Alex smiled as Nick dropped her so her feet hit the ground, “You know, you could kill a guy doing that.”
Alex laughed, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you or anything.”
Nick gave her a lopsided grin, “Just startled me that’s all. It’s not every day you get beautiful women literally throwing themselves at you.”
Alex rolled her eyes, “Not unless you’re a Backstreet Boy.”
“Come on, I have to go put these up.” Nick said starting to walk back into the house. Alex followed him in thru the back door and helped him put the few groceries away, “Where is everybody?”
“I don’t know. I just woke up a little while ago and they were all gone.”
“So your reasoning for going to the grocery story would be….?”
“We didn’t have any milk for breakfast.” Nick answered getting out a bowl and a box of cereal.
Alex laughed, “Yep, born hungry, stay hungry, die hungry.” Nick just looked at her and she grinned at him, “Well, it’s true!”
“You wanted to talk?”
“Yeah.”
“Wanna go out and sit on the dock?”
“Sure, lead the way.”
Alex followed Nick out the back door and thru the backyard down to the dock. Alex sat down and pulled her shoes off. She let her feet dangle in the water as Nick sat down beside her munching on his cereal, “Well, first off, would you mind telling me why you planned to leave LA without telling me?”
Alex sighed and looked out on the ocean, “I was scared.”
Nick looked at her confused, “Of what?”
“To me, you are just Nick, just the average guy.” Nick nodded and waited for her to go on, “That was the first time I came face to face to what you really are, and it scared me.”
Nick was even more confused now, “What are you talking about?”
“You are not normal, or average. You are known world wide, you have billions of screaming fans, and a career that is at the top of the charts.”
Nick sat his bowl down and looked at her, “What does that have to do with anything?!?”
“I told you in the letter Nick. You have another life, almost another identity. I don’t think I fit in there.”
To Nick she was not making any sense at all, “Of course you fit in there! You fit in where ever I fit in.”
Alex continued to look out over the waves and didn’t reply.
“Lex, it’s just my job. Being a part of the group is my job, not who I am. You of all people know that.”
“I know, that’s my point. In LA I came face to face for the first time with your job. You have to admit it’s not the most ordinary job. I realized for the first time that you were somebody Nick. You had your talent and your fame, and I have nothing. What I couldn’t figure out is, what’s in it for you?”
Nick’s mouth fell open, he couldn’t believe she had just said that. He didn’t know what to say. He got up and started walking off. Alex didn’t move but continued to watch the water. After a few minutes she heard Nick stomping back, “I’ll tell you what’s in it for me Alexis Paine! You are in it for me! How could you….say…or ask such a…”
Alex finally looked up at him. He was standing over her with his arms crossed and a frustrated look on his face, “such a what?” she asked
He leaned down in her face, “STUPID QUESTION!!” he screamed
Alex didn’t bat an eyelash, “It’s not a stupid question.”
Nick sat down beside her again, “Do you think I need to get something out of our relationship?”
Alex shrugged, “I don’t know. Why me though? You see millions of chics all over the world that literally throw themselves at you. Why not one of them?”
“Because I love you more.” Alex glared at him, “What? It’s true.” Nick looked out at the water for a few minutes, “I’m just a normal guy Alex. I mean, my job is not who I am, and someday that chapter in my life will be over. Then I plan to come home to you and our 8 kids.”
Alex burst out laughing, “8? I don’t think so.”
The sound of her laughter made Nick smile, “Oh? Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to have to keep track of them all when you are running all over the world on tour.”
“But they will all come with me.”
“And leave me home all alone?”
“I guess you can come too.” Alex yelled and hit him in the arm, “Okay, okay, you HAVE to come.”
“That’s better.”
“Besides, we need someone to keep track of the kids.”
Alex yelled again and this time shoved him right off the dock into the water. Nick came up with a grin, “You asked for it little lady.” He said grabbing her ankles and pulling. Alex kicked and screamed but it was no use. In a matter of minutes Nick had her in the water. She laughed as she wiped the hair out of her face.
Nick looked at her for a minute, “Matters settled?”
“Yep, sure are.” Alex shrieked as she dunked him. Nick only pulled her under with him. After a few minutes Alex started to climb out and Nick followed. Alex grabbed her shoes and Nick picked up his bowl and they headed back to the house, dripping wet.
“Lex?”
“Yeah?”
“Promise next time you’ll just come talk to me.”
Alex nodded, “Next time I’ll talk to you.”
Nick nodded and Alex nodded back. He reached over and laced his fingers thru hers, “You know I love ya.”
“Not as much as I love you.”
Nick looked thoughtful, “No, I think I love you more.”
“Nope, it is common knowledge that I love you more.”
“Hah! Dream on Paine!”
“I must be dreaming because you can’t possibly love me as much as I love you.”
“You’re right I don’t.” Nick answered smiling
Alex stopped, “You don’t?”
“No, I love you MORE!” Alex tossed a shoe in his direction, “HAH! You missed, you never could hit the broad side of a barn!”
Nick took off running and Alex shriek as she began chasing him and throwing everything she could get her hands on at him.
