�Eva, c�mon,� Jacqueline said. �We�re going to miss the plane.�
�No were not,� Eva said from the bathroom of the hotel. �What�s your hurry anyway? Are ya getting married?�
�Not anytime soon,� Jacqueline said. �I just want to get out of here.�
�Nick, calm your girlfriend down,� Eva suggested.
�She�s been like this all morning,� Nickolas said.
�I just want to get home,� Jacqueline said. �Is that a crime? Five months on the road and I just want to sleep in my own bed again.�
�Join the club,� Alexander said, as Jacqueline walked from the room.
�She went down to the lobby this morning and came back in a hurry to leave,� Nickolas stated.
�Why?� Eva asked coming from the bathroom.
�I don�t know,� Nickolas said, as Jacqueline walked back in.
�Are you ready yet?� Jacqueline asked.
�Let me finish packing up and we can go,� Eva said. �You and Nick can go down awhile and Alex and I will meet you in the lobby.�
�Alright,� Jacqueline said. �C�mon, Baby.� She grabbed Nickolas� hand and led him to the door. �You have ten minutes.�
�Yeah, yeah,� Alexander said and Jacqueline and Nickolas walked out.
�What is her problem today?� Eva wondered.
�I wouldn�t know,� Alexander said. �Nick said she wasn�t feeling well this morning either. She�s probably just anxious to get home and get into her own bed and sleep.�
�Maybe so.� She put some things in her suitcase. �Actually she�s been sick the past couple mornings now that I think about it.� Alexander raised an eyebrow. �Yes she has.�
�Are you thinking she�s pregnant?� Eva grinned and shrugged. �They�re only twenty.�
�Yeah; I�m kind of hoping she ain�t though, because she really doesn�t want kids this young.�
�She might just have a stomach virus.� Eva nodded. �It�s probably nothing too serious or anything to really worry about.�
�You�re probably right. I just hope she feels better.�
�Nick will take care of her.�
�I know he will and I trust that he will.� She smiled and closed her suitcase. �Let�s go.� She picked up her suitcases and they walked from the room. Alexander closed the door, as they heard someone yelling. They looked and saw Jacqueline and Nickolas with another couple.
�I don�t care why you are here,� Jacqueline yelled. �You just stay away from me and Eva, understood? I don�t want you anywhere near her. �
�I�m here with my girlfriend on business, Jack,� the guy said. �I ain�t here to bother you or Eva.�
�You better not be,� Jacqueline warned. �Or you�ll be sorry. You hurt Eva once and I ain�t going to let you hurt her again.�
�Hey, what�s going on?� Alexander asked.
�Hey, Eva,� the guy said.
�Michael,� Lisa said very un-amused and putting her arm around Alexander.
�Guys, this is Michael,� Jacqueline said. �Michael, this is Nick and Alex.�
�Nice to meet you,� Alexander said.
�Like wise,� Michael said.
�We have a plane to catch,� Jacqueline said. �C�mon, Nick.�
�Nice seeing you girls again,� Michael said. �Hope to see you soon.�
�I wish I could say the same,� Jacqueline said. �It�s been three years since we last seen each other and I don�t care if I never see you again and I�m sure Eva feels the same way as I do.�
�Actually I do,� Eva said. �Goodbye, Michael.� They walked to the elevator and Michael watched them get on.
�So who was that?� Nickolas asked.
�Eva�s skuzzy ex-boyfriend,� Jacqueline replied. �He hurt her and he�s an ass.�
�What�d he do?� Alexander wanted to know and looking at Eva.
�He cheated,� Eva said without hesitation and Jacqueline looked at her, as the elevator doors shut.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�So I take it you really can�t stand Eva�s ex,� Nickolas said.
�That�s an understatement, Nickolas,� Jacqueline said. �I hate the guy. He hurt my best friend and the jerk doesn�t deserve to be happy.�
�Ain�t that a little mean to say?� She looked at him. �I guess not.�
�Eva walked in on him while he was in bed with another girl, that girl he was with. It was their anniversary and she went to surprise him at his parents place. She�s the one that got the surprise though.� She sighed and shook her head, hating the fact that she had to lie to Nickolas just because Eva wouldn�t tell the truth.
�You ok?�
�Mm-hmm; I�m just not feeling well.�
�We�ll be home soon and then you can rest.�
�Yeah.�
�I�m going to go to the restroom.� Jacqueline nodded. �Will you be all right by yourself for a few minutes?�
�Yes, Mr. Carter.� He smiled and gave her a kiss. �Go do your thing.� He got up and walked away. Jacqueline sat there a few seconds then looked over at Eva. �Hey, Ev?� Eva looked at her.
�What?� Eva asked.
�Come here.� Eva got up and walked over and sat in Nickolas� seat.
�What�s up?�
�I was thinking.�
�About what?� Jacqueline sighed and cleared her throat.
�About�about telling Alex what happened in��
�No.�
�Why not?�
�Because he doesn�t need to know.�
�Yes he does.� Eva shook her head. �Do you trust him?�
�Of course I do. I trust him just as much as you trust Nick.�
�Alright then so tell him.�
�I can�t.�
�It�s the only way you�re going to be able to deal with what happened.�
�Maybe so, but I can�t tell him.� Jacqueline sighed. �I just feel so dirty about the whole thing.�
�But it�s not your fault. You didn�t do anything to provoke him into hurting you.�
�I know that, but I just��
�I really think you should tell Alex. He�ll understand and be there for you. He ain�t going to make you feel less of a woman like that pervert did.�
�I know, but I still can�t tell him.�
�And I can�t keep lying to Nick. I tell him the truth about everything except for this. I don�t know how long I can do it anymore.�
�You can�t tell anyone.�
�But it�s Nick and Alex.�
�I know that, but it still can�t be done.� Jacqueline gave a disgusted sigh and sat there not saying anything a moment.
�Alright.� Jacqueline took a breath and Eva looked at her. �If you�re not going to tell Alex then I will.�
�No you�re not.�
�Hey, Ladies,� Nickolas said interrupting and they looked.
�Hey,� Jacqueline said grinning.
�I�m going to go back over to Alex,� Eva said getting up.
�You don�t have to leave on my account,� Nickolas said.
�It�s ok,� Eva said walking away. Jacqueline looked at Nickolas and he sat down.
�Everything ok?� Nickolas asked.
�Yeah,� Jacqueline said. �Everything�s cool.� She looked at him again, smiled, and sneezed.
�Bless you.�
�Thanks.� She sighed. �I really feel like shit.�
�I�ll get ya home and take care of you.�
�I know you will.� She put her arm in his and laid her head on his shoulder. �I just hope Alex can help Eva.� Nickolas looked at her confused and she closed her eyes.
CHAPTER 6
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