�Nickolas�
I rolled over and looked at Evangelique still asleep beside me. We always shared the same bed when we were together. Something we started as kids and never got out of. If she slept at my house she had to sleep in my sisters� room. It was the same if I spent the night at hers. We always managed to make it to the others room though after everyone was asleep. This time it was different though. I was in love with her and I had no idea how she felt. Deep down I was hoping she felt the same, but then again who was I kidding? She was marrying Cameron and I really couldn�t do a thing about it. I already told her I didn�t like him, but that ain�t working. I guess I did have to tell her how I felt, but I didn�t want to. I didn�t want to upset her. She was already upset and I didn�t want to add to it. I sighed and heard the door open. I looked up to see Brian.
�Leigh�s making breakfast if ya guys want to join,� Brian said.
�Yeah; Evvie�s still sleeping though. I�ll be down in a few minutes.�
�Alright.� He closed the door and I looked back at Evangelique.
Beautiful I thought. Well actually there weren�t words to describe her. It was just too impossible. I always thought she was the prettiest creature in the universe, but I never thought I would fall in love with her. I had to witness some hard things in my life, but the hardest will be watching her marry another guy. I highly doubt I�ll be able to do it. I got out of bed and put a shirt on. I left Evangelique sleep and left the room. I stopped at the bathroom first then made my way to the kitchen.
�Hey, Leigh.�
�Hey, Nick,� Leighanne said. �Is Evan still asleep?�
�Yeah; she was really stressed yesterday.�
�Is she all right?� I heard Brian ask and looked.
�She says she is, but I don�t know. She was really distant yesterday.�
�Maybe today will be better,� Leighanne suggested and I nodded.
�Hey, Quinnie,� She was Brian and Leighanne�s three year old daughter. �How�s my princess doing?�
�Tell Uncle Nick that your name is Quinn,� Brian said
�Quinn,� Quinn said reaching for me. I took her from Brian and sat at the table.
�Can you say �video games?�?�
�Games,� Quinn said laughing.
�Don�t be teaching my daughter that stuff,� Brian said.
�Why not? I am her Godfather. I got to teach her something.�
�Then teach her how to write her name,� Leighanne said. �Not video games.�
�Mommy and daddy need to lighten up,� She hugged me. �Uncle Nick will teach you all he knows.�
�This ought to be great,� Brian said. �She�ll be playing video games all her life and pounding on the drums.�
�There�s nothing wrong with that.�
�Morning guys,� I heard Evangelique�s voice and looked.
�Morning,� Brian said.
�God you look awful,� Leighanne said and I nodded in agreement.
�I feel awful,� Evangelique said sitting beside me. �I feel like vomiting.�
�Morning sickness,� Leighanne said and I looked at Evangelique.
�You�re funny, Leigh,� Evangelique said. �I also got this headache like a mack truck is going around in circles plus my whole body aches and my throat hurts.�
�They�re symptoms of the flu,� Brian said.
�Just what I need,� Evangelique complained.
�You and Cameron never�� Leigh wanted to ask.
�No,� Evangelique replied very quickly.
�Waiting until your wedding night?� Brian questioned.
�I guess so,� Evangelique answered.
�She�s only got a month.� Evangelique looked at me. �What?�
�Jealousy gets ya no where,� Evangelique said.
�Precisely,� Leighanne agreed.
�I ain�t jealous of the jerk. He�s controlling and bossy and conceited and tying to ruin your life.�
�I heard this all last night,� Evangelique said. �Don�t repeat it.�
�I think I�m going to go watch �My Best Friends Wedding�,� Brian stated and we looked at him. �Wait. Why put it in when I got it right here in my kitchen.� He laughed.
�Brian,� Leighanne said. �Stop it.�
�Sorry.� Brian apologized. �I couldn�t resist.�
�Of course not,� Evangelique said yawning. �I could sleep.�
�You just woke up.� She looked at me
�I think I�m going to call Trisha and tell her she�s in charge,� Evangelique said. �I got no VP.�
�Well you should,� Brian said.
�Why don�t you make Trisha your VP? And Shakira you head secretary.�
�I ain�t going to bother with that right now,� Evangelique said. �I�ll just wait until after the wedding.� Damn I hated that word since it wasn�t involving me and her.
�Evan, are you sure this Cameron guy is the right one?� Brian questioned and Evangelique just looked at him.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Evangelique�
I really didn�t want to have this conversation for the 100th time again since yesterday. It was really starting to piss me off and I hated it. Why did it really matter anyway? Didn�t they want me to get married and be happy? Why couldn�t I? They were and so were Alexander and Amanda and Kevin and Kristin. All three couples were happily married with children or expecting their first. That�s all I wanted. I wanted to be happily married. I was happy with Cameron. I was also really happy with Nickolas though. He always made me feel good no matter what�like last night. Why was I always thinking about Nickolas though when I thought about Cameron? It wasn�t fair.
�Ev, are you going to answer my question?� Brian interrupted and I looked. �Are you sure Cameron is the right one?� I looked at the three of them.
�Of course; we�re happy.� But I was so unsure. How I hated to lie in front of Nickolas.
�Then what was yesterday?� Nickolas questioned me.
�Just a disagreement.�
�He had you pissed,� Nickolas replied.
�Pissed,� Quinn said and we looked at her.
�Way to go.� Brian took his daughter.
�The great Cameron had you so ticked off last night,� Nickolas rebutted. �I�ve known you 21 years and that was no disagreement. We have disagreements.�
�CJ and I had a minor disagreement.�
�He tried to replace your office furniture and tried telling the both of us that after you�re married you won�t need to bother with me anymore.�
�He does that.�
�Bull; you�re a horrible liar, Evan. He replaced all our pictures together with you and him or just him. I did not see one picture of us together.� I just looked at him. �He�s a prick and you�re my best friend. I�ll be damned if I let him or anyone come between us.�
�You�re being an ass, Nick.�
�I�m being an ass?�
�Yes; that�s all you�ve been doing since you found out that I�m getting married.�
�Maybe it�s because I didn�t hear it from you.�
�I was going to tell you.�
�When? On the day of the wedding? Perhaps a day or even a month after.�
�I don�t know, but I was.�
�Right; you had a year to tell me yet you didn�t. I had to hear it from a guy I never met before who happens to be the fianc�. I feel so loved to you.�
�You�re being an ass. I ain�t continuing this.� I got up as Gabrielle and Aaron walked in.
�This is just a disagreement, Sugar Bear, and you get all pissy ass.�
�No, this is a fight, something we don�t do. Not only do I hate it, but I ain�t feeling well.�
�Evvie.� Nickolas got up, as I started walking away.
�I�d appreciate it if you just leave me alone.� I walked out and went upstairs. I went into the bedroom and laid on the bed a moment thinking. It didn�t last long as I got up and changed. I got Nickolas� car keys out of his pants pocket and left the room. I went downstairs and by the kitchen where I heard talking. I didn�t pay any attention and went right out the front door.
CHAPTER 9