�You�re a big girl DJ,� she said to herself. �You live in the middle of nowhere. You�re always by yourself when you�re home.� She turned around and jumped. �Ahh!� She looked at the guy sitting there. �Nick?�
�DJ,� Nickolas said in return. He had a rose in his hand and a pleading sad look on his face, as he looked at her.
�What�how��
�MyKenna left me in. She was going to my place with Aaron.�
�Oh. What are you doing here?�
�I was hoping we could talk.� She just looked at him. �If it�s all right.�
�Umm�I guess so.� He got up and walked over to her, as she watched him. He handed her the rose and she only looked at him.
�MyKenna said you love red roses.� He gave his side smile.
�Yeah.�
�Will you accept it?� She slowly reached for the rose and covered his hand with her own. �I don�t want us to be over, Dakota. I�m sorry for my sister.� She looked up at him. �I know you�re going to be the best thing that comes into my life; you already are the best thing. I will give up my play station for you.�
�I�m flattered.�
�I�m glad. I want to be with you. I will cater to your every need if ya want me to. Whenever I want to see you I will fly you to wherever I am, just as long as I can see you. I will come to you if you can�t come to me. Whatever, either way I�ll get to see you. What do you say? Do you want to forget about my sister and worry about us? Do you want to worry about our future?� She continued looking at him. �I�ll give up my play station this instant if ya want me to. I�ll do it all for you just so I can have you in my life.�
�You run a hard bargain, Mr. Carter.�
�What�s so hard about it?�
�I�ll tell ya what.� He looked at her interested. �You can keep your play station, because I know how much you love it, but you get rid of that damn ugly ass fish shirt you own. If ya promise to do that then I�ll consider your proposal.�
�Consider it done.�
�Just like that?� She raised an eyebrow.
�Just like that.�
�Why?�
�Cause you�re worth it.�
�Right.�
�You are.� He smiled and she held back her smile.
�You�re seriously going to get rid of that shirt?�
�Of course I am, I promise.�
�Can I watch you burn it?� He looked at her.
�You said nothing about burning it.�
�I told ya to get rid of it. That means burning it so I never have to see it anywhere again.�
�But��
�It was either that or your play station. I didn�t want ya to give up your most prized possession for me.�
�But it�s my shirt.�
�And you have, like, a million more.� She looked at him and waited for an answer. �I hate that shirt and I never want to see you wear it again.�
�Alright, alright. I�ll burn it and you can watch.�
�Thank you.�
�You�re welcome. We can burn it tomorrow night.�
�Ok.�
�We can build a fire on the beach and I�ll let ya throw it in yourself.�
�Ooh, I�m going to love that.�
�I�m sure you will.�
�Of course I am.�
�I can�t believe I�m going to let ya burn my shirt.�
�It could be your play station.� She snickered.
�Oh you�re real funny.�
�I try. In a couple years you�ll laugh about it and realize how ugly it actually is.� He didn�t say anything, as she chuckled and took the rose from him. �Do you want to go walk the beach?�
�Sure.�
�Alright.� She put the rose on the table and they walked out of the room. They went down to the lobby and went out to the beach. They walked in a silence a few minutes then Dakota looked at Nickolas.
�I�m sorry.� He looked at her.
�For what?�
�This whole day. I...I�m sure you would�ve rather had fun than mope around, cause of me, so I�m sorry.�
�Don�t worry about it. I got ya back in the end. That was my goal.�
�Yeah.�
�If I knew all I had to do was give you a rose I would�ve done it sooner.�
�Well I did some thinking while by myself and realized I was being totally unfair to you. It�s not your fault like I said it was. Everyone makes mistakes. You made a mistake with Mandah and you�re working on getting pass that.�
�I want to get pass it with you.� They stopped walking and he turned her to face him. �I want to get pass my past with you and no one else. I tried with other girls and tried other things, but I couldn�t do it. It�s still there haunting me and I know that with you all that will change. I�ll get through it as long as you�re with me.�
�I want to help you. I will help the best I can, but you have to do the most though.�
�And I will.�
�Good.�
�I want us to work like I said before. I really want us to work.�
�And we will.� She smiled. �I know we will.� He smiled then gave her a gentle kiss. She put her arms around him and they stood there hugging.
�It�s only been three days, but I am so thankful to God for bringing you into my life.�
�Same here.�
�I know I�m going to be happy.� She didn�t say anything, as her rubbed her back. He took a deep breath, as he looked out to the ocean. �I think I�m falling in love with you.� Dakota didn�t say anything. �I have this feeling inside that I never felt before or ever had�until I met you on Monday. I don�t think it�s going to go away either.� She still didn�t say anything, as she thought about what he was saying to her. �I�ll understand if you don�t feel the same way I do. I just wanted you to know. I was taught that if I feel something inside then tell the person and not hold it back. I don�t want to hold this back.�
�Nicky, I��
�You don�t need to say anything right now. I just wanted you to know. You have that right to know how I feel.� She looked at him. �I hope this doesn�t change anything.� She shook her head and smiled. �Good.�
She took a deep breath and said. �I feel the same way.� He looked at her. �For the longest time.�
�We just met.�
�I know, but way before that. The first time I ever saw you.� He continued looking at her and smiled. �Oh shit. I can�t believe I just said that.�
�Don�t be embarrassed.�
�I�m not. I just feel like an idiot.�
�Then we can feel like idiots together.� He smiled and so did she. �It�s out in the open so I think that�s all that matters.�
�I agree.�
�Good.� She smiled and he kissed her.
CHAPTER 20