�Nick asked me to go,� Valondra replied putting stuff in her suitcase. �And he needs me.�
�I need you.�
�No, you need to talk to Alex, Lil, and D to straighten everything out,� Alyssa stated. �Not Lon.�
�Thank you, Lys,� Valondra said putting some more clothes in her suitcase. �I�ll be back in four weeks.�
�That�s a month away,� Charisma pointed out.
�A month with my sexy fianc�,� Valondra said smiling.
�So what? I�m having a crisis.�
�I�m not the one that was kissing Howie while with Alex. Or in love with two other guys while with Alex and one who is my best friend�s fianc�.� Charisma just looked at her. �I�m sorry this is happening to you, but I don�t know what to tell you to do. You have to work it out with Alex. He loves you very much.�
�I know. He sent me two miss you cards since he left.�
�See, he wants to work it out,� Alyssa said. �He loves you.�
�Maybe.�
�Not maybe, definitely,� Valondra said. �Before they went back on tour, Alex and I were talking, and he said that finding out about you and D broke his heart into a gazillion pieces. He said if he didn�t love you so much it wouldn�t have hurt him like it did. He wants to be with you and I know you want to be with him. Don�t ruin a good thing like I almost did back in May. You�ll hate yourself.� Charisma just looked at her. �Go call Alex and talk to him.�
�Ok. I�m going.� She got up and walked out.
�Did he really say that?� Alyssa asked.
�Yeah,� Valondra said. �Alex is madly in love with your little sister.�
�Wow! Who knew?� She picked up something and looked at Valondra smiling. �Sexy black lingerie. May I ask what for?�
�Rach got it for me since me and Nicky will be alone on the bus.�
�So she thinks something�s going to happen.�
�Apparently.�
�What about you? What do you think?� She looked at her. �Are you taking this?�
�I don�t know. I�m not even sure about what�s going to happen this next month. Nick really wants us to take the next step.�
�Sex?�
�Yeah, but I��
�If you�re not ready he can�t force you and won�t.�
�I know. I want to, but I can�t. I want to wait until our wedding night, but I know it�ll happen before then. I don�t know if it�ll be because I�m ready or because I want to make, and keep, Nicky happy.� She sat on the bed.
�What�s your mind saying?�
�To wait.�
�What about your heart?� She sat beside her.
�To wait some days and then others to do it, because I love him.� She left out a heavy sigh. �I�ve always followed my heart when it came to Nick, but how am I supposed to now when it�s confusing me?�
�I don�t know, Loni D. Why is it bothering you so much?� She shrugged. �Because of what happened in May?� She looked at her. �Nothing happened.�
�I know.�
�Does it also have to do with the accident?� She nodded. �You�re afraid you�ll never get that chance to show Nickolas you love him.�
�Do you blame me?� She got up. �Ever since the accident my life has changed drastically. I lay awake at night for hours wondering. Wondering what�s going to happen in the morning. Wondering if Nick�s going to be ok. I�m afraid to leave him, because I don�t know what�s going to happen while I�m gone. I made him stay on the phone with me for an hour and a half while he and Bob drove down to Apollo Beach. I am so scared and paranoid. I don�t know what to do.�
�Just worry about the present right now. He�s here with you now and doesn�t plan on leaving you anytime soon. Enjoy the time you guys have together now. Don�t think about the future at this moment.� Valondra just looked at her. �I�m being serious, but if you�re going to do it then think about this next month you have together. Think about the fun you�ll have and the memories you�ll make.� She smiled. �If you do have sex use protection.�
�Duh, Alyssa. I ain�t stupid, but I doubt we�ll have sex.�
�Nick�s here with you right now so worry about that.� She didn�t say anything and looked out the window. �Did you talk to Nick yet about the wedding?� She looked at her. �Are you going to?�
�Hey, Princes,� Nickolas interrupted walking into the room and the two girls looked.
�Hey,� Valondra said. She looked at Alyssa then walked over to Nickolas. �I told you to call me when you left.�
�I didn�t want to bother you.�
�You never could.� She kissed him then hugged him. �I�m just glad you got here safely.�
�I�m fine. Hey, Alyssa.�
�Nick,� Alyssa said. �How are you feeling?�
�A little better. I made it up the steps without any help.�
�Good for you.�
�My baby�s getting better,� Valondra stated. �I�m glad; because I hate seeing you hurt.�
�I�m ok,� Nickolas said.
�If you�ll excuse me,� Alyssa said putting the black lingerie in the suitcase. �I have to get ready for work.�
�Alright,� Valondra said.
�See ya in a month,� Alyssa said walking out.
