�I�m sorry,� Nickolas apologized for what seemed like the millionth time to him. �Are you all right?� She nodded. �I thought you were just joking around so I wouldn�t flip ya over.�
�Did my face look like I was joking about something so serious?� He looked at her. �I�m not mad at ya so don�t worry. I�m just�� She sighed. �I don�t know. Just know that I ain�t mad at ya.�
�Good.�
�Anymore anyway.� She grinned.
�Oh, you�re real funny.�
�I try.�
�Of course you do.� He kissed her, as the door opened and they looked. �Uh, Beej, what are you doing in here?� He looked at Dakota who kept her gaze on him.
�Just bringing in your mail,� Bobbie Jean said handing it to him. �You always yell when you don�t get it. I just thought I�d bring it in.�
�Thanks, but you didn�t have to.�
�It�s nothing.� She walked out and closed the door.
�Sorry about that,� Nickolas said looking back at Dakota.
�Don�t worry about it,� Dakota assured him.
�I think she was just checking up.� Dakota shrugged. �I�m sorry about lunch.�
�Why? You weren�t the shooter. Were you?�
�Of course not.� She sighed and lowered her head. �What�s wrong?�
�I was just thinking.�
�About what?�
�This week so far and what�s going to happen the next couple days.� He looked at her. �It�s been great, minus yesterday.�
�Then what�s the problem.�
�I�m leaving Sunday.�
�I know that.� She looked at him. �What are you afraid of?� She gave a little grin. �You�re afraid I�m going to find someone else, aren�t you?�
�Can you blame me? You�re like the most wanted guy in the world. You have no problems getting the girl ya want.�
�I want you and I ain�t going to find anyone else. I might look, but that doesn�t mean I want them.�
�That makes me feel so much better.� She rolled her eyes. �What if you do find someone else?�
�I guess we�ll see when/if that time comes. Right now though I just want you. I can understand where you�re coming from. This whole thing is new to you and the first guy interested in you happens to be a superstar. I�d be totally hesitant too if it were the other way around.� She didn�t say anything. �You have nothing to worry about, DJ. You can hire a spy if ya want to.� She laughed.
�No, because I�m going to trust ya. I trust ya now so�aren�t good lasting relationships based on trust and honesty?�
�That�s what I heard.�
�I don�t think jealousy�s going to work in this relationship.�
�Neither do I.� He smiled. �Are you saying you�re jealous of the girls I�m seen with?�
�No.� She made a face. �Why would I be? They�re just fans.�
�Fans that want me.� She looked at him. �But I don�t want them.�
�Right.�
�The fans are very supportive, but it�s hard to maintain a relationship when you�re constantly
on the road. Brian and Kevin just got lucky I guess.� She looked at him. �I�m hoping I did too.� He smiled and so did she. He kissed her and pulled her closer to him on the sofa. �I�ve noticed something with you.�
�And what�s that? Even though I�m afraid to know.�
�You always seem to smile when I smile. Why is that?� He smile and so did she. �You�re doing it
again. Why?� She shrugged.
�Your smile just melts my heart.� She looked at him and smiled. �Is that reason enough?� He made a disgusted face.
�I don�t understand why girls think I�m hot.�
�Did you look in the mirror lately, Honey? You�re, like, on fire.�
�And you�re, like, on crack.�
�Meanie head.�
�Meanie head?�
�Yeah, meanie head.�
�What the hell is that?�
�Just something I say when someone says something mean to me; like you just did.�
�Oh I see.� He made a face.
�Meanie head.
�Meanie head,� Nickolas mocked in a high-pitched voice and Dakota glared at him. �That�s how you talk.
�I do not talk like that. That�s how you talk.�
�That�s how you talk.�
�And you�re being immature.�
�I can show you immature.�
�Oh yeah?�
�Yeah.� He pushed her back on the sofa and kissed her, as the door opened again and they looked. �Don�t you people knock?�
�No,� Aaron said. What the hell are you doing?�
�I�m showing her how immature I am,� Nickolas stated. �Do ya mind?�
�I brought the boat back.�
�Thanks. I just told ya to do it three hours ago.�
�Sorry.�
�Get the hell out.�
�Yes, sir.� Aaron walked out and closed the door.
�Are we not meant to have any private time or what?� Nickolas questioned.
�No,� Dakota said smiling and Nickolas shook his head.
�Well I think we deserve some.�
�Can�t ya just be happy that we�re together right now?�
�I guess so.�
�Alrighty then.� She kissed him and the door opened.
�Now what?�
�Brian�s on the phone,� Leslie said.
�Tell him I�ll call him back later,� Nickolas said.
�Alright,� Leslie said closing the door.
�This is ridiculous,� Nickolas said.
�Why?� Dakota asked.
�I�ll tell them not to bother me yet they do it anyway.� Dakota just shrugged and grinned. �They even do it when I�m down in the studio working.�
�I thought they didn�t live with you?�
�They don�t.�
�Never mind.�
�I know what ya mean. I am 22 so I have a right for private time with my girlfriend.�
�They probably look at it as you�re not married so you don�t need to be alone with a girl.�
�Well I do.�
�Of course.� He kissed her again and the door opened for a fourth time.
�Why can�t you damn people knock?� Nickolas questioned angrily and he got up. �Let�s go, Kota.� He pulled Dakota off the sofa.
�Just bringing in your clothes like mom said,� Angel stated.
�Well knock next time,� Nickolas snapped. �The next time you just might get more than what you wanted to see.� He walked out pulling Dakota with him.
CHAPTER 24