�Be quiet a sec,� Nickolas said and we looked at him. �That sounds like my car.� He quickly got up and ran out.
�What in the world?� Aaron questioned, as we all got up and followed Nickolas. We got to the front door and saw Nickolas on the porch looking.
�Just great,� Nickolas said walking back inside. �Just great. This is terrific. Just because I have millions of dollars doesn�t mean people can steal my damn car.�
�Excuse us?� Brian said.
�Someone just stole my car,� Nickolas said. �So much for your great high security. Mine�s better than this. I need the phone.�
�Ev�s gone,� Leighanne said joining us.
�It wasn�t stolen, Nick,� Aaron said. �Ev just took it.�
�Hand me the phone,� Nickolas said and Brian did so. �I can�t believe her.� He started dialing numbers.
�You really pissed her off,� Aaron said.
�Ya think,� Nickolas snapped. �Pick up the phone, Evan.� We all left him go and went back into the kitchen.
�What�s going on with those two?�
�I don�t know,� Brian said shaking his head.
�Sexual tension,� Aaron said.
�What?� Brian questioned.
�Well sexual love tension,� Aaron said. �They�re in love with each other and want each other sexually. Any fool can see it when they�re together. Just like last night.� We looked at him interested. �Didn�t ya see �em? They couldn�t keep their hands off each other.�
�They�ve always been like that,� Brian said.
�Maybe so,� Aaron said. �But not like the past few times they�ve spent together in the past year and half or so. They�re constantly giving each other massages anymore. Gabi, you saw them last night.�
�Yeah.�
�They�ve been finding little ways to touch each other lately,� Aaron added. �When they don�t have to.�
�Turn the damn car around!� Nickolas yelled and we jumped.
�It�s getting to them now,� Aaron said. �I�ve also seen the way Nick�s been looking at her lately. It�s not that friendship look he always gave her, but that lovers look.�
�And you�re sure about this?� Brian asked.
�Definitely,� Aaron said. �You seen the way he was looking at her picture last night. You don�t look at your friends like that.�
�No you don�t,� Brian agreed.
�They�ll get over it. Evan�s in love with CJ and she�s getting married.�
�She�s in love with Nick,� Leighanne stated. �That�s why she never told him she�s getting married.�
�And Nick�s in love with her,� Brian added. �That�s why he�s taking it so hard.� I just looked at them. �Nick said she doesn�t even know if she loves him or is even making the right decision. She�d never lie to Nick. Even if she did he�d know right away.�
�She never said anything to me. She seems happy with CJ.�
�She can�t be too serious if she kept silent about him all this time,� Leighanne said.
�She is a pain in my ass,� Nickolas said stepping into the kitchen. �She hung up on me.�
�Well quit being an ass,� Aaron said. �She�s your best friend.�
�Get changed so we can go,� Nickolas said.
�Where?� Aaron asked.
�Home,� Nickolas replied. �So I can talk to Evvie.�
�To apologize?� Brian said.
�Yes,� Nickolas said walking out.
�He could never stay mad at her,� Aaron stated and he walked out also.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Nickolas�
I walked into Evangelique�s house, which was right next door to mine, and her two pugs, Frick and Frack, came running. I petted them for a moment and walked to the parlor, as they started barking. I walked into the parlor and saw Evangelique lying on the couch, asleep most likely. I walked over and she looked at me. I gave a little grin and she looked at the TV. I sat on the stand in front of her and she just looked at me.
�I was hoping I could apologize.�
�For what?� She coughed.
�The way I acted earlier.� She didn�t say anything. �I�m sorry I got angry at you and shit. I didn�t mean to.�
�Forget it. I ain�t mad anymore. I can�t stay mad at you very long and you know it.�
�I still wanted to apologize.�
�Then you�re forgiven. I�m sorry I took your car.�
�Don�t worry about it. You�re forgiven.� She gave me a grin. �Did you eat anything?�
�I can�t. I tried, but it wouldn�t stay down.�
�Did ya take your vitamins?�
�Yes; you sound like Jane.�
�She is my mother.� We smiled. �Do you need anything?�
�Just an extra cover.�
�Alright.� I got the extra cover off the couch and put it on her. �Anything else?� The pugs started barking.
�The thermometer.�
�Be right back.� I got up and walked to the bathroom as the dogs continued barking.
�Frick, Frack, shut up,� I heard Evangelique say, as I opened the medicine cabinet. I got the thermometer and saw a prescription bottle. I picked it up and saw Evangelique�s name on it. I read the name and sighed. Vitacin. Painkillers. I put it back and closed the cabinet. �Did ya find it?�
�Yeah.� I walked from the bathroom. I walked back to the parlor and sat on the couch beside her.
�What�s the face for?�
�Just wondering what the painkillers are for?�
�Oh; I hit my knee the other week and the pain started again.�
�The knee you injured when we went skiing a few years ago?� She nodded. �Oh.� I looked away from her.
�Now what?�
�Nothing.�
�Yes there is. What is it?�
�Are you sure it wasn�t Cameron?�
�CJ maybe a lot of things, but he ain�t a hitter.� I just looked at her. �No he didn�t hit me. I hit it off the kitchen counter. Ask Gabi.�
�How�d you do that?�
�Running after my niece and nephew. I took the turn to quick.�
�That I can believe.�
�Shut up.� She took the thermometer from me and put it in her mouth. The dogs jumped up on the sofa and laid down. I looked at the TV.
�What are watching?� I picked up the remote and turned on ESPN. Evangelique hit me and I looked at her. She glared at me and took the remote. I looked at the TV again and saw Tom Cruise. I shook my head and looked at back at Evangelique, who managed a grin. �Should�ve known.� I leaned across her and rested my arm on the back of the sofa, as I looked at her. She kept her gaze on the TV and I memorized every line on her face. �What do I have to do for you not to marry Cameron?� I said that without thinking twice and she looked at me. �I�m serious. What do I have to do? I really don�t want you to marry him.� She looked at me then her gaze went by me, as the thermometer beeped.
CHAPTER 10