CH 16

Nikolas went to the door, not sure who it could be because Gia wasn’t expected for another hour. But once again, Gia was standing at his door early, holding hands with Jake. Jake instantly ran to Nikolas, and Nik bent down to pick him up, saying hello to him when he did. “Sorry I’m early but it’s the damn bus schedule again, I barely had time to go get Jake from Carol’s before I made the bus. I didn’t even have time to change.” Gia said lifting up a bag in her hand. She was telling the truth this time. Nikolas knew that what Gia was telling him was necessary to be polite but he couldn’t help but be happy that she was talking to him. “It’s OK Gia come on in.” Nik said pulling the door open for her. Gia smiled at him slightly, causing his heart to pound. “You can change in the bathroom if you want.” Nik said pointing to it. Gia nodded and walked over to it. “OK buddy this place might look big and maybe a little scary but you make yourself at home OK?” Nik said as he carried Jake around the house. Jake nodded his head. Nikolas was thankful that his father was at his office at Cassadine Industries that evening, getting ready for a business trip in a couple of weeks. He wasn’t sure how his father would feel about a toddler being in his house so he just didn’t say anything to him about it. Another person, who seemed to have no idea that he was babysitting for Gia, was Brandon. Nik wondered if he would be upset, but didn’t care in the least if he was. Nikolas brought Jake into his family room and let him get down.

Gia knew she wouldn’t have time to change, so she knew she would have to improvise. She took off the top half of her uniform and got out of her bag, a black bodice style tub-top that lased up in the front. She put it on, leaving on her blue, black and gray plaid skirt; she replaced her whit knee-highs with a pair of black ones that were slightly shorter than her school ones. Putting her baby doll style shoes back on, she walked over to the mirror and let her braids down. Putting on a little makeup, some eye shadow and slightly glossy lipstick. She sighed as she looked at herself. Feeling naked with no sleeves on her arms, she nervously stepped out of the bathroom and went to find Nikolas and her brother.

Nikolas looked up at Gia when she walked in and his breath caught in his throat. She looked incredible. He watched as she nervously walked into the room and sat down Jacob’s diaper bag. Nikolas couldn’t speak as Gia walked up and knelt down next to Jake, his heart pounding as he watched her move. He couldn’t resist and brought his hand out to touch one of the braids that dangled near her face. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen Gia.” He breathed. Gia looked down sadly. “Jake has toys in here, I figured you wouldn’t have much for him to play with here so I packed some. He has snacks and of coarse there are diapers and wipes in there, along with a spare shirt just incase.” Gia ignored his complement. Nik sighed and nodded his head. “I don’t know how to change a diaper.” He said softly. “OK well I’ll show you real quick. Come here Jake.” Gia said holding her hands out to him. Nikolas came over and sat next to her on the floor so he could watch, and so that he could be closer to her. “No.” Jake said shaking his head. “Jake come on Nikolas wants to see how to change a diaper.” Gia said. Jake glanced at Nik and then walked over smiling as he lay down in front of Gia to let her change him. “OK first you flatten out the new diaper, I recommend putting it right next to him so you don’t have to hunt it down. If he squirms you might want to hand him something to distract him. Like a toy from the bag or something. So you pull his pants down obviously and then you removed these sticky tabs from the front and well take it off and wipe him.” Gia said as she took off the diaper. Nikolas had picked up the diaper bag and was looking inside it. “What’s this stuff in the tube?” Nik asked curiously as he held it up. Gia scrunched up her nose. “That’s rash cream, it smells awful.” She answered. Nik couldn’t help but smile at the look on her face. Gia felt her heart flutter and quickly looked forward again. “So, he doesn’t have a rash so you don’t need to use it, and it’s just wet this time but be prepared for a messy one. They can be nasty. OK so, you lift him up slightly and slip the new one under his butt, make sure that the picture is on the front and the tabs are in the back. So then you set him in the middle and lay him back down, and pull the front up to cover him up, and then just pull the tabs over on both sides.” Gia said, turning to Nikolas who was looking at them like she was teaching him chemistry. So content and serious. Gia couldn’t stop herself from letting out a laugh. “It’s not that hard Nik, besides you probably won’t even have to do it since I just did.” Gia said. Nik smiled at her, as she smiled at him. “OK so that’s it, we’re all done.” Gia said pulling up Jake’s pants and standing him up. Gia directed him to Nikolas and went to go throw the diaper in the trash in the bathroom and wash her hands. She then came back into the family room. “OK, I think that’s it, I’m going to go wait for Brandon in the other room.” Gia said looking at Nikolas who had just handed Jake a toy car. He stood up and walked over to her. “Can I talk to you for a second?” He asked. Gia glanced over at her brother. “Jacob stay in here and play with your car OK? Nik and I are going to talk for a minute in the other room.” Gia said. Jacob nodded his head and then got on his knees to play with his car.

