Dear Cari,
I'm sorry about what happened yesterday...forgive me? *makes puppy dog look* please? I guess I was waaaay off the line...
but i still wish your coming, now i have to spend it with some blond bimbo *grins*. Anyway, gimme a call when you receive this,
I'm missing you already...
Love you, Nick
Cari sighed. She was still a bit annoyed at how Nick reacted, at least he made a move to apologize.
"True, I'm missing him too. His funny jokes, his obnoxious behavior, his whiny voice and most especially the was his arms
feel around me." Before Cari could pick up the phone to call Nick, Brooke barged into Cari's office,
"Oooohhhhhh! What's the deal with the kick ass roses?" she asked as she smelled them.
Cari sighed , "Hello to you too. Why haven't you gone home yet?" she inquired.
"I just finished my last shoot. If you can remember, I'm swamped because we took time off yesterday, remember? Who's it from?"
she asked referring to the roses.
"Nick sent them, like an apology. Beautiful aren' they?" she said as she fingered the petal of the rose closest to her.
"What? You haven't forgiven him yet? It's been like a day and a half since that argument!" she said incredelously, "Are you
trying to torture the poor guy?"
"He started it, and why the hell are you taking his side?" Cari said sulkily.
"I'm not taking his side! It's just that, here," she pushed the roses closer to Cari, "he already apologized the classic way."
"I was just going to call him when you barged into my office, here," Cari tossed the card to Brooke.
"I don't think he's joking about the bimbo part though," Brooke said cheekily.
"Hahaha...anyway, we're still going together at the party, right?"
"Uh-huh, which car?"
"Mine," she said just after she yawned. "Crap! I'm so tired. Let's hit the road." Cari said as she stood up and got the flowers,
"Mhuhmumm, they smell sooo good!" Cari said before she looked a surprise look came to her face, "Jeez! Can't Nick understand
that roses smell good as it is?" she muttered.
"What do you mean?" Brooke said as she pushed the grond floor button on the elevator.
Giggling, Cari handed Brooke the roses, "He sprayed it with Gravity!"
At Brian's...
"Kaos sit down before I knock you out cold. You making Leighanne dizzy." he said with a twinge of amusement in his voice.
"Oh sorry Leighanne," he sat down then started to crack his knuckles.
"Now I'm sure I'm going to have a permanent damage on my hearing!" Leighanne groaned.
Stiffling his laughter, Brian commented, "Don't worry Nick, she'll call." referring to Cari.
"But she should have called hours ago!" he whined.
"Maybe she's caught up with something." he suggested. The phone rang, "NYPD Pizza, how may I help you?" Leighanne giggled.
"Hey Rok, I never knew you had an ambition to work at NYPD!" Kevin joked. Brian pressed the speaker phone button so Leighanne
and Nick could hear him.
"It's Kevin," he mouthed at Leighanne's direction.
"Hey Kevy Kev!"
"Hey Leigh, any of the guys there?" he asked.
"Nick here, hey Kev, sup?" Nick greeted.
"You guys ready for tomorrow night?" he asked excitedly.
"Uh-huh, I'm taking Leighanne,"
"How 'bout you Nicky? Taking Cari?"
Nick sighed, "Nah, I'm coming alone, she's got a major meeting sceduled tomorrow."
"Oh," Kevin paused. "Don't forget that's it's black tie and don't be late!"
"You've been telling us that for the last five days. It's already hurting to the ears!" Brian said exasperatedly.
"Sorry," he said sheepishly. "Anyway see ya guys tomorrow, Bye!"
"Bye Kev,"
Leighanne nudged Brian after he placed down the phone. "What?" Leighanne nodded towards Nick's direction. He was sleeping
soundly, with a throwpillow on his arms. Brian smiled Leighanne broke the silence after a few minutes,
"So why do you think she hasn't called him yet? I mean, yeah sure Nick was acting like an asshole yestrday but it's not a biggie
or anything..." she said as she bit her lip.
"To ease your worry, I already called Cari's office. Geena told me that she's got about eight meetings scheduled today, so I
guess she was just very busy and got the flowers when she was on her way home and forgot to call him back." he said playing
with her hair.
"Are you sure it's not what we thought it was?" she asked, still unsure.
"Brooke called after she talked to Cari yesterday and she's sure. And guess what?" he said mysteriously, "She's coming tomorrow.
Apparently, she felt a bit guilty and after reason finally sunk into her thick head, just like Nick, one of her VP's can
replace her at the meeting. She's planning to surprise him."
Leighanne's face lit up, "Really? Nick's gonna be so happy! So what are we going to do to him now?" pointing at Nick's sleeping
form.
"I'll just let him crash, it's after midnight anyway and I'm sure Jane still wants to see her son in one piece not in some
car crash site."
After they place a blanket on top of Nick, they went upstairs to get some sleep themselves.
"C;mon Kaos, mingle! If you want, I'll introduce you to some hot salsa mommas of mine." AJ suggested as he pointed to the
girls who were seated at the other side of the ballroom.
