don�t even think about work. And Kyle? Well, I wouldn�t worry much about him. He can�t take the support away, and until he does something, I�d just push it out of your mind. Don�t worry about what may happen, just concentrate on what�s happening right now.� Nick said and softly wiped away the tears from her face. �Hey, I�ve got a great idea. Some of my friends are going out tonight and asked me if I wanted to go, but I turned them down. How about you and I take them up on the offer and spend a night out on the town? We can go out, have a nice dinner, a few too many drinks, and tons of dancing?�
�I don�t know. I haven�t been out in forever, and it sounds good, but I don�t want to be bad company for you.� Jenna said hesitantly.
�I�m not taking no for an answer. Besides, with my friends, they won�t let you have a bad time.� Nick said with a smile. �So, go get ready, I�ll call a babysitter and my friends, and I�ll be back in an hour. Is that enough time for you to get ready?�
�Fine. An hour sounds like enough time.� She got up out of the chair and headed to the door to go inside. Nicholas got up and started to walk to his house. Jenna turned around before she went in and said, �Hey Nicholas?� He turned around and looked at her. �Thanks.�
�Anytime!� He smiled, then finished his walk back to his house and disappeared inside.
Jenna ran in to her house and headed right for Colby�s bedroom. �Hey guys, Emma�s dad and I are going to go out for a little while, so you�re going to have a babysitter tonight. Be on your best behavior, and if you�re really good, we�ll go to the arcade tomorrow, sound good?� Jenna asked.
Both kids got excited and jumped up and down. They were chanting �Ar-cade! Ar-cade!�
�I�m guessing this is an agreeable situation then! Ok, I have to go get ready, the babysitter will be here in less than an hour.� She told them. �In bed by 9:30, Emma, you can spend the night if you want, or your dad can come get you and bring you home when we get home.�
Jenna turned and ran to her own room. She scoured her closet looking for an appropriate outfit to wear, not quite sure what would be best for the night. She settled on a pair of tight black hip-hugger dress pants and a wine colored satin tank top with spaghetti straps.
After choosing her outfit, she took a quick shower, then started on her hair. Instead of wearing it in her normal waves, Jenna took out a straightening iron and worked all the waves out. As soon as her hair was straight and sleek, Jenna worked on her makeup, putting on a little more than her normal eyeliner and mascara. She applied some dark eye shadow and a soft colored lipstick.
Just as she was finishing, the doorbell rang. She heard Colby and Jenna running to answer it, which gave her just enough time to put on her perfume, Glamorous by Ralph Lauren, and her shoes, black strappy dress sandals. She gave one last look in the full-length mirror and headed out of her bedroom.
When she got downstairs, she saw that they babysitter was the one who had arrived. She gave the girl all the instructions and wrote down her cell phone number and Nicholas� cell number and put them near the phone. Jenna ordered a pizza for them and gave the babysitter the money to pay the delivery guy when he got there.
When there was a knock at the back door, Jenna went over to answer it. Nicholas stood there in shock when the door opened. �Hi, I�m looking for my friend Jenna? We�re going out tonight, have you seen her?� He asked when he finally was able to speak.
�Haha! You�re funny.� She said and pulled him in. Jenna had to admit, he looked so hot tonight, wearing a royal blue button down shirt and nice black pants. He even smelled great�almost made Jenna want to jump him!
�Wow, you definitely don�t look like you�re the mother of an eight year old little boy. You look really hot tonight!� Nicholas said, still shocked at her appearance. �I never would have guessed that body was hidden under all those clothes you usually wear!�
Jenna blushed and gave a small laugh. �Thanks, I think. You look pretty hot yourself!�
�Well, let�s go. Did you leave my number for the babysitter?� Nick asked. Jenna nodded. They went over and said goodbye to their kids and headed next door to Nicholas� Xterra. Nick opened her door for her, like a perfect gentleman, and helped her into the seat.
�I can see where Emma gets her manners from.� Jenna smiled.
Nick walked to the driver�s side and got in the SUV. �Thanks. So, we�re going to meet everyone at this Italian restaurant, is that ok with you?�
�Mmm, sounds great! Good thing I�m not kissing anyone tonight�I can eat all the garlic I want!� Jenna said.
�Yeah, but don�t forget, I have to share a ride with you. You�re going to kill me with that smell, aren�t you?� He teased.
�You�re killing me with the smell of your cologne, but not in the way you�re talking about. God, it�s such a turn on. Now I know why guys call cologne �panty droppers�.� Jenna thought. �Ok, I guess I�ll go easy on the garlic for you. So, how many people are going to be there?�
�Well, probably between 5 and 10 of my friends. Only two of them have girlfriends, and the rest are always on the prowl, so let me know if any of them bother you.� Nicholas told her.
�Ah, how sweet, you�ll be my protector� my body guard. I feel so honored.� Jenna teased.
�And you should! I don�t do it for just anyone, only my special friends!� He said. Jenna smiled at him, and the two sat in silence the rest of the way to the restaurant.
When they pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant, Jenna started to get nervous. For some reason, she began to get worried about what Nicholas� friends thought of her. Logically, she knew that their opinions shouldn�t matter, but for some reason they did.
