Two weeks later, on Saturday the girls and guys decided to have a night out, only not together. The girls were going to have some dinner and then maybe go to a club about half an hour from Orlando that was new. The guys were just going to head to an Orlando club.
"Well, have fun!" Erin called to them as they got in the car.
"We will. See you all later, you have a great time!" Howie called back. The girls stood by the door and waved until the car was pulling away.
"Hey, lets go to Morocco's for dinner!" Lexi suggested. Morocco's was a nice/casual place that was part of a hotel.
"That's a good idea." Terri agreed. "I'll call and make reservations." She replied, rushing off to grab the phone.
"I guess we are going to Morocco's." Amber laughed as the other four walked up the stairs to finish getting ready. Twenty minutes later the girls were rushing out the door so that they weren't late for the reservations.
"Drive, Becca, drive!" Terri told her from the backseat as she laughed.
"If you want fast driving, talk to Nick." Lexi added with a chuckle, "That boy gets upset if he has to drive 55!" she added, causing laughter to fill the car.
"Ok, so we have to spill the juicy stuff." Erin told them, leaning forward with an evil grin at the table.
"What exactly?" Becca asked.
"Like, the sweetest thing they've done, anything that annoys you, cute/kinky stuff…whatever!" Erin stated with an evil glint in her eye.
"Whoa there!" Amber replied laughing.
"Becca, you first. Spill everything about Bri." Erin told her. Becca laughed and then took a breath.
"Well," She started smiling, "The sweetest thing he's ever done is he made me dinner, then had our bathroom cascaded with burning candles, soft music was playing, and the Jacuzzi was on. Oh, and red wine." She added.
"Ooh, he knows romance like the back of his hand I see." Amber commented with a grin.
"Definitely." Becca agreed with a smile. "Oh my gosh, but the worst thing was when we were kissing he burped!" she told them, shaking her head. Terri was the first one to burst out in laughter, send the other girls into a fit as well.
"That's pretty bad." Lexi agreed.
"It hasn't happened in a while, luckily. If he does it again it's to the couch with him." Becca teased.
"Amber???"
"Oh, no. Amber is a virgin." Terri told them, "Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee, lousy with virginity…" Terri sang softly, causing Amber to jab her in the ribs. "Ow!"
"Says who?" Amber asked.
"Says that paper you signed in seventh grade." Terri replied, rubbing her ribs where she had been hit.
"Well, I am a virgin, but that doesn't mean he isn't romantic." Amber started, " One time when we were in Virginia, he took me out into the mountains at dusk. We had a candle-lit dinner that he prepared himself, and we snuggled in the back of his Ram. He had out a foam pad as a mattress and some blankets. We just laid there all night gazing up at the stars." Amber told them dreamily.
"Wow…" Erin sighed. "What about the worst?"
"Oh…he forgot about our dinner date. I looked like such an idiot, I just sat there waiting for him." Amber replied, "But it won't happen again, or to the couch with him."
"Exactly!" Becca agreed as the girls laughed.
"Lexi?" Erin asked.
"The most romantic was for my birthday he took me to a secluded beach and we went out on his Trophy (type of boat) and watched the sun set. We ate dinner on the boat and laid there for a while, then he let me drive us back to the beach, where we uh-fell asleep." Lexi told them, blushing.
"Sure you fell asleep, after doing the bad thing." Terri replied with an evil smile, "We know." She laughed.
"And the worst thing…was…I had gone to get into some lingerie I had gotten for him and when I came back he was playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater, and didn't even notice me."
"Sounds like Nick." Becca chuckled.
"Erin I think should be next." Amber announced.
"Ok," Erin began, "The sweetest thing was for my birthday he sent me a dozen red, yellow, purple, blue, peach, and pink roses on the hour, every hour from noon until 7, when he got home. Then he had some jewelry for me." Erin smiled. "And the worst is…when he broke my porcelain doll and tried to hide it." Erin added and shook her head, "He sucks at hiding things." She commented, causing another fit of laughter.
