"So what went on with AJ?" Amber asked over the phone. Her friend had been very bubbly today, which obviously meant they had patched things up.
"Well, I got upset and punched him, as you know," Terri started, she was on speakerphone.
"Does he have a bruise?" Amber asked. AJ looked over at Terri and pointed to the large blue welt on his cheek.
"Yeah," Terri replied hesitantly. "Sorry, baby." She added, blowing a kiss to AJ.
"I'll forgive you this time, but don't let it happen again." He teased.
"You tell her, AJ." Amber told him as she chuckled.
"Well, anyway. I came home and laid on the couch crying and listening to Boyz II Men's "On Bended Knee" a million times over, which reminds me-…"
"No!" AJ whispered hissed, walking over to her and whispering in her ear, "It's a surprise for everyone else." Terri nodded.
"Hey! Whispering is impolite!" Amber whined.
"Sorry." Terri replied, thumbing through her magazine. "But anyway, I got pissed and took off my engagement ring and set it on the counter."
"You didn't!" Amber gasped.
"I did." Terri replied chuckling at her friend.
"AJ, Kevin will buy the ring from you!" Amber teased.
"Oh, does Kevin know this?" AJ asked.
"Well…no." Amber admitted, causing Terri and AJ to laugh.
"You can't have it anyway, it's on my finger now." Terri replied, "But I went to bed and then later he came home, found it, put in on around his neck on a chain and climbed in bed with me. Then today I woke up and flipped out and began yelling, he yelled back, yadda yadda yadda! Then he told me that the woman was a business person and that the reason they were at the desk was to find out if there was another restaurant on the property." Terri finished, "Then we cuddled and all that good stuff." She added with a smile. AJ came over and motioned Terri to sit up for a second. She did so and AJ sat on the couch behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
"Wow…" Amber trailed off, "Good going AJ, you know how to make her melt." Amber laughed.
"It's a two-way street." He laughed, "Where's train?" AJ asked.
"Right here." Kevin replied as Amber also put her phone on the speaker.
"Hey dude, what's chillin'?" AJ asked.
"Just cuddling with my girl." Kevin replied; you could tell he was smiling by the sound of his voice.
"Funny, me too." AJ laughed. "So, Kevin, when can we expect you two to tie the knot?" AJ asked, knowing this would make Kevin uncomfortable.
"Uh-well…um…" Kevin trailed off.
"When we are ready." Amber answered for him. Kevin leaned down and kissed her.
"Thanks babe." He whispered.
"One, two, three, LIFT!" Brian said as he and Nick carried Becca's desk up the stairs to the study. Becca and Lexi took advantage of the moment and sat there, giving the guys advice and eating pop sickles on this lovely, boiling Florida day.
"Come guys, pick up the left side a little." Becca told them.
"And when your done we'll let you have a pop sickle, or we'll take you for ice cream." Lexi told them with a smile as she stuck the pop back in her mouth. Nick and Brian were half way up the stairs when Brian, who was on the bottom, stopped for a moment.
"Wait, I need a better grip." Brian told Nick and wiped his hands on his jean shorts before picking it back up again. About ten minutes later the desk was in its place and the guys came back down.
"What took you so long?" Becca asked with a smile as the guys entered the kitchen.
"Shut up." Brian told her as he wrapped his arms around her.
"You all did take a long time." Lexi teased as Nick wrapped his arms around her as well.
"Ew! You all are sweaty and nasty!" Becca cried out.
"I've got an idea." Nick announced with an evil grin.
"Oh, shit. Here it comes." Lexi teased. Nick smiled and picked up Lexi carrying her out the back door towards the pool, Brian was right behind him, Becca in his arms.
"NO!!!" Becca and Lexi cried out as the guys stood at the edge of the pool, about to drop the girls in. Nick looked at Brian and they dropped the girls. Becca held on to Brian as she fell though and he tumbled down into the water with her. Nick stood there laughing as the three came up sputtering from the water.
"Dude, help me out." Brian asked holding his handout. Nick walked over and bent down to Brian.
"Do you think I'm stupid?" Nick asked, still laughing. Brian grabbed his shirt and pulled him in.
"Yes!" Brian replied as Nick came up gasping for air.
"That's it B-Rok! You're dead!" Nick announced, chasing after Brian.
"Hello?" They heard a voice call out.
"We're out in the pool." Lexi called back. Erin and Howie appeared at the back door and walked out. When they saw Nick chasing Brian and everyone still in their clothes they went into a fit of laughter.
"What happened here? Did everyone throw and pull each other into the pool?" Howie laughed.
"Yep. It's nice in here too." Becca replied.
"Why don't you jump in?" Brian asked, climbing out of the pool swiftly to run from Nick, who was still chasing him.
"Because we are fully dressed." Erin replied with a smile.
"We are too! Come on!" Lexi urged. Howie took off his shirt, shoes, and belt, leaving him only in his jean shorts as he walked to the deep end of the pool.
"Whew! Bay-bee!" Erin yelled as Howie got ready to jump, he flashed her a smile and then dove in.
"Coming, babe?" Howie asked her once he had come back up.
"Uh-I don't know." She replied uneasily.
"Oh, come on Erin!" Brian told her as he and Nick sat on the edge of the pool.
"Hey, weren't you chasing him?" Erin asked Nick.
"Not anymore." Nick replied and pushed Brian in, causing laughter, once again.
"Ok, I'll come in." Erin told them and took off her shoes, watch and jewelry. She went to the deep end and did a cannon ball.
"Hey, anyone here?" They heard a voice call out.
"Pool!" Howie called back. Terri, AJ, Kevin, and Amber all appeared at the door.
"Guys, come here! There is stuff on TV about the trial!" Terri called to them as the four stepped back inside.
"The trial for Andrew Stroh begins tomorrow. The 35 year old is the boyfriend of Nancy Warrick, the convicted killer of 28 year old Jonathan Satterfield who is now serving life for 1st degree murder and obstruction of justice. Mr. Stroh kidnapped and held hostage five young women who were original suspects in the killing but were found innocent. Erin McDougall, Alexis Black, Amber Lyons, Rebecca Reems, and Terri Gunn were all held hostage in Key West Florida. Mr. Stroh demanded that Nancy Warrick be released with no charges, be given a car, along with $950,000. None of the girls suffered serious injuries except for Terri Gunn who was shot in the chest and nearly lost her life, and Rebecca Reems who was raped by Stroh. He is facing charges on rape, firing a weapon with the intention to kill, having an unauthorized weapon, and obstruction of justice. He is now paralyzed from a bullet that he received from a police officer during the hostage situation, and may just be admitted to a therapy hospital without rights to leave the premises." They all heard.
"Wow." Kevin muttered.
"Exactly…He deserves it, the bastard." Brian muttered. AJ's cell phone rang and he took it from his pocket.
"Hello?" AJ answered. "Oh, shit. You're kidding, right?" He asked with a sigh. "Ok, yeah. Bye." He hung up.
"What is it?" Terri asked him.
"Get this guys, Nancy escaped." AJ told them, truly disgusted.
"How?!" Amber asked.
"It's like the fugitive! The van she was in crashed and she ran. She also stole a car. They found it a few hours later outside of Jacksonville, but they can't find her." AJ told them.
"What are we being punished for?" Terri asked, looking to the sky.
"Shannon said that we need to try to stay home after dark, never be alone, and lock all doors and windows." AJ continued.
"This sucks." Lexi sighed.
"No kidding." The others agreed.
Chapter 13
Chapter 15
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