SAY YES

Amanda

c)2001

Part II

I sat there in an easy chair, hugging a pillow for the longest time as

I watched the sun begin to rise. It was interesting to see how the

bright lights of Vegas dimmed, their intensity fading bit by bit, too

weak to compete with the rays of the sun. Tossing the pillow aside, I

rose stiffly, feeling just like the intense lights down below, bright,

glowing, until something stronger, something more powerful came to

snuff that brilliance out. That something, that dominant force had a

name. Leighanne. I sighed bitterly as I glanced at my watch wondering

if Brian had watched the same sunrise, had thought the same thoughts.

Probably not. Most likely he was curled up comfortably in his bed,

dreaming of the bitch. Bitch. Smiling grimly, I spoke the word to

the ceiling. Several times in fact. The more I said it, the better I

felt. My competition. I wanted to laughed out loud. I wanted to

cry. I wanted to throw up. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do.

* * * * * * * * * * *

It was really quite simple. I was going to fight the bitch. I liked

that. Bitch. Not Leighanne. I knew I could concentrate

on "bitch" easier, zone in on an entity, a thing, rather than on a

name that brought up a vision every time someone spoke her name. Yes.

The Bitch. It was…...

"Nick, get your head outta your ass. This is the last time I'm going

to ask you."

Startled, I looked up from my bowl of cereal, realizing I had ignored

AJ the whole time I had been eating my breakfast.

"Um, what did you just ask me?" I looked at him, embarrassed.

He had been surprised when I had asked him to come over. Really

surprised.

"He's not here," I had informed him bluntly when he peeked his head

around the doorframe, curiously looking back and forth.

AJ heaved a frustrated sigh. "So, how did it go?"

I placed my bowl on the cart, spreading my arms wide. "Well, you tell

me. See Brian anywhere around?"

"Damn, it went that bad? I was sure you'd get laid."

"I did."

AJ frowned. "God, you must be one lousy lay."

I narrowed my eyes to show him how much I wanted him dead.

AJ held his hands up. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. Really. Tell me what

happened."

"He loves me."

"He. He who?"

Another glare. "Brian!" I shouted in disgust. "Shit!"

"Sorry, Jeez! You kinda threw me for a minute." I watched as AJ

tried to relax a little more comfortably in his seat. "So, Brian said

he loves you?"

I nodded.

"Whoa."

I looked at him suspiciously. "Whoa what?"

AJ shrugged. "Nothing. Just whoa." He rubbed his nose for a second.

"So, who nailed who?"

"AJ!"

"Just wondering. Damn! What I wouldn't give to see you and choirboy

in bed!"

I knew I shouldn't ask, but I had to. "And why is that, O Great Horny

One?"

I watched as AJ gave a wicked laugh. "Blackmail. Pure and simple.

Figured it would come in handy sometime. Brian sure has enough shit

on me! It'd be nice to even the odds for a change!"

I sighed dramatically. "Is there a reason you're here?"

"I don't know. You called me, remember?"

"I thought maybe you could help," I commented sarcastically.

"I can help. I can help. What's the problem?"

"Not a what. A who. Leighanne."

"Shit. The bitch."

I perked up immediately. "So you think so too?"

AJ snorted. "Whaddya mean, think? I know."

Nodding, I slouched back in my seat. I stared down at my hands for a

moment, picking at my nails. "Why do you think Brian married her?" I

tried to keep my tone light, unemotional.

AJ was not impressed with my acting ability. "You know why. Bri

falls for them every time."

"Them?"

"Blonde, pretty…"

I frowned, butting in. "Hey, I'm blonde! I'm pretty!"

AJ leaned forward. "Big boobs."

"Oh. Forgot about those."

AJ smirked. "Brian doesn't."

I thought about it for a minute and AJ must have seen the change on my

face because I suddenly found his hand on my shoulder.

"Damn, Nick, I'm really sorry. You love him, he loves you and I'm

guessing he loves Leighanne too."

"Bingo."

AJ stood up, quietly gazing down at me.

"Oh God, here we go. You're gonna say something deep, aren't you?

Aren't you? I don't wanna hear it."

AJ pried my hands off my ears. "Nick."

I covered them again.

"Nick!!"

Boy, he slaps hard. "Ow! Dammit! What?"

"You gotta let him go."

I could feel the tears welling up and I glared at him. "No."

AJ rubbed his neck wearily then crouched down on his haunches to get

eye level, speaking softly at me. "Nick, you have to. He loves her.

He's married to her."

"So?" I spat out harshly. "What's that got to do with anything?"

AJ grabbed my arm. "Everthing!" He shook me. "Everything! You know

Brian wants kids! A home! How are you gonna provide that? Huh?"

I winced as he shouted the words at me, ripping my arm away from his

grip. "I don't know! I just know that he loves me! Me! More than

her!"

"More than her?" I could hear the disbelief in his voice and I turned

away. "What? Did he say that? Did he? Did Brian say he loves you

more? Nick, did he say yes? "

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