Chapter Eighteen
�Well, well, well. What do we have here?� AJ said as he nudged Howie�s arm. Howie took his gaze off of the stewardess he was eyeing, and looked at what AJ was pointing to. Tanna was pulling away from Brian, and he reached up to brush her cheek.
�We turn our backs for a minute, and look what happens! You just can�t leave them alone for a minute!� Howie chuckled.
�Youth today!� AJ said in the voice of and old man, shaking his head.
Everybody arrived at about the same time and all commented about the time.
�Well�� Mackenzie started.
�Yeah. Thanks for coming guys.� Drew said.
�It was a blast!� Tanna agreed.
�Well, thanks for putting up with us.� Nick responded.
�Oh, yeah. It was just such a hassle, wasn�t it, girls?� Tanna rolled her eyes. The other girls agreed laughingly.
Just as the guys were about to retort, a speaker on the intercom interrupted to announce the flight to Florida.
�That�s our cue,� said Kevin. Everyone agreed and began to hug goodbye.
The last person Drew hugged was Nick. �I love you.� he whispered in her ear, and kissed her.
�I�ll call you tonight.� Kevin whispered to Mackenzie as they hugged and he kissed the tip of her nose.
Brian and Tanna hugged each other last. �Trust me.� was all he said as he kissed her softly and tenderly.
Last call was announced over the intercom and the boys gathered their carry-on bags. They headed toward the gate as the girls waved goodbye. Just as Nick was about to go through the door, he turned and ran back.
Drew gave him a puzzled look. Nick bent down and kissed her fiercely, and Drew responded. When they broke apart reluctantly, it was because of Kevin calling from the door. Nick pressed a wad of money into Drew�s hand. �Money for the cab ride home.� He bent down and pressed another quick kiss to her lips, then ran to catch the flight.
The four guys walked onto the plane quietly and stowed their gear. Just as the flight attendants were about to shut the plane door, Nick dashed through, breathless. The guys looked up from their seats and shook their heads at him.
Howie and AJ were seated in one row, and the other three sat together in another. The rest of the seats on the plane were relatively empty. Kevin kept silent until the plane had taken off. Then he turned to Nick with a furious look on his face.
�What exactly did you think you were doing back there?�
�When?� Nick asked cautiously.
�When Mackie and I found you and Drew.� Kevin qualified.
�Uh, saying goodbye to my girlfriend?�
�Guys, don�t ruin a great week.� Brian interrupted, as Kevin was about to lash into Nick.
�Fine. But we will discuss this eventually.� Kevin promised Nick.
Satisfied that he had forestalled the clash of wills for the time being, Brian leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. Nick shot Kevin a smug look, and picked up a magazine. Kevin glared back and turned to look out the window.
�Gee, he�s taking over my role as peacemaker.� Howie said, amused. Brian and AJ chucked, and even Kevin and Nick cracked a smile.
After watching the plane that the boys were on take off, Drew, Tanna, and Mackenzie went to catch a cab outside the terminal.
�So�� Drew looked expectantly at Tanna.
�What?� Tanna answered.
�What was that all about?�
�What was what?� Tanna asked innocently as a taxi pulled up and the girls climbed in.
�The kiss and the comment that Bri made about trust.� Drew continued after Mackenzie had told the driver their destination.
�Would you believe he told me to trust him about passing math this year and it was a good-luck kiss?� Tanna looked at Drew hopefully.
Mackenzie and Drew looked at each other, turned back to Tanna, and gave her identical looks. �Not bloody likely!�
�Hmm.� Tanna shrugged. �It was worth a try!�
�No, no. You�re not understanding me.� Drew said. �You�re not getting off that easily. Talk! Now!� she wagged her finger under Tanna�s nose.
�What do you want to know?� Tanna continued to stall.
�Hello!? I�m earth, have we met? Everything!!� Mackenzie and Tanna laughed at the expression on Drew�s face as she spoke.
�Well, would everything include the fact that he convinced me to go out with him?�
�What!� Drew shrieked. When the driver looked over his shoulder reproachfully, she muttered an apology and turned back to Tanna. �When did that happen?�
�I�m guessing while you were elsewhere in the airport, saying �goodbye�.� Mackenzie said dryly.
�That�s so good!� Tanna grinned at her.
�Shut up! I�m serious.� Drew retorted.
�Well, after you and Nick left, and then Mackenzie and Kevin went too. It was just Bri, AJ, Howie, and I left sitting there��
�Don�t tell me that he asked you in front of those two dolts!� Mackenzie interrupted.
�No, he didn�t. Howie said that he had to call home, and that AJ should check out the magazine racks with him, so they left.� Tanna continued with her story. �He was so cute! He kept hesitating, and using fractured phrases. Then he just came out and asked, all in a rush.�
�Yeah, sounds like him.� Drew and Mackenzie agreed.
�The reason he was telling me to trust him when we said goodbye, was because I told him about how I felt about long distance relationships. I told him I was really wary because of my experience with Charles, and that I wasn�t sure about jumping into another one right away.�
�And what did he say about that?� Drew asked, impatiently.
�That he knew that Charles had hurt me, but that he wasn�t anything like Brian. Plus he said that he would never do anything to hurt me. That was the trust part.� Tanna finished.
�Wow.� Mackenzie said.
�He actually said that Charles was nothing like him?� Drew asked. �You do realize that he totally ripped that off one of their songs, don�t you?�
�Yeah, I do. But that doesn�t make it any less meaningful. Just because he�s not original...� Tanna answered.
�Don�t bust her bubble, Drew.� Mackenzie admonished.
�Sorry.� Drew almost looked contrite.
�Well, anyway. What about you guys? When you four got back, Kev wasn�t looking all that pleased.� Tanna changed the subject.
�Oh, that. It�s just that him and Mackie interrupted Nick and I as we were saying goodbye.� Drew said, dismissing that subject.
�So that�s what they�re calling it now.� said Mackenzie laughingly.
�Let me guess, you two were in a somewhat compromising position?� Tanna looked to Mackenzie for confirmation. Mackenzie was nodding. Drew stuck out her tongue.
�Well, at least it wasn�t as bad as last night.� Mackenzie said to Drew, �I can�t believe that you would do that. Do you think at all?�
�Mackenzie Dawn, you�re sounding a lot like Kevin.� Drew said in a low voice.
�And you�re point is? On this subject, he�s right. You two should have thought it through. It was a stupid move!�
Before Drew could answer, Tanna held up her hands. �Could someone please tell me what�s going on? What happened last night? And why are you calling Mackie by her full name, Drew?� Mackenzie began to explain what she and Kevin had walked in on the night before. As Tanna listened, her eyes grew wider and wider until she turned to Drew. �Drew Faith McClaren!�
Chapter Nineteen