�Maybe it is your fault,� Dakota snapped and Nickolas looked at her dumbfounded.
�How so?�
�You�re the one that went out with Mandah and didn�t dump her when she started her shit. This is your entire fault that your sister has a problem with the girls you date. I�m going to tell you right now, I�m not going to be the one she has a problem with. You can find someone else.� She walked away.
�Ugh! Kota!� He ran after her again. �Please wait!� She didn�t stop and he picked her up from behind.
�Put me down! Now!� She kicked her feet, but Nickolas didn�t put her down and people looked. �I swear I�ll scream if you don�t put me down.�
�Why would you?�
�Put me down, Carter!�
�Then listen!�
�Fine, now put me the hell down.� Nickolas set her on her feet and made her look at him.
�This is not my fault for what BJ is doing. Yes I dated Mandah and it was the worst time of my life. I don�t know why I never dumped her when she started her shit. All I know is that I don�t want to have anything to do with her anymore. As far as I�m concerned you are my future right now and hopefully for a very long time to come. I loved being with you these past few days. When I saw you on that beach I couldn�t believe what I was seeing. I��
�Save the flattery. I already told you I ain�t going to be the one BJ has a problem with.�
�Well I want to be with you whether you want to be with me or not. I ain�t going to let you walk out of my life like this. Not this way. Not because of my sister or because of my whole family. Not even because of what Mandah did. I want to be with you and no one else.�
�You don�t get it do ya? As long as your sister has a problem with me I ain�t going to be happy. I shouldn�t have to prove myself to anyone.�
�She�ll learn to like you just like everyone else does. My family loves you and MyKenna. Besides my music and my family, you�re the best thing that has ever come into my life. I mean it from the bottom of my heart.� Dakota looked at him. �God I must have it bad. I never said anything like this in my entire life. I mean every word of it.�
�Why?�
�I�m spilling my heart out to you in the middle of downtown Tampa and you ask �why�. What do I have to do to make you realize what�s happening here?�
�I don�t know. I just don�t know.�
�Last night was the best night of my life. Having you in my arms the whole night was the best feeling in the world. I didn�t want the night to end. I stayed up the whole night just watching you sleep. I was studying every line on your face and memorizing it a million times over. I never met anyone like you in all the cities, in all the countries, in the entire world I have been. You have something that no one else does.�
�And what�s that?�
�I have no idea, but I know it�s something I want the rest of my life.�
�I�ll give you 24 hours to prove to me that I am something special to you. If I ain�t satisfied with what you come up with I�m gone and you�ll never see me again.� Nickolas just looked at her. �24 hours, Nick. It better be good for your sake.� He watched her walk away and stood there a few moments alone.
�Is this the part where I have to tell her how I really feel? Or do I just let her slip away?� He
shook his head and went back to Hungry Howie�s where MyKenna and Aaron were waiting.
�How�d it go?� Aaron asked. �Where is she?�
�She�s giving me 24 hours to prove to her that�s she�s something special to me,� Nickolas replied. �How do I do that? I never felt this way about a girl before. She said if she ain�t satisfied then she�s gone and I�ll never see her again.�
�This is the part where ya tell her ya love her,� MyKenna said with a smile.
�Yeah right,� Nickolas said.
�You already know she loves you, Nick,� Aaron said. �Now you have to let her know.� Nickolas left out a disgusted sigh.
�I don�t know what to do to prove to her,� Nickolas said.
�You�ll think of something if ya don�t want to tell her,� MyKenna said.
�I can�t tell her. It�s only been, like, three days.�
�Do ya want me to help ya out?�
�I�ll help to, Bro,� Aaron said.
�Thanks guys,� Nickolas said.
�What do you want us to do?� MyKenna asked.
�I have no clue. I wish I did though.�
�For starters, he favorite flowers are red roses.� Nickolas looked at her. �She loves the wild berry skittles.� Nickolas didn�t say anything. �I�m just trying to help. They�re just two of her favorite things, minus you of course.�
�Thanks. I�ll keep them in mind.�
�Good.�
�I think I have an idea,� Aaron said and they looked at him, as he smiled.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Hey, DJ,� MyKenna said.
