�Yeah,� Dakota said. �They�re cool.� He smiled. �Do you think they liked me?�
�Who wouldn�t?� He kissed her.
�I�m being serious.�
�I know. I�m sure they liked you. Howie likes you.�
�That�s one out of four and Howie likes anybody.� They chuckled.
�Why are you so worried if they like you or not?�
�Because they�re your friends and I�m your girlfriend and we should like each other.�
�Well I�m sure you have nothing to worry about.� She sighed. �Will your friends like me?�
�Hell they�ll love ya.� She smiled. �They already do.�
�But I just love you.� He kissed her, as Aaron and MyKenna walked in.
�Hey, guys,� MyKenna said and they looked.
�Hey,� Nickolas said disappointed that they were interrupted yet again.
�Whatcha doing?� Aaron asked.
�What does it look like?� Nickolas asked in return.
�Sorry,� Aaron said. �You said six and it�s six.� He smiled.
�Right,� Nickolas said. �You ladies pick the movie and we�ll get the goodies.�
�Alright,� Dakota said, as Nickolas got up and him and Aaron left the room. �How was your day?�
�Fine,� MyKenna said.
�Just fine? Something happen with Aaron?�
�No; why do you ask?�
�Just the way you said �fine� that�s all.� MyKenna looked at her. �You weren�t too enthusiastic about it.�
�Sorry; everything�s fine though.�
�Ya sure?�
�Yeah.� She picked up a movie.
�Bummed about tomorrow?�
�Yeah.�
�Me too.�
�Why you? You get to stay.�
�I know. You�re leaving though and I�m going to miss ya.� MyKenna looked at her.
�I�m going to miss you too.� They hugged. �I�ll write and I�ll call ya though.�
�Same here.�
�Let�s just enjoy tonight and not think about tomorrow yet.�
�Sounds good.� They sighed. �What ya got there?�
�Um��Along Came A Spider.� What about you?�
��The Bone Collector�.� Dakota put that one down and looked at the others. �My parents called today.� MyKenna looked at her.
�Really?� Dakota nodded. �What�d they want?�
�They said they�d send me the money to go home. I told them no and that I already got a job I start next Monday.� She sighed. �I also told them I can�t stay with them the rest of my life and continue getting treated the way I do no. It just ain�t going to work.�
�I understand.�
�But then again maybe I should just go back.�
�What for?� Dakota looked at her a moment.
�Nick suggested I go back after they called.� MyKenna didn�t say anything. �He said he completely understood my decision of not wanting to go back and then he suggests I go back. I�m not understanding.�
�I don�t know.�
�Am I forcing him to do things?�
�Of course not.�
�I�m starting to think I am.�
�Well you shouldn�t, because you�re not.�
�Maybe I should just go home.�
�If it�s what you really want.�
�No it�s not, but if Nick doesn�t want me here then why stay and be miserable? I can go back to PA and be miserable again for the rest of my damn life.�
�Do you believe Nick�s going to want that for you?�
�What does it matter? He suggested I go home didn�t he? After knowing how I feel about it.� She walked away and MyKenna watched her go outside. She put the movie down and went out back herself. She closed the door and Dakota looked. �I don�t know what to do.�
�Talk to Nick.�
�What for?�
�To work this out. See if he really wants you to go.� Dakota didn�t say anything. �It bothers you and hurts you so much because you love him. You�re thinking of the worst that could happen instead of thinking about the positive. He could just be testing you on how much you love him. He already proved to you more than once on how much he loves you. Let him know how you feel about this whole thing.�
�I�m afraid of what he might say to me.�
�Like what?�
�I don�t know. Anything that will hurt me�hurt us.�
�The worst he can say to you is that he doesn�t actually love you and was just trying to get you into bed this whole time.�
�Thanks for the confidence.�
�What else could actually hurt worse than that?� Dakota just looked at her. �Nothing. I doubt he�ll try to hurt you deliberately.� Dakota didn�t say anything and looked out to the ocean.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Why didn�t DJ look too happy?� Aaron asked and Nickolas looked at him.
�What do ya mean?� Nickolas asked in return.
�Any other time she�s always smiling and stuff when we walk in. This time she wasn�t.�
�Her parents called her today when we were at the hotel.� Aaron looked at him. �They want
her to go home and were going to send the money.�
�She�s not going?� Nickolas shook his head.
�I suggested she go back.�
�You can�t make her do something she doesn�t want to do let alone suggest it. You already know how she feels, Nick, you can�t force her to do it.�
�I know.�
�What did she say when you suggested it?�
�Nothing; she just looked at me and walked away.�
�That�s has to prove something to ya. She loves you and you love her. I always thought you were supposed to be with the one ya love and not push them away.�
�I ain�t trying to push her away. It is her family no matter what.�
�But they shouldn�t put her through what they do.� Nickolas sighed. �Why�d you suggest it anyway?� He shrugged.
�My little test I guess.�
�Do you want her to go?� He looked at his brother.
�No. Call me selfish if ya want, but I don�t want her to go. I want her to be here with me and nowhere else.�
�Love isn�t selfish.� Nickolas looked at him again. �A little something I learned from Kev and Rok.� Nickolas nodded. �Don�t you pay attention to them when it comes to love?�
�I never had a reason to.�
�Now ya do.�
�Yeah.� He sighed. �If only you could stop yourself from falling in love.�
�You would�ve?�
�Try to, but doubt it would work.� He smiled. �This has been a long week.�
�I don�t think mom and them are going to be too thrilled at the idea of you being in love with a girl ya just met the other day.�
�Well they can�t do anything about it.� Aaron looked at him. �Maybe it�s my turn for it now, ya know.�
�What about marriage?�
�Not anytime soon. Maybe one day, but not now; in a few years.� Aaron nodded. �I ain�t going to rush Kota into it.�
�So you plan on marrying here?�
�Yeah.� He smiled. �If she�ll have me.� Aaron grinned. �We might take time apart, but I already know deep down that I�m going to marry her one day in the future.� Aaron smiled.
�It�s only been a week, Nickolas.�
�I know, but I can�t help the way I feel towards her. This love thing is amazing.�
�I�m sure it is.� Aaron laughed at his brother and the girls walked in.
Hey, guys,� MyKenna said and they looked.
�Hey,� Nickolas said. �Did ya pick a movie?�
�Yeah,� MyKenna said.
�What one?� Aaron asked.
��Pearl Harbor�,� Dakota replied. �But I need to talk to Nick first.� They looked at each other. �If it�s all right?�
�Of course,� Nickolas said. �Excuse us.� Him and Dakota walked out.
�What�s going on?� Aaron asked MyKenna, as she started helping him.
�She just wants to talk to him,� MyKenna replied.
�About him suggesting she go home?� MyKenna looked at him. �Nick told me and I know DJ told you.�
�Yes about that. She�s upset about it and is thinking about going back.�
�Nick doesn�t want her to go.� MyKenna looked at him. �He wants her to stay, because he wants to be with her everyday. He actually thinks he�s being selfish by the idea.�
�Nothing selfish about love.�
�That�s what I told him.�
�She also feels that she�s forcing him to do things.�
�I highly doubt that.�
�Same here.� They just looked at each other and grinned.
CHAPTER 37