"Terri is last." Amber announced.
"Ok…sweetest thing…uh…well there are two. One is at Christmas when he asked me to marry him." Everyone awed, "And the other is when I came home one day, wasn't a special day or anything, but I came home and the table was beautifully set, and there were rose petals leading from the bottom of the stairs to the bed room. Red ones were on the floor and there were yellow and purple ones on the bed." She told them.
"Whew, bay-bee." Amber cheered softly, "he also knows romance like the back of his hand!"
"Yep, but I really can't think of a bad thing…except recently he's been a little distant…you know? It's so weird, I'll hear him talking on the phone and when I start to open the door he puts down the receiver…" Terri told them, staring off into space.
"That's not weird, don't worry. He was probably just talking to the guys about something." Erin told her, "Don't worry."
Half an hour later the girls paid the check and left the restaurant, entering the lobby of the hotel. Terri spun around to look at Lexi when she noticed someone who looked like AJ at the front desk.
"Is that AJ?" Terri asked, pointing at him.
"Oh my God, I think it is." Lexi replied. He was there, and standing with a red headed woman that was a little shorter than he was. Not to forget they were at a hotel lobby desk! AJ leaned over smiling and the woman whispered something in his ear, then the two began laughing. Terri noticed that they were standing close, a little too close for her own comfort. Terri began walking towards the desk, Amber and Becca tried to grab her, but she shook them off. She was now only about ten feet from AJ. AJ turned nonchalantly and saw Terri.
"Oh shit!" He thought as she stood before him. She gave him a cold look and punched him, sending him flying back.
"You son of a bitch." She said softly, then walked away angrily. The woman that was with him looked very confused, and AJ got up, going after her.
"Terri, wait!" AJ called to her as she climbed into the car.
"Drive." She ordered softly and Becca drove quickly out of the parking lot.
That night Terri lay on the couch, thinking about what she saw and crying. She had Boyz II Men blasting from the sound system.
Darling I-I can't explain
Where did we lose our way?
Girl it's driving me insane
And I know I just need one more chance to prove my
love to you
If you come back to me
I guarantee that I'll never let you go
Can we go back to the day our love was strong?
Can you tell me how a perfect love goes wrong?
Can somebody tell me how to get things back the way
they used to be?
Oh, God, give me a reason
I'm down on bended knee
I'll never walk again
Until you come back to me
I'm down on bended knee
So many nights I dream of you
Holding my pillow tight and I know
That I don't need to be alone
When I open my eyes
To face reality
Every moment without you
Seems like eternity
I'm begging you begging you come back to me
Chorus
I'm gonna swallow my pride
Say I'm sorry
Stop pointing fingers the blame is on me
I want a new life and I want it with you
If you feel the same
Don't ever let it go
You've got to believe
In the spirit of love
It can heal all things
We won't hurt anymore
No I don't think our love's terminal
I'm down on my knees, begging you please
Chorus
Wanna build a new life
Just you and me
Make you my wife
Raise a family
Chorus
Terri sat crying as she listened. "What is his problem? Have I been showing him anything but love and devotion? I knew it was too soon to get married…I knew it." She thought and looked down at her ring. The diamond was fairly large, beautifully cut…the band was gorgeous as well. The little roses on it that were engraved looked surreal. She took another look at the ring and took it off, getting up and setting it on the counter. She wiped her eyes and headed up stairs for bed. About an hour later AJ walked in the house, looking for Terri.