�Hmm?� Dakota said in return.
�Do you care if I go to a movie with Aaron tonight?�
�Whatever.�
�I don�t want to go if you�re not going to be fine with it.�
�I can�t stop ya. Just because I�m having a crisis doesn�t mean you have to stop your life for me. Go have fun with Aaron. I�ll be fine by myself.�
�Are ya sure?�
�Yeah. I�ll find something to do.� She smiled.
�Well Aaron will be here any minute.� She looked at Dakota, as she turned the TV on. �Nick�s coming by also.� She waited for a response, but got none. �Perhaps you would like to ride along while he takes us to the theater.�
�I�ll be fine here.�
�Are ya sure?�
�Yeah.�
�Alright, it was just a suggestion.�
�Right.�
�I can�t force ya to be with Nick if ya don�t want to be with him anymore. It�s your decision and not mine.� Dakota looked at her. �I�d like for you to be with him, but if you don�t want to then I�ll live with it. You guys make a cute couple though.� Dakota didn�t say anything and looked back to the TV, as there was a knock on the door. �I�ll get that.� MyKenna got up and walked to the door. She opened it up and saw Aaron standing there. �Hey come in.�
�Thanks,� Aaron said giving her a kiss, as he walked in. �You ready?�
�Yeah,� MyKenna said.
�Hey, DJ,� Aaron said.
�Hey,� Dakota said.
�Where�s Nick?� MyKenna asked.
�In the truck,� Aaron replied. �He didn�t want to come up. He was afraid DJ would yell at him if he did.� They looked at Dakota, but she said nothing. �Will you be all right by yourself, DJ?�
�Yes,� Dakota stated annoyed.
�Ok, just making sure. I am taking your friend away for a few hours.� Dakota nodded. �Here take this.� He handed her a phone and she looked at him.
�What do I want with that?�
�If ya get lonely or scared just use that to call us.�
�I got the hotel phone.� She pointed to it.
�Well if you decide to go out and it feels like you�re being followed or something. I want you to feel safe.�
�Well I don�t have your number.�
�Right, got a piece of paper?�
�Yeah hold on,� MyKenna said getting a piece. She gave him the piece of paper and he wrote a number on it. He gave it to Dakota and she looked at it.
�That�s my cell number,� Aaron replied. �Call if you need anything at all.�
�Are you forgetting I�m 21?� Dakota questioned.
�No,� Aaron said. �Ain�t I allowed to worry?� She shrugged. �We�re going to �Terminator 3� so ya know.�
�Alright,� Dakota said. �Behave too.�
�We will,� MyKenna said. �I�ll see ya later.� Dakota nodded and MyKenna and Aaron walked out. MyKenna shut the door and looked at Aaron. �Are you sure this is going to work?�
�No,� Aaron snickered, as they walked to the elevator. �You said it yourself, she�ll most likely be afraid to be by herself. Maybe not at first, but like in an hour she will. The number I gave her goes straight to Nick�s cell. The worst she can do is hang up on him when she hears his voice.�
�Then bitch at you and me.�
�We�re just trying to help.� They got on the elevator. �She can�t hate us for that.�
�No she can�t.�
�Nick�s been upset and moping all day long. I have no idea what to do. I�ve never seen him like this over a girl before.�
�He�s getting in touch with his inner most feelings.�
�Really in touch.�
�There�s nothing you can do.�
�I know there ain�t, it�s all up to your friend.�
�She�ll come around. I know she will.� They got off the elevator and walked outside. They walked to the truck where Nickolas was waiting patiently.
�We�re ready,� Aaron said.
�It�s about time,� Nickolas said. �What took ya so long?�
�Talking to your girlfriend,� MyKenna said. �And helping you out.�
�Oh,� Nickolas said starting the truck and driving off.
CHAPTER 18