Nicholas opened her door again and helped her out of the vehicle, then offered her his arm. Jenna put her hand on the crook of his elbow and the two made their way inside. When his friends saw them, they all stopped talking and just stared, making Jenna more nervous. Nicholas guided her to an empty seat and sat her down, then took the seat right next to her.
�Hey guys, this is my friend Jenna, she moved next door a few months ago.� Nicholas introduced everyone at the table and they all said little hellos to her. �So, why is everyone so quiet?� He asked.
�Well, when you said you were bringing a friend, no one expected it to be a female friend. I think we were a little shocked.� Nathan, one of his friends, said. �It�s just been a while since we�ve seen any woman on your arm.�
�We�re just friends, very platonic and everything.� Jenna said, to clear up any misgivings that his friends had.
�Oh, that�s too bad.� Nathan said. He seemed to be the most outspoken one.
After that, everyone started talking again, and including Jenna in all the conversations and making her feel welcome. The food was great, and Jenna kept her vow to Nicholas and didn�t eat too much garlic.
When dinner was finished, they all headed to the club across the street. Nicholas took Jenna�s drink order, then went to the bar to get it for her. He came back with three of the drinks she asked for.
�Why did you get three?� Jenna asked.
�Well, I promised you a nice dinner, a few too many drinks and tons of dancing, right? We�ve already had the nice dinner, now we�re working on a few too many drinks. So drink up, then we�ll dance.� He explained.
�It�s been so long since I�ve had any alcohol, I think these three will get me pretty smashed.� Jenna said, looking a little embarrassed.
�Nothing wrong with that!� Nick told her as he sipped on his own beer.
Jenna started her first drink, and after tasting it, she decided the best plan of action was to slam it. After it was all gone, she put the glass back on the table and picked up the next one. Nicholas�s eyes got wide as he watched her, and began laughing. �Easy killer, you keep going like that and you�ll really be paying for it tomorrow!�
�Sorry. The first one is always the hardest, had to get it over with.� She smiled.
A little while later, Nicholas pulled a slightly buzzed Jenna out on the dance floor. �I might be a little rusty.� Jenna told him. �It�s been a while.�
�It�s ok, I�m rusty too.� He told her.
They found an empty spot on the dance floor and started to move, a little awkwardly at first, but as the music played on, they started to loosen up and get more comfortable dancing. They were really getting into it when the music turned from a fast song to a slow one.
Nicholas looked at Jenna questioningly and asked �How about it?�
Jenna nodded and moved closer to Nick. He put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him, until her hips were touching his. She rested her hands on his shoulders as they moved to the music.
�Are you having fun?� He asked her, causing Jenna to look up into his eyes.
Jenna just looked into his eyes, remarking that even in the dark, she could see the beautiful shade of green that they were. �I�m having a great time. I don�t think I�ve ever had so much fun. Thanks for making me come out tonight.� Jenna looked away from Nick�s eyes, and laid her head on his shoulder. Her heart was racing as she smelled his cologne and ran her hands up and down his nicely muscled arms. She felt like her world was spinning out of control, and at that moment, she didn�t care. She picked her head off his shoulder and looked into his eyes again.
Nicholas tightened his arms around her waist and picked her up, just slightly off the ground and hugged her body to his. He nuzzled his face in her neck, just before putting her down. �You smell so good.� He moaned as he looked back into her eyes.
�So do you.� Jenna said breathlessly, the whole time the space between their lips lessening. Before either one knew what was happening, their lips touched in an explosive kiss.
Nicholas removed one of his hands from her waist and put it at the base of her head, on the back of her neck. He deepened the kiss, enjoying the tingling feeling in his lips, not to mention the rest of his body.
Jenna allowed Nick�s tongue to enter her mouth, and massaged it with her own. Every part of her body was reveling in the joy of what was happening at her mouth.
When neither could breath any longer, the kiss was broken. Both Nicholas and Jenna�s face registered the shock of what had just happened between them, and both were panting.
�I�m so sorry, I didn�t mean to do that.� Nicholas said.
�It�s my fault too. I�m sorry.� Jenna told him.
�This just isn�t the right time. I don�t want to ruin our friendship.� He explained.
�I know, me either. I think we just got carried away. How about we blame it on the alcohol and forget it ever happened?� Jenna suggested.
�That sounds good.� Nicholas told her but wondered if he would ever forget that marvelous kiss that awoke so many feelings in his body.
Jenna wondered the same. No man had ever made her feel like that just from a kiss before. �But it�s best for our friendship if we forget it ever happened, and I need him as a friend now more than ever.� She thought.
�Maybe we should head home, it�s getting late.� Jenna said.
Nicholas nodded and led her out of the club. When they got home, Nick walked her to her door to say goodnight.
�Thanks for tonight. I really did have a great time.� Jenna said.
�I did too. Thanks for coming with me. Tell Emma to come home when she wakes up in the morning, ok?�
Jenna nodded. �Good night.� She said, her voice a little shaky. She took her key out and unlocked the door.
�Night.� Nick said and left.
Jenna paid the babysitter and locked up the house when she left. She then headed to bed, for a long night of passionate dreams.