I opened my eyes and realized I was still in Evangelique�s bedroom. I yawned and stretched and looked at the clock on her stand, after seven. I looked at Evangelique and noticed she was still sleeping. I smiled and pushed the hair from her face. I just couldn�t get over how beautiful she was�inside and out. It was impossible. The past couple of months I have realized how much I love her. If I could just tell someone how I felt for Evangelique I�d probably feel a little better about this thing. I mean, I would get it out and not be holding it inside all to myself. I sighed and picked up the phone. I dialed Brian�s number and waited for an answer.
�Hello?� came Leighanne�s voice.
�Hey, Leigh, it�s Nick.�
�Hey, Nick. What are you doing calling from Eve�s private line?�
�Oh, I�m with her right now.�
�Is everything all right?�
�Yeah, everything�s fine. I was just wondering if Brian�s home.�
�Yeah, hold on a second and I�ll get him.�
�Thanks.� I looked over at Evangelique and she was looking at me.
�Did I say you could use my phone?� Evangelique asked me and I smiled.
�Well I thought that since you�re asleep I�d sneak a call in.�
�Right.� She got up and I watched her walk into the bathroom.
�Yo, Nick,� came Brian�s voice over the phone and I jumped.
�Hey, man.�
�What�s up? Everything all right with Evan?�
�Yeah, things are cool.�
�Good.�
�I was wondering if I could talk to ya about something.�
�Yeah; what is it?�
�Uh�I really don�t want to get into over the phone. Could ya come down here?�
�Sure. Actually Leigh wants to go down to check on Evan.�
�Oh.�
�We�re getting ready to leave now so I�ll see ya in a bit.�
�Alright, see ya.� I heard a click on Brian�s end and turned off the phone. I looked up and saw Evangelique walk from the bathroom. �How are ya feeling?�
�Like shit,� she said lying on the bed next to me. She laid there a couple seconds then climbed under the covers.
�Are you sure you�re all right?�
�I�m just cold.�
�Should I start you a nice warm bath?�
�I�ll be fine.� She put her head under the covers and the phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and shook my head. �Who is it?�
�Porter, Cameron J S.�
�Let it ring.�
�Alright.� I put the phone back on the stand and looked at the picture of Evangelique and Cameron. �Why don�t ya want to talk to him?�
�Because he�ll probably just say something that�ll make me angry like he�s been doing the past month.�
�Maybe you shouldn�t get married.�
�Nickolas Gene.�
�What?� I smiled and she looked at me. �Sorry; you don�t want to talk about it.�
�No I don�t.�
�Alright we won�t.�
�Thank you.� She turned from me and put her head under the covers. �Nick?�
�Yeah.�
�Why�d you take me to Paris on V-Day?�
�I wanted you to have a great holiday and you always wanted to go.�
�Why�d you really take me to Paris on V-Day?�
�I just told ya, Sugar Bear.� And it was the truth. I had no idea what was going to happen that night. It�s been five years, but I still can�t believe what happened. Why did I let it happen? I didn�t understand.
�Did you have intentions of sleeping with me that night?�
�No I didn�t.� She sat up and looked at me.
�Why not?� I looked at her shocked by the question. Why not? She�s my best friend. You don�t plan on sleeping with your best friend. At least I didn�t plan on it. �Don�t you think I�m attractive?�
�You know I think you�re sexy.� I smiled. �No one can say any different.�
�If you didn�t have any intentions on it then why did ya?� I just looked at her not really knowing what to say.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Evangelique�
�Why did ya?� I wanted to know and looked at Nickolas closely for any kind of response. I didn�t find one though which was unusual, because I always do. �It�s been five years and I think I have a right to know why you slept with me exactly.�
�It just happened. I had no plans on it and I don�t think you did either.� He had a point there. �It was just a stupid mistake between best friends. A stupid sexual mistake.� A mistake? What a jerk. I could kill him right now. He took away my innocence and now it was a mistake. How he knows how to piss me off. �But on the other hand, Sugar Bear, it was a great exciting stupid sexual mistake.� I looked at him and he smiled. �If I had to do that day all over again and got to change one thing, I wouldn�t change anything. I love the way it happened.� He continued smiling and kissed my nose.
