"Did I tell you I invited Jessie to go shopping with us?” A.J. asked Stephanie as she flipped another pancake.
Stephanie looked at him and then forced a smile, “Oh really, well, I invited Nick. Hope you don’t mind.”
A.J.’s expression changed from a smile to a scowl, “What?”
“You know, Nick, the blonde guy sitting next to you.”
A.J. looked at her and then at Nick. He was chewing his mouthful of pancakes slowly and looking from one to another, “what?”
A.J. looked at Nick and then back at Stephanie, “Okay, fine.” She could tell he was mad and she wasn’t really sorry about it.
Brian walked into the kitchen and looked around, “Good Morning Stephanie, Nick, what are you doing here?” he asked A.J.
A.J. laughed, “Love you to man, this is Jessie. Jess, this is Brian.”
Brian smiled and said hello, and then looked at Stephanie, she didn’t seem to notice. “Is Megan up yet?”
Stephanie shook her head, “She’s not the morning type. She’ll be up in a little while.”
Brian sat down next to Nick and took a plate of food, “This is what is nice about having female company, who are good cooks.”
Stephanie smiled, “Just wait until tonight, Megan and I have a dinner planned that you guys are going to love.”
“Can’t wait.” Brian said taking a bite out of his pancakes.
“Um, Nick, can I speak with you for a minute?” Stephanie asked walking out of the kitchen.
Nick looked at A.J., who was mumbling under his breath, and then at Brian, “Yeah sure.” He walked out into the living room and then into the hall where she was pacing.
“Nickolas, you are going with us, and you just go along with whatever, I don’t know what, but just go along with it.”
Nick crossed his arms, “What do I get out of the deal?”
Stephanie stopped pacing and looked at him, “What, what do you want?”
“A date with you.”
“What? No.”
“Yes, or no on the favor.”
“A date, like what?”
Nick shrugged, “Just go out and do something.”
Stephanie started pacing again and then stopped and pointed her finger, “Okay, fine. IF anything happens, I owe you a date. If nothing happens then I don’t owe you a thing.”
Nick nodded, “I can agree with that.”
They walked back into the kitchen and Nick just grinned. Stephanie knew she was making A.J. mad, but as long as Jessie was around, she didn’t care.
“You ready to go?” A.J. asked as they came back in
Nick dropped his arm around Stephanie’s shoulders, “yeah, I think we are.”
Stephanie stepped away and glared at him, “Don’t push it.” She said under her breath. Nick only grinned. Stephanie grabbed her bag, “Let’s go.”
A.J. was mad and knew what to do to make Stephanie furious. He walked around to the passenger side of the Expedition and opened the passenger door for Jessie. Stephanie glared at him as she climbed in, and he only smiled. Nick was paying attention and right on cue opened the door for Stephanie. She grinned at him and patted his cheek, “Good boy.” She turned and grinned at A.J. who was already glaring. She sat back in the leather seat and sighed, today was going to be interesting.
Nick climbed in on the other seat and grinned at her, “How am I doing?” he whispered
She looked up and found A.J. looking at her in the rearview mirror. She smiled at Nick, “Wonderful.” She said smiling. A.J. hit the brakes just a little harder than necessary and Stephanie glared at him, he only glared back. Nick took his cue and dropped his arm around Stephanie’s shoulder, A.J. only gripped the steering wheel a little tighter.