"No thanks, AJ" he answered sadly. "What if she hates me? Aarhhrrrgggg Carter!!!! You did it again with your asshole
behaivior!"
AJ turned to Brian, "Hey Rok, what's up with Nicky Boy?" he said as he was playing with the martini grass, swirling the
liquor.
"Cari hasn't called him yet, don't worry he'll be fine in an hour. Anyway, where's Amanda?"
Nodding his head towards the dance floor, "There, she's with Kevin, Kirsten and the others." The "others" included Claudia
and Howie who were tearing up the dance floor with their kick ass dance moves. They were having a dance contest with BJ and
her date.
Nick excused himself from the two and went to the bar. He ordered a double scotch on the rocks. He tried to loosen the tuxedo
tie which at the moment was strangling him. "Damnit!" he cursed, the damn tie wouldn't come loose. He gave up.
"Cari!" Kevin said clearly surprised.
"We thought you weren't coming," Kristen said as she pulled her into a hug.
"Uh, well, couldn't miss you and Kristen tonight," she laughed a bit uncomfortably.
"How does it feel like to be engaged Kristen?" Brooke asked.
"Heaven!" They all laughed.
Kristen also hugged Brooke after she hugged Cari, "He's a fine one," she whispered referring to Kevin.
"I know," she whispered back.
"Congrats Kev, finally you popped the big question," Ethan commented.
"I had to she was already flirting with Brian," he joked. Kristen swatted his arm playfully.
"Excuse me guys, I have to talk to Brian and Leighanne," Cari said as she made her way towards the couple's table.
"Hi Brian, Leigh," she greeted the couple.
"Cari, you came!" Leighanne said excitedly as she pulled her into a hug.
"You guys knew that I was coming," she said wryly. "Where's Nick anyway?" she asked looking around.
"I think he went to the bar near the entrance of the ballroom a minute ago." Brian said pointing at the secluded bar.
"Thanks, I'll see you guys later." She threaded her way to the bar, saying hi to the people she knew.
Finally, she asw Nick at the bar, sitting by himself swirling the amber liquid on his hand. Smoothing down her greecian
shouldered pine green dress, she continued walking until she was behind Nick. Taking a huge breath, she placed her hands on
Nick's eyes.
"Rok, get you hands off my eyes," he demamded.
"I'm not Brian," Cari answered, stiffling her laughter. Nick felt her hands.
"C'mon Leighanne, I don't like it when it's dark!" he whined.
"Maybe this would help," she kissed him quickly on the mouth.
Nick smiled, "I never knew I turned you on Leighanne!" he joked. Cari slapped his head upside, "Owww," Nick said as he rubbed
his head.
Cari took off her hands then sat beside Nick, "Hey partner,"
A grin formed on Nick's face, "I thought you weren't coming!"
"Don't I get a hug and kiss first?" she said, pretending to pout.
"C'mere," he said as he hugged and kissed her. "So am I forgiven?" he asked softly.
"You know I can't resist those puppy dog eyes," she said.
He sighed, "Rok and Leighanne made me realize that you weren't neglecting you at all, I was. I took your taking your time off
to be with me for granted and here I am demanding you to come with me when you had something else to do. And I'm sorry for
that," he finished.
"At long last he realizes!" she joked.
"Hey don't push it," he said sternly.
"My, my, my...and not only does he take me for granted, he's also bossy, arrogant and obnoxious," she giggled.
"I am not bossy!" Nick said indignantly.
"Are too!"
"Are not!"
"Are too!"
"Are not!"
"Are too!"
"Are not!"
"Are too!"
"Shut up!"
"See your bossy, end of story. Lalalalalalalalala," she chanted trying to block out Nick's voice, closing her eyes. He kissed
her squarely on the mouth, Cari's eyes popped open.
"I knew that woul shut you up," he said smugly.
Befor Cari could come up with a snide comeback, Brian appeared at the entrance of the bar,
"C'mon you lovebirds, your missing dinner!" then he disappeared.
Nick perked up immediately after he heard the word associated with the word food.
"Let's go!" He grabbed Cari's hand and practically dragged her out of the bar.
"Not to mention that he's also impatient, dictatoral, bullying, and a prempetory blond." she giggled when Nick stopped. He
kissed her soundly on the mouth again.
"You just did that so that I would kiss you didn't you?" he said pretending to be suspicious.
Cari smiled innocently, "I guess I did."
It was already nine thirty in the evening when Cari came in from her last
meeting. A dozen peach roses sat on top of her desk. She read the card:
"He's making me dizzy Brian." Leighanne whispered. Nick was pacing infront of them for about the millionth
time that day.
At the ballroom...
The party was in full swing. Everybody was happy, except Nick who was still brooding because Cari still
hasn't called him.
At the ballroom...
Cari, Brooke and Ethan entered the ballroom to be greeted by Kevin and Kristen. Kristem looked absolutely
gorgeous as was Kevin who looked so handsome.
