"Abby, girl, I don't have time to play with you right now," Destiny said, her chocolate lab sitting at her feet wagging her tail happily. "I have a date with a nice young gentleman named Nick. Nick who you say? Nick Carter. That's right. THE Nick Carter. Yes, the Backstreet Boy. You're asking how I managed to get a date with him? Why with my delicate good looks and overpowering charm of course!"
Abby turned her head to the side as she continued to stare, as if to say, "You DO realize you are carrying on a conversation with a dog?" Then, she turned and slowly sauntered out of the room.
"Fine then!" Des laughed. "Bail on me! You're just jealous!"
She checked her watch again, realizing she only had a few more minutes before Nick was to pick her up.
"UGH!" she shouted, in disgust with her hair. "Any other time it would do anything I want it to. But, oh no, not now! Since this could be THE single most important date of my life, it won't do a damn thing!"
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Nick nervously bit what was left of his fingernails as he waited impatiently at the red light. He was a little surprised by his nervousness. Usually, he was very confident and in control when it came to women. But, there had been something about this girl. He just wasn't sure exactly what it was. And to top it off, when she'd said her name, there was this voice inside of him, one he had never heard before, saying 'Of course your name is Destiny. What else could it be?'. It was almost as if he had known her name before she said it.
Shaking his head clear, he pulled off from the now green light, much to the delight of the cars behind him. He glanced over at the single red rose he had bought for her and wondered if maybe he should have gotten a dozen instead.
"No. Don't do that, Carter!" he said sternly to himself. "Real women want a man who is sure of himself. Not some quivering idiot.!" That had been one lesson he'd had to learn the hard way. But, he couldn't think about that too long. If he did, he knew what would happen. He would be reduced to tears once again. Those memories were just still too painful. Everytime he thought he was okay with things and allowed the memoried to invade his thoughts, he could almost feel the pain all over again.
Realizing he was doing it again, Nick turned on the radio and began to sing along with the song playing as he looked for her street sign. He was starting to wonder if he was lost as he continued to pass road after road with literally no sign of hers.
"Shit!" he said. "Guess I will turn around at the next road."
Thinking he had missed her road, he turned down the next one to turn around. As he turned his head to look behind him, he noticed the name on the street sign. It was HER road!
"Cool!" he smiled, feeling it was destiny that he had chosen that road to turn around on.
"Yeah," he smiled to himself. "Destiny."
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Destiny took a deep breath as she made her way to the door. Pausing a second before opening it, she gathered as much composure as she could find. After all, it WAS Nick Carter on the other side. Finally, she opened it, feeling the same nervous feeling that had rippled through her when she had first talked to him.
"Hi," she smiled.
"Hi," he smiled back, nervously twirling a red rose in his hand. "Um.... this is for you."
Taking his offering, she thanked him.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
"Ready."
She couldn't help but smile as she followed him to his car and he opened her door for her. Not only was he a gentleman; he also had one hell of a fine ass!
For the first five minutes of their ride, Nick was silent. He didn't say a word. But, once he got started he didn't stop. He just rambled on and on. It was so obvious to her that he was nervous. And it was so cute. Nick Carter nervous was something she had never imagined. And though she found it charming, she finally decided to put him out of his misery.
"So, where are we going?" she asked. But, before he could answer, the car started vibrating and she could hear a weird sound coming from outside the car.
"Shit!" he exclaimed as he slowed the car.
"What's wrong? What is it?"
"Flat tire, I think."
Nick eased the car to the edge of the road and got out. He walked to the back of the car and she could hear him swearing once again.
"Shit!"
"It's ok. Don't worry," she said as he got back in the car.
Shaking his head and running his fingers through his spiked blonde hair, he kinda laughed.
"I had someone meeting us at my boat to prepare dinner in about thirty minutes," he stated, checking his watch. "We will never make it now. I don't even have a jack."
He appeared to be sincerely disgusted, so Destiny suggested an alternative plan.
"You have a cell phone, right?"
"Yeah."
"Can you call whomever was meeting us and let them know what's going on?"
"Yeah."
"Ok. Good. And you'll have to call for a tow, right?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I thought maybe we could call a cab and go back to my house since it isn't far from here. And maybe we could pick up a movie on the way and order in pizza."
"Pizza? Really?" he asked, beginning to smile again.
"Yeah. Really," she smiled back.
"Ok. You talked me into it."
"Good."
"But, what about my car? How will I get home?"
"Don't worry. I can take you home later," she offered.
"I'm sorry about this," he started. "I promise I will make it up to you next time."
"Next time?" she asked. "Oh, you're already sure there will be a next time?"
"Well, I....er.... I just kinda assumed there would be."
"Next time," she nodded. "You can make it up to me next time."
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After spending 45 minutes in the video store debating over what type of movie to get, Destiny and Nick finally made it back to her house. She had wanted a horror flick. He had wanted sci fi. Somehow they had settled on a comedy. But, now, preparing to order the pizza, they faced another dilemma.
"Who eats pineapple on pizza?" he asked, his nose squenched up in a look of disgust.
"I do! That's who. Who eats mushrooms?? They're so rubbery, it's like having little tiny tires on your pizza!" she retorted.
They argued back and forth and finally decided to just order it half and half. While waiting for the delivery, she told him all about her job and of how she had been promoted and relocated from a much smaller town. Realizing she'd been hogging the conversation, Destiny began trying to get Nick to talk about himself.
"So, tell me, if you don't mind my asking, what are the other guys like? Hard to work with? Any horror stories?"
"No, not really," he laughed.
"Darn!" she smiled. "And here I was hoping for some juicy gossip. But really.... is Brian really as straight-laced as he appears to be? Is AJ as wild? And how about Kevin and Howie? And their significant others?"
