Chapter 24

The dinner with the Carter Family had only strengthened what Nick felt for Gwen.  The rest of the week had been perfect, Nick had found out that the Backstreet Boys had been nominated for the Grammy Awards, the show was a week from Sunday.  It was Friday and Gwen's last night in Florida.  Nick wanted to make it special and he wanted to ask her to go to the Grammy Awards with him.

"Where are we going?" Gwen asked as they drove down the road, she was blindfolded.

"Its a suprise."

"UGH!  This isn't fair Nick!"

Nick just laughed as he stopped the car.  He walked around to her side and helped her out.  She was wearing a royal blue satin dress.  They walked for about 10 minutes, hand in hand, before Nick removed the blindfold.  They were on a secluded beach, all that you could see was sand and water.  Nick walked to the center of what seemed to be the most gorgeous place Gwen had ever been.  She looked down and saw a blanket surrounded by candles.  There was a wicker picnic basket sitting on it and a bottle of champange sat in a bucket of ice.  "How did you do all of this without me knowing?" Gwen asked.

"I have my ways," Nick said with a smile, "good friends help."

Gwen wrapped her arms around Nick and held him tightly.  They just stood there holding eachother, knowing that this would be one of the last times they would be able to be together like this for a while.  Neither one of them felt the need to acknowledge the situation, they just wanted to enjoy eachother.

After they ate, Nick said, "There's something I want to ask you."

"Go ahead," she was worried, hoping that it wouldn't be the question that she thought it was.

"Well, you know how we were nominated for three Grammy's right?" Gwen nodded and felt relief spread over her body, "You see, the awards are in LA a week from Sunday and I want you to go with me."

"Sure, I would love to."

"And people are going to talk when they see me with someone, I just wanted to make sure you knew that and you were OK with that."

"Well, I know that this is a highly publicized even, and I also know how important it is to you - Nick, I want to be there for you whenever you need me, that is the promise I made when I gave you this," she said as she touched the ring on his finger.

"Good, I just don't want you to feel obligated.  And with the news of AJ's recent engagement, we won't be the center of attention.  Not the mention the fact that the media has gotten used to us having girlfriends."

"You are making a big deal out of nothing, it will be fine Darlin', I do PR for a living," she said as she leaned in to kiss him.

Chapter 25
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