�Are you soon ready?� Nickolas asked.
�Yeah, let me finish up here,� Valondra said. �It�ll take me a minute.�
�Ok. Dad�s waiting downstairs.�
�One minute. That�s all I need.�
�You�re pretty good at this packing stuff.�
�Three years dating you will make someone a pro.� She smiled.
�And three years dating you will make someone crazy.� He smirked and kissed her. �Crazy for you that is.�
�You�re cute; Carter, but it ain�t why I love you.�
�Why do ya?�
�I just do. Why do you love me?�
�I just do.� He kissed her again. �Now finish up so we can go and not miss our flight.�
�Then leave me go.� She freed herself from his hold.
�I promise Kevin I�d be there for the fan conference tomorrow night and if I ain�t there it�ll give him something else to yell at me for.�
�Well, he has to take into consideration that you�re hurt.�
�But I�m not laid up in a hospital bed with a bunch of wires hooked up to me.�
�So, you�re still injured.� She closed the suitcase. �All set.� She picked up the suitcase and walked over to him.
�Let me.�
�I got it. Why do you think I�m so buff?�
�I thought it was from kicking my ass, silly me.� He smiled and put his arm around her. They walked out in the hall, as Charisma walked from her room with a suitcase.
�Where are you going?�
�To see Alex,� Charisma replied. �He wants to talk.
�That�s great,� Nickolas said.
�Told ya he wanted to work it out,� Valondra stated.
�When�s your flight?� Nickolas asked.
�In an hour and a half,� Charisma replied. �The same as yours. They had a few seats left so I got one.�
�You can ride with us,� Valondra said.
�Alright,� Charisma said.
�Go ahead of us,� Nickolas said.
�Ok,� Charisma said. �I�ll take your suitcase down with your others.�
�Thanks,� Valondra said as Charisma took the suitcase and went downstairs.
�You don�t need to help,� Nickolas said. �I can manage.�
�But I want to.�
�But you don�t have to.� He smiled. �Just stay in front of me and watch.�
�Fine.� She got in front of him and went down the stairs backwards, watching Nickolas. �Showing off, huh?�
�No. I just want to show people I�m perfectly fine, ya know.�
�Not quite yet.� She smiled. �When you�re walking normal again then you�re fine. Until then you�re my patient.�
�Good.� He smiled. �I�m glad you�re coming with.�
�Same here.�
�Come on you two!� Robert yelled up the stairs. �You got a flight to catch and I have to pick up Jane, Aaron, and Angel at Tampa International.�
�I can only go so fast, dad!� Nickolas yelled back. �I�m sorry!�
�Charisma�s in a hurry too!�
�Figures,� Valondra said as they got to the bottom. She went to walk away, but Nickolas stopped her. He put his arm around her and she left him to the door. �Are you ok?�
�I�m fine,� Nickolas said. �Just a little too much pressure on the lower back.�
�But you�re ok?� Robert asked.
�Yeah,� Nickolas replied as he and Valondra walked outside. They went to walk off the porch when they noticed Bridgett and Farah. �Just ignore them, Baby.�
�I will,� Valondra said helping him down the steps. They walked to Robert�s jeep where Charisma was waiting patiently.
�It�s about time,� Charisma said, as Bridgett and Farah walked up.
�Nick, are you ok?� Bridgett asked as they all ignored her. �Nicky, please answer me. I�ve been worried about you.� No one said anything and Valondra helped Nickolas in the vehicle. �I�m showing concern here and you people are ignoring me.� Valondra closed the door and glared at her. She opened the back door as Bridgett said, �Nicky, please I�m really worried about you.�
�But he ain�t worried about you,� Valondra snapped. �Now leave before I have you arrested both of you.�
�We�re just showing concern,� Farah said.
�No, you�re trespassing on private property,� Valondra stated. �You wouldn�t know the meaning of the word �concern� if it bit you both in the ass.�
�We�re not leaving until Nick answers me,� Bridgett said.
�I have nothing to say to you,� Nickolas said not even looking at her and Valondra punched her in the face. Alyssa grabbed Valondra and stuffed her in the car.
�Go!� Alyssa said closing the door and looking at Bridgett and Farah, as they watched Robert drive off. �And you two, I�m going to ask you nicely to leave and if I have to ask you again, I�m going to get nasty about it. So which is it? Nice or nasty?�
�Fine we�ll go,� Bridgett said. �But this ain�t over. It�s far from over.�
�I�ll be around,� Alyssa stated. �You can bet on it.� She gave a nasty grin and watched the two girls leave.
CHAPTER 10 CHAPTER 12
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