�No,� Jacqueline said. �I thought you did.�
�No.�
�Well doesn�t that just suck?� Eva joined Jacqueline in the parlor.
�Guess I can�t go now.�
�Not so fast.� Jacqueline picked up the phone and took a piece of paper from her pocket. �Nick gave me his cell number.� Eva shook her head. �I�ll just give him a call and ask for the address.� She smiled, as there was a knock. �You can get that.�
�Yeah, yeah.� Eva walked to the door and opened it up.
�Hey, Eva,� Kristin said.
�Uh, hey guys,� Eva said looking at Jacqueline.
�Come in,� Jacqueline said.
�Thanks,� Kristin said, as they all walked in.
�We realized that we didn�t give ya the address so we decided to come get you,� Kevin said.
�How did you get our address?� Lisa asked.
�Jackie gave it to Nick,� Brian replied and Eva looked at Jacqueline again, as she shrugged and grinned.
�Of course,� Eva said.
�Are you ready to go?� Alexander asked.
�She�s all set,� Jacqueline said. �She�s ready to party.�
�Something like that,� Eva said getting her purse.
�You go have fun,� Jacqueline said. �I�ll be fine here. I got Nick to keep me company.�
�Right,� Eva said.
�If he�s not too involved in his video games,� Howard said. �It takes a lot to get him away from them.�
�I�ll try my best,� Jacqueline said.
�Good luck,� Brian said.
�I ain�t that bad,� Nickolas said rolling his eyes.
�Whatever,� everyone said and Eva and Jacqueline laughed.
�I�m sure I can keep him occupied,� Jacqueline said. �We got a big ass pool outback.�
�She likes to go night swimming, Nick,� Eva began, �so I hope you brought your swimming trunks.� He just looked at them.
�We can find ya something,� Jacqueline said. �This is my uncle�s place so I�m sure his boys left something lying around.�
�Great,� Nickolas said.
�We could even go skinny dipping,� Jacqueline just blurted out and they all looked at Nickolas, as his face got all red. �Didn�t mean to embarrass ya there, Nicky.� She smiled. �I love going skinny dipping.� They laughed at her. �I�m just being honest.�
�Too honest,� Eva said. �Ya just met.�
�You�re right,� Jacqueline said. �I�ll wait a couple days to take ya skinny dipping.� They laughed again and Nickolas got more embarrassed. �I�m sorry again, Nick. Didn�t mean to embarrass ya there.�
�Right,� Nickolas said grinning.
�It ain�t gonna be that bad, Frack,� Brian said.
�It could be worse,� Alexander said and Nickolas looked at him. �You could be stuck with someone who wants to do more than skinny dip.�
�Actually that�s second on my list,� Jacqueline said and they looked at her.
�Oh great,� Nickolas said.
�I�m kidding,� Jacqueline said and they laughed. �Calm down, Nick.�
�Whatever,� Nickolas said.
�I think you�re gonna have your hands full tonight,� Howard said and Nickolas gave a sarcastic laugh. �But you�re gonna have fun; she�s hot.�
�Thank you,� Jacqueline said smiling.
�You�re crazy,� Eva said.
�I try,� Jacqueline said.
�Practice those moves and we�ll be back later,� Kevin said opening the door.
�See ya,� Jacqueline said.
�Behave,� Eva said.
�I always do,� Jacqueline said and Eva followed the others out and Jacqueline and Nickolas just looked at each other.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�So, Eva, are you having fun?� Alexander asked and she looked at him. �It�s just a question.�
�Yes I am,� Eva said.
�Then would you like to dance?�
�No, I would like to go to the ladies room if ya don�t mind.� She got up and walked away.
�She�s a feisty one, D,� Alexander said to his friend.
�Yes she is,� Howard said. �How are you handling that?� He shrugged. �Ya like her don�t ya?�
�Yeah, she�s cute.�
�Well it seems she doesn�t think you�re cute.�
�Give her time, D.�
�How much time? A few years perhaps?�
�She just needs to spend some time with me and see that I ain�t a bad guy.�
�No you�re not.�
�Exactly. When she sees I�m a good guy, then she won�t resist my charms.�
�What charms?�
�The ones you don�t have.� They laughed.
�I don�t think she really likes being your dance partner, man.�
�Tell that to Fatima; she paired us.� Howard nodded. �I could take Nick�s partner, but I think he�d be a little pissed.�
�Why�s that?�
�Because he won�t be able to spend time with Jackie.�
�True, true.�
�I think he liked that whole skinny dipping idea Jackie had, but he just didn�t want to admit it.�
�Ya never know. Nicky�s a quiet one when it comes to females.�
�Yes he is.�
�And speaking of females.� He pointed and Alexander looked to see Eva.
�God does answer prayers.� Howard shook his head.
�If you�ll excuse me, I�m gonna go find a dance partner.� He got up and walked away, as Eva sat down.
�Welcome back,� Alexander said and Eva just looked at him. �Sorry.�
�Why do you think you get every woman ya want?� Eva questioned.
�I don�t think that.�
�Whatever. You�re thinking you�re going to get me. Well I got news for you, pal, it ain�t going to happen so forget it and forget me. I have better things to do than going around wasting my time with a self-centered, conceited, sex-obsessed ass like you. If you don�t have anything intelligent to say to me then don�t speak to me at all.� Alexander went to speak, but Eva stopped him. �Don�t even call me on the phone or come near me. The only time you can talk to me or come near me is at work. Other than that forget it. The only reason I agreed to come along is for J so she can spend sometime with Nick. I didn�t want to come, but she talked me into it. Just the thought of being in the same room as you makes me want to puke. Just hearing your voice makes me want to puke. If I have to hear you or look at you I might puke and then have to slug you for making me puke. Am I understood?�
�To�� He stopped and nodded.
�Good.� She looked away from him. She waited a moment then got up and went to the dance floor.
�So how�s it going with Eva?� Brian asked and Alexander looked.
�I make her want to puke,� Alexander stated. �How do you think it�s going?�
�Awe, cheer up, Bone, it can only get better.�
�I hope so. I really like this girl, Rok.�
�I can tell.�
�There�s something different about her and that makes me attracted to her.�
�It couldn�t possibly be that she ain�t fake in anyway, could it?� Alexander looked at him. �Your other girls were fake, man, and you knew it.�
�Yeah I know.�
�Lisa�s almost the girl-next-door type and you�re loving that.�
�Yes I am. She�s beautiful on top of it too.� Brian nodded. �She�s also feisty and that just makes me want her more.�
�Of course, but how do you want her, Alex?� Alexander looked at him. �Do you just want her in bed or can you actually see yourself having a real relationship with her?�
�I can see having a real relationship with her.�
�Good; that�s step one.�
�What�s the next step?�
�Make her feel loved and wanted. Don�t hit on her or anything, but just do something for her out of the ordinary that she won�t expect from ya.�
�I can do that.�
�Good; just be her friend and take it from there. The best relationships are formed from friendships and they grow in time.� Alexander nodded thinking about his advice.
CHAPTER 3
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