"Well, let's see....," he began. "First off, yes, Brian is pretty straight-laced. I mean, he isn't boring, just kind of a 'what you see is what you get' kinda guy. Very down to earth, and very funny."
"You two are close?" she asked.
"We are very close," he nodded. "Always have been. He and Graycie, his wife of four years, I think, are hilarious to be around. They are so totally opposite, but they are so good for each other. He is more reserved and quiet, where she is very outgoing and upbeat."
"Cool," she smiled.
"Then, there is Kevin and Madison. They've been married a little over two years. Kevin is I guess you'd say the 'father figure' or maybe the 'big brother' of the group. He keeps us in line. He tends to huff and puff a lot, but he has a big heart. I think the reason he is so bossy with us is that he doesn't get to be that way at home. Maddie keeps him in line. She is a very outspoken, extremely hyper country girl. She's a hoot. She has a wonderful sense of humor. Kevin has a sense of humor. His is just much drier."
"I guess maybe opposites attract."
"Evidently," he agreed. "On to Howie. He is the 'sweet' one out of us. He's known as the romantic, the romeo. He is very loyal, very trustworthy. Always there when you need him. And though he is usually pretty quiet, he has been known to get a little rowdy from time to time. He and his girlfriend, Faith, have been together for about a year now. She is wonderful. They are one of those perfect matches every one dreams of. She is one of the most open and honest people I have ever met. She is very easy going and easy to talk to. It is obvious when you're around those two just how much in love they are. It's almost like they glow when they're together."
"That is wonderful. Finding that one perfect partner can sometimes be very difficult. People wait a lifetime for something like that. It's good they found each other."
"It is," he nodded. "And then, there is AJ. I really don't know how to describe him. I wouldn't really call him wild. He is just...... different I guess. He has his own thing going on, you know. His own style, his own flair. He has a great sense of humor and a very warm personality. He is quite the prankster, but when it comes to his work, he is very serious and dedicated. Next to Brian, he is probably my closest friend. Now, his girlfriend is another story," he finished, a strange look on his face.
"You don't like her?" she asked.
"It's not so much that I don't like her really. It's just that.... I don't know. There's just something about her that's not quite right. She and AJ don't look good together. They don't mesh like the other couples. I just don't think she is right for him. But, that's my opinion. Who am I to say anything as long as he is happy?"
"True. As long as she makes him happy, that's what is important," she agreed. "So, what about you?"
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"You have told me about all the other guys, and their girlfriends and wives. So, how about you? Why don't you have a 'significant other'?"
When Nick didn't answer right away, Destiny noticed the pained look on his face. Oh no, she thought. I've hit a sore subject.
Thankfully the doorbell rang and broke the tension.
"Oooh, pizza's here," she said, getting up to answer the door.
"Great," he smiled. "I'm starved."
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As they ate the pizza and watched the movie, the conversation and laughter flowed. Even well after the movie ended, they continued to talk on and on. At the end of a very amusing story Nick told about the time he and Brian got locked outdoors in nothing but boxers in the dead of winter, Destiny was wiping tears from her eyes from laughing so hard. After the laughter stopped, she looked back to Nick, who was now sitting sideways beside her, facing her, his head propped up with his hand against the back of the couch. There were those beautiful blue eyes once again looking into hers. For a brief moment, there was an awkward silence. He slowly opened his mouth to speak.
"I'd.... uh.... I want...," he stammered.
As she waited for him to finish what he started saying, Nick leaned in closer to her and softly brushed his lips against hers. It was almost as if he were intentionally doing it softly, in case she didn't respond favorably. When he realized that she was kissing him back, he deepened the kiss, allowing his tongue to glide along hers. As his hand came up her back to her neck, pulling her closer, she slid her body closer to his. Nick hooked his other hand under her legs, moved the hand from her neck back down to wrap around her waist, and pulled her into his lap, his lips never losing contact with hers. Once in his lap, Destiny wrapped her arms around his neck, as his arms held her close to him. She could feel his growing 'interest' below her. He could feel her warmth even through the material of his pants. Several minutes into the passionate kiss, they both realized this was going to go way too far if they didn't stop soon. Pulling away, he looked into her face and smiled.
"I think maybe we should stop," he said. "Not that I really want to. But it IS only our first date, after all."
"You're right," she nodded, still in his lap, her hands on his broad shoulders.
As she got up out of his lap and caught her breath, he stood up behind her, placed a hand on her shoulder and spun her around to meet his gaze.
"So, what do you say about that second date?" he asked with a smile.
"Do you know you have the sexiest smile I've ever seen?" she asked.
"Really now? You wouldn't be trying to avoid my question, would you?"
"Of course not. I'd love a second date. Just say when," she answered.
"How's next Saturday?"
"Sure. What you wanna do then?"
"It's AJ's engagement party. I'd be honored if you'd escort me," he smiled again.
What a charmer, she thought. "Are you sure you're ready to take me to meet your friends?"
"I wouldn't ask if I wasn't sure."
"Ok, then. Saturday it is."
A few more smiles, and several more kisses later, she drove Nick home. He had invited her in to see the place, but knowing how hot things had gotten between them earlier, she really didn't think that was a good idea right then. He understood, and said he would give her the tour later.
On the drive back home, Destiny couldn't seem to wipe the silly grin off her face that had been there all evening. Though Nick was far different than what she had expected, she was pleasantly surprised. They seemed to bond well, despite their many obvious differences. She was looking forward to their next date with great anticipation. Would she be to the liking of his friends. Would she look like a fool in front of them, given who they were? She wanted things with Nick to progress the way they seemed to be naturally going. She knew his friends' approval would be a big help with that. As long as nothing goes wrong, she thought, we will be just fine. She was more than happy to embark on this new journey with him.