It must have been an hour later when we both stirred. Stretching lazily against each other, I realized that we were stuck together. Literally.
I giggled.
"What, babe?" Nick asked, kissing the top of my head.
"Ummm ... Nick..." I giggled again, trying unsuccessfully to peel myself away.
"Oh. Well ..." He was beginning to see the dilemma.
My giggle became a full-voiced howl as he leaned back against the pillow and began to sing "Stuck On You".
"Oh stop, you're killing me!" I was laughing uncontrollably now, our sticky bodies feeling more gross by the minute.
"C'mon, let's get you into the shower." Hauling his delectable ass out of my bed, he pulled me up by the hand and dragged me toward the bathroom.
"Join me?" I batted my eyelashes at him innocently.
"Maybe. After you're clean." He wrinkled his nose in mock disgust, sliding the shower door open and ushering me inside. "Rinse off, maybe I'll be back." He grinned, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"Go see what happened to Kevin. He never came back upstairs." I lathered my hair, pointedly ignoring the heat in Nick's eyes as he watched the soapy water run down my body.
"Yeah, ok..." Sliding the shower door closed, he went in search of Kevin.
***************
The water was beginning to run cold when I heard the door to the bathroom open softly. I was about to invite him in to join me, but as I peeked around the shower door the look on his face stopped me cold.
"Nick?" Something was terribly wrong.
"Bec, he's gone."
My blood ran cold. I turned off the water, reaching for my bathrobe.
"What do you mean *gone*?"
"*Gone*, as in *not here anymore*."
I must have flinched at the anger in his voice, for he was immediately contrite.
"I'm sorry. It's just --" Sighing, he continued, "He left a note."
"Nick, you're scaring me." I pulled my bathrobe tighter around me, hoping it would protect me and not really knowing why I felt the need.
"Here. Read it yourself." Holding out the slip of paper, he turned quietly and went downstairs.
----------
Opening the note from Kevin, I was afraid. See, I *knew* it had been a mistake ... I should have never--
*Don't do this* he wrote. Damn, were they BOTH clairvoyant? Sniffling, I tried my best to focus on his words.
*I know exactly what you're thinking, and you're wrong. And I apologize for ducking out like this, taking the easy way out, but ... well, it's just better this way.*
Wiping my eyes, I gave up trying not to cry.
*Tonight was - tonight was awesome, Rebecca. I don't know what I've ever done in my life to deserve tonight, but I'll remember it as long as I live.*
I was weeping openly.
*Please don't regret it. Please don't let it change what we have ... had ... see? I'm not even sure it hasn't already changed. I'm not blind, and I can see what's beginning between you and Nick. And you both deserve a chance to follow that road and see where it leads. Now get up and go stop him. He's probably on his way out the door to come find me. I love you, Rebecca Dawn, always have. See you soon.*
Folding the paper carefully, I looked up through my tears to see Nick standing in my doorway, fully dressed. I giggled at how well Kevin knew him, and I must have looked hideous. My nose was red and runny, my eyes were puffy ... and he was so damn beautiful.
"Did you read this?" I asked.
He nodded silently.
Holding my arms open wide, I whispered "Come here."
And he did.
*******************