Gia fallowed Nikolas into the entryway of his home and looked at him when he turned around to face her. “Gia, I don’t want you to go out with Brandon.” Nik said. Gia laughed. “OK I didn’t know this was going to be about you and I. I thought you were going to ask me something about Jake. I don’t really care what you want Nikolas.” Gia said turning around. Nikolas wrapped his arms around her from behind, sending Gia’s heart beat to speed into a rapid pounding. “I miss you Gia.” Nik whispered in her ear. “Don’t Nikolas, we were never together.” Gia said. Nik shook his head against her neck. “No we were, I know you and I have something special. I, I know I said mean things about you and I’m so sorry. I was just so frustrated and upset that you chose my brother over me that I acted out. I turned into the jerk I use to be before I met you. Please give me another chance Gia.” Nik pleaded, turning her around to face him. He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips. Gia said nothing as he pulled back, swallowing the lump in her throat, until she finally had a voice to speak. “I don’t think I can ever trust you again. I was so scared; you made me feel things I’ve never felt before. I just couldn’t trust my heart with you. I came to see you that night, to apologize and explain myself. But when I found you, you were saying so many mean things about me. And you let that girl think that Jake was my illegitimate child or something, like I was some teenaged slut. It hurt me Nikolas, it cut me so deeply and I just can’t trust that it won’t happen again. Your brother is nice to me and I really like him. I’m going out with him Nikolas, I’m sorry.” Gia said, walking away from him and going back to her brother. Nikolas cried silently for a while, just letting tears roll down his cheeks, but he soon composed himself and wiped his face with his hands, he too walked back to where Jake was.

Brandon walked into the house and was a little pissed at the news that Nikolas was going to watch Gia’s brother but he soon recovered. “Are you ready to go?” Brandon asked, coming up behind Gia and kissing her shoulder. He glanced up at Nikolas who looked like he was ready to kill him. “Yeah let me just say goodbye. OK Jake be good for Nikolas, I’ll be back in a little while OK?” Gia said bending down and giving him a kiss. “OK.” Jake said and then ran to Nikolas to be picked up. Gia glanced at Nikolas who wouldn’t take his eyes off of her as she stood there; she forced herself to turn away from him.

Gia was having a great time with Brandon but in the back of her mind, her thoughts lingered with Nikolas. He seemed so sincere when he apologized, so hopeless and desperate. She thought of the kiss they shared, so short and brief but it gave her taste of the kiss in the park, and her body reacted as strongly as it had then. She was so confused. “OK, we’re home.” Brandon announced pulling up to the house, and pulling Gia out of her thoughts. They sat in Brandon’s Corvette for a little while, silently. “So did you have a nice time?” Brandon asked. Gia looked over at him and smiled, they had talked and it was nice and easygoing but it wasn’t at all deep. “Yes, you know you’re pretty good at pool. Not as good as me though.” Gia teased. Brandon laughed. “OK so you’re better at pool but I’m better at miniature golf.” Brandon answered. The smile lingered on his face as he looked at her. “Can I kiss you Gia?” He asked softly out of nowhere, leaning in slowly. “Yes.” Gia said softly, a small smile curled at her lips. They came together and kissed, it soon became hot and passionate but when Gia felt his hand on her thigh, she freaked and pulled away. “I really should get going. I need to go get Jake.” Gia said. Brandon nodded. “OK.” He said breathlessly. He and Gia walked into the house to find Jake asleep in Nikolas’ arms, as he lay stretched out on the couch with him. Gia smiled at him. “You wore him out huh?” She asked softly. Nik smiled up at her weakly. “Yeah, we were busy. I took him to the stables and showed him the horses, we played with his toys, had a snack. He wanted a book and that’s what did him in.” Nik said. Gia nodded her head as she gathered up all of Jake’s things. She leaned over to take Jake from him. Nik closed his eyes briefly at their closeness as she hovered over him, but then opened them to admire her body, the top of her breasts showing and her half exposed thigh, touching his knee slightly. He inhaled her unique sent as she stood up quickly, pulling away from him with Jake in her arms. “Thank you Nikolas.” Gia said softly as she stood up fully. Nik nodded his head sadly and just stayed in his spot on the couch and watched her leave. Gia was thankful that he had stayed there or she might not have felt as freely as she kissed Brandon goodbye. “Goodnight Gia.” Brandon said as she smiled at him, caressing her face lightly. “Night.” She said softly and then left.