~~~~Two Lives, One Heart ~~~~

Chapter Twenty~Four


For the next two weeks, Nick called Elisha twice a day. Brian had to stop him from calling more often. He was always full of funny stories about live on the road, things that had happened and people they had met. Of course, Elisha loved his tales and couldn't wait for his calls each day. Nick told her everything, including some things about the guys and their girlfriends that she probably shouldn't know. He did manage to keep one thing from her, and he forbid the others to mention it. Mandy had been hanging around him backstage and pestering him to sleep with her. Trying to convince him that Elisha would never know, that he needed someone to take care of his "needs". He brushed her off and so far, she had behaved, but he stayed on his guard.

Elisha had talked to Dan and managed to work her schedule so that she could take two weeks off, instead of two days. She couldn't wait to surprise Nick with the news. Once she was in Detroit, she checked in with management at the hotel and got Nick's room number.

"Is he in or do I need to get a key?" she asked.

"Are you kidding? He told us he wasn't going anywhere until you showed up because he didn't want to miss you. He can't wait!"

Elisha chuckled.

One of Mandy's backup dancers was just entering the lobby as Elisha hung up the white courtesy phone. She waited until Elisha entered the elevator and picked up the phone.

"She's here!" the dancer hissed into the phone. "And she's on her way up to his room - hurry!"

Mandy took the stairs two at a time and ran to Nick's room. She banged on the door, keeping an eye on the elevator. "Elisha?"

He yanked the door open, his face fell when he realized who was standing there.

"Get lost, will you? I'm expecting someone."

He waved his arm, dismissing her, and moved to shut the door. Mandy noticed the elevator doors sliding open and stuck her foot in Nick's way. She grabbed him around the waist and pulled him towards her, kissing him on the mouth and moaning for effect. Elisha's eyes widened in shock when she saw the two of them embracing in the doorway. Nick saw her and shoved Mandy aside, banging her head on the doorframe. Elisha had begun to run down the hallway towards the stairs.

"Elisha, wait!" Nick caught her arm and spun her around to face him. "It's not what you think!" he panted. "I thought it was you when I opened the door, she grabbed me!"

Elisha backed away from him. "How could you?"

Nick looked hurt. "Don't you believe me? I would never do anything to hurt you."

She studied his face. He never had done anything to hurt her. This was probably the exact way Mandy wanted her to react. The more she thought about it she figured that Mandy had planned this.

"I'm sorry, Nick." She shook her head slowly. "I over-reacted. It was just a shock. That wasn't exactly the way I pictured our reunion. I'm so sorry."

Nick hugged her tight and whispered in her ear. "She means absolutely nothing to me, sweetheart. She has been trying to hook me, but I turn her away. Someone must have tipped her off that you were here." He encircled her shoulders with his right arm and picked up her suitcase with the other. "Let's go get you settled, okay?"

Mandy watched the scene unfold with envy. As the couple drew closer she started moaning and cradling her head in her hands.

"Nick, I'm hurt, help me!"

Elisha swept right past her as Nick bent down to talk to her. Elisha turned and watched, curious.

"I'm sorry, Mandy" he said, solemnly.

Mandy beamed and tossed a triumphant look in Elisha's direction.

Nick continued. "But you need to leave or I'll have no choice but to call security and inform them that a crazy fan won't leave me alone!"

Elisha cracked up, the look on Mandy's face was priceless. Nick patted Mandy on the shoulder and stood up.

Looking at Elisha, he said, "Let's go in, shall we?"

Once they were locked in the hotel room, Nick embraced her. "I'm sorry your visit had to start that way."

Elisha laid her head on his chest and held him tightly. She had no idea she missed him this much, until this very moment. "I'm sorry I over-reacted. I know you would never do anything like that."

Nick had gone ahead and made dinner reservation for the two of them, so they quickly changed and ushered a limo to the restaurant. Midway through the meal an elegant looking man approached their table.

"Elisha? Elisha Martin?"

She looked up from her meal and almost choked. "Dennis? Oh my God, I haven't seen you in ages!"

She stood and they hugged, awkwardly, Nick noticed. He cleared his throat.

"Dennis, this is my boyfriend, Nick Carter."

The two men shook hands and Elisha laughed at Nick's goofy smile.

"Excuse me for a minute, I need to use the restroom."

Elisha watched Nick leave with a small smile playing on her lips. Dennis sat down in the vacated chair.

"He's a little young for you, isn't he?"

"I never noticed." She said brightly. "He treats me like a queen, which is more than I can say for you."

"Now, let's not get into that, it was so long ago!" Dennis chuckled.

Elisha smiled grimly. "But not forgotten."

Nick returned a few moments later and stood behind Elisha, rubbing her shoulders.

"Well, I should be going. Nice to meet you, Nick." Dennis leaned over to kiss Elisha and she stuck her hand up instead.

"Lovely to see you again. Dennis, goodbye."

Nick sat and dug into his steak. "Who was that disease?" he asked.

Elisha laughed. "You got it exactly right. He's an old boyfriend."

"Why did you break-up?"

"He was kind of like your Miss Temper. Wanted me to keep myself for him and him alone, but it was perfectly fine for him to sleep with anything in a skirt."

Nick nodded knowingly. "Sorry."

"Hey! Be sorry if I stayed with him, not because I left."

"I would be sorry if you stayed with him. I never would have meet you otherwise. You'd probably be married and have three kids by now!" he teased.

"Ugh!" Elisha shuddered at the thought.

Nick giggled at the look on her face. "Don't you want to get married?"

"Yes, someday, but to someone like you, definitely not like him!" She gestured over her shoulder to Dennis, chatting up a woman a few tables away.

Nick's eyes twinkled. "That's what I like to hear!"

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