"Babe? You here?" He called out softly, not wanting to wake her up if she was asleep. He crossed the kitchen and headed for the living room to see if she had fallen asleep, but no one was there. He walked back into the kitchen to get a raspberry-iced tea when he saw it. It brought boiling tears to his eyes, and he knew for sure that he would never forgive himself as he picked up her engagement ring. He took the silver chain from his neck and slipped the ring on it before clasping it around his neck again. He sluggishly walked up the stairs, wiping away tears. He opened the door to their room and when nothing came flying at him and walked in. Terri was asleep with a tissue in her hand, and the covers down. AJ took the tissue from her hand and pulled the covers up over her, kissing her forehead. He grabbed a tee shirt, clean boxers, and headed for the bathroom to change. He came back out and reluctantly climbed in the bed with her, not really sure if he should be doing that.
The next morning Terri woke up with an arm around her. She snuggled against AJ, but then memories of last night flooded her mind and she pushed him away.
"I thought you'd get the clue not to come in here from the ring." She told him, "And to tell you truth I didn't know if you'd come home last night." She snapped. AJ had just woken up and looked at her with disbelief.
"Why?" He asked.
"Why do you think?! You were booking a room with who ever that was!" Terri yelled, standing up.
"Just listen-…"
"NO! I don't want to! You know, I really thought I loved you. And I do! I thought you loved me too, maybe what I thought I saw in the hospital was just a dream!!!" She yelled furiously.
"Would you just shut the hell up for a moment?!" AJ shouted, also standing up.
"Why? Why, AJ?" Terri asked him, "Why the hell should I listen to you?!" She shouted.
"Because you NEVER DO! For once in your life, just shut up and listen!" AJ shouted back. Terri stood there frozen, not knowing what to think, "You always assume, you never stop and think about what someone else has to say! It's all about Terri, me, me, me, me, me!!!" AJ went on. "So just shut your trap and keep it shut!" Terri stood there staring at him, never before had she been so insulted by someone she loved so much. Her face was one of hurt and pain, and AJ, for the first time, noticed it. Tears began to form in her eyes and she looked away. She hated it when people saw her cry, and AJ knew it. Not many times in her life had she cried. AJ knew of the time she had cried in the hospital, and once when she got out of jail, and that was it. Terri walked to the wall, leaned against it and sank to the floor. Her hair was in her face, but AJ knew that she was now crying, still trying not to show it. He rushed over to her and tried to hold her, but she brushed him off.
"No, go ahead. Don't pay attention to me, I'm listening." She told him trying to keep her voice steady as she stared at her hands.
"Well," He started after a minute, but paused.
"Well?" She asked, wiping her eyes.
"That woman I was talking with wasn't a love interest, in anyway. She is Boyz II Men's manager, I was trying to see if they could sing a song I wrote for our wedding…" AJ told her softly, "The reason you didn't know was obviously I wanted it to be a surprise…so much for that." He muttered.
"Why were you at the hotel?" She asked him quietly, still keeping her head down.
"We were going to go to Morocco's, but it was all booked up and we were wondering where if they had another restaurant there." AJ told her honestly. He sank down to his knees and bent over to try to catch her gaze, but her eyes were shut. AJ rested his hand on her cheek and spoke, "You can give up the tough girl act, you'll still have my heart." He whispered before kissing her lips softly. When the kiss was over she looked at him and broke down crying in his arms.
"I'm sorry AJ, I'm so sorry." She sobbed, letting her body relax against his.
"Shh, it's ok. I would've thought the same thing." AJ cooed softly, trying to comfort her.
"It's not just that." She told him, pulling away to look at him, "For being a total bitch. I know that lately I've been snooping around, even if you didn't know. I was trying to find out why you were always slamming down the phone when I walked in. And, I understand if you want to put off the wedding, because if I were you I'd want to too, after the way I've been acting." She told him, "But I'll wait forever." AJ smiled and kissed her.
"I still want to marry you, ASAP." He chuckled and unclasped the chain from his neck, taking the ring and setting it back on her finger. Terri smiled as he put it on.
"I love you, Bone Head." She told him, giving him a tight hug.
"Love you too, Ernie…" He told her.
"Call me Space Cadet." She chuckled.
Chapter 12
Chapter 14
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