�I wouldn�t change anything either.� I smiled and laid back down pulling the covers up to my neck.
�Don�t move.� He got up and I watched him leave the room. I looked over at the picture of me and Cameron and sighed. Was I really making the right decision like I thought I was? I had no idea. No guy could make me as happy as Nickolas can. Not even Cameron. Perhaps it�s Nickolas who is my soul mate.
�No!� I said out loud. �Don�t even go there. He�s your best friend and nothing more.� I looked pass the picture of me and Cameron to the one of me and Nickolas and I smiled. I moved over to the nightstand and switched the pictures around. What was I doing? I was marrying Cameron and not Nickolas. Nickolas was my best friend and nothing would change that. Not a thing. I wasn�t in love with him and he wasn�t in love with me. I did love that night between us though. It was incredible. It was magical. Something from a fairytale.
�Alright, Sugar Bear.� Nickolas came back into the room and I looked at him. �Open up.�
�Excuse me?� He held up the thermometer. �I�m fine. Really I am.�
�Don�t give me that. I got to check it.�
�Ugh!� I put my head under the covers. �You don�t need to take care of me.�
�It�s a habit. I take care of you and you take care of me.� He pulled the cover down and I looked at him. �It was always like that and it ain�t changing.�
�Of course not.�
�So open up.� I opened my mouth and he put the thermometer in. �You ain�t fighting me this time.� I just shrugged. �After your temperature is taken its medicine time.� I made a face and Nickolas chuckled. �I never met anyone like you. You throw a fit about�well about basically everything.� I shook my head. �Don�t give me that. You�re having a fit about this. You�re having a fit about me hating CJ, the wonderful fianc�. You had a fit when I dated Meadow, Zo�, Carly, Fallon, Clear, Leila, and Teresa.�
�Don�t forget Horizon.�
�I try to forget that one.� The thermometer beeped and Nickolas took it out.
�They were all wrong for you.�
�103.7; your temp�s going back up.�
�None of them appreciated you for you. They just wanted to get a BSB into bed.�
�But none of them succeeded.�
�Just me.� He smiled.
�Yeah; just you.� He put his hand on my cheek and I just looked at him. �I just can�t get over how beautiful you are.�
�Stop.� He continued smiling and took his fingers through my hair. I always loved the way it felt. It gave me chills. He just looked at me and got all serious. He leaned closer to me and I saw something different in his eyes. I couldn�t explain what it was. It was just different and something I never saw before.
�Wow.� He took his thumbs over my lips and got even closer.
He went to kiss me and we heard Gabrielle, �Hey, Ev, CJ�s on the phone.� We looked. �Do you want to talk to him?�
�Um�not at the moment.�
�Alright.�
�Just tell him I�m resting.�
�Ok.�
�And that her temp�s up to 103.7,� Nickolas added.
�Ok again,� Gabrielle replied.
�Don�t tell him that.�
�Why not?� Gabrielle asked.
�Because then he�ll just rush over. I really don�t want him here.�
�I understand.� She smiled. �I�ll go tell him and you two just have fun together. I�m also sorry for interrupting.� She continued smiling and walked out.
�What was that about?� Nickolas asked.
�I don�t know.�
�Neither do I.� He sat up. �Why don�t ya take your medicine and then get some more rest.� He handed me my medicine and I took it. �Thank you.� I just grinned. �I�ll go make ya something to eat and be right back.�
�I ain�t hungry.�
�Alright, but the doctor said to make sure you eat.�
�I�m not hungry.�
�I ain�t going to argue.�
�Good; I�ll just lay here and debate over getting up and getting a bath or not.�
�Ok; if ya need me or anything just holler.�
�I�ll try.�
�Alright.� He kissed my cheek, got up, and left the room.
CHAPTER 15
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