Hearing In The Wind index
Chapter 4
Tina and Nick barged through the door laughing. Tina was on Nick's back, and he was bouncing as he walked. It had only been a week since the two met, but they had been inseperable and immediatly became best friends.
Tina paid Christy, the babysitter, who then left and then they checked on Ananda, who was sleeping. The baby was sleeping soundly, so Nick carefully shut the door. Ananda had been completely attached to Nick since the second they met, and he adored her just as much.
Nick and Tina got two cans of Coke and sat down at the kitchen table to talk. "So... how have you been since the last time we talked?" Nick asked jokingly. Tina sighed and said "Nick, I have a problem." He looked worried and asked "Wh...what?" She looked at his eyes. They were so beautiful... "Stop that" she told herself. "Nick is your friend" she paused. "I have a problem." she repeated. Nick stared at her. "Uh, yeah that's what you just said. You gonna tell me about it?" She paused again. "My mom is going to have surgery on Wednesday, a week from tomorrow. I have to be with her, but... I don't have anywhere to keep Ananda..." she said. Nick smirked and said "Leave her with me then. We get along well enough." Tina looked at him again. "Are you sure? Ananda is a lot of work..." Nick laughed. "Sure, if you can do it, I probably can too." Tina pushed him a little. "I don't know if that was an insult to me or a compliment to you!" she said laughing.
Nick did that little half smile thing (ya know what I mean... hehe) and said calmly, "Why not both?" They both laughed and talked about what they planned on doing tomorrow...
*11:00 that night*
Nick and Tina were up and laughing at Nick's house, with Ananda asleep in Nick's bed. The doorbell rang and they both scrambled to get it. Tina reached it first and flew open the door. Brian jumped onto her, expecting 6'1'' Nick to be there instead of 5'3'' Tina. The both of them fell to the floor at Nick's feet. He looked down at them and mumbled "Animals". Brian and Tina looked at each other and started after Nick, who practially flew down the hallway into the living room. Tina and Brian resumed their regular pace and walked calmly into the family room, leaving a bewildered Nick sitting at the couch already armed with a pillow.
Nick got up and went into the family room. The three of them squashed onto the couch and talked about what they should do. "Video games" Nick said. Tina shook her head and said "I better get Ananda home." She gave Bri a hug and went upstairs to get the baby. She picked her up and walked down the stairs. Nick and Brian were talking quietly about something that Tina couldn't hear, so she went to the door to let herself out. Suddenly she felt something cold on her neck. she turned around and Nick was blowing on her neck. She giggled and held Ananda on one hip and gave Nick a big hug with her other arm and side. He wrapped his arms around her waist and didn't let go for a long time.
"Where did Brian go?" Tina asked quietly, not wanting to wake the sleeping baby. "Oh... he left just a minute ago." Nick replied. "I'll walk you guys home since it's dark." Tina nodded and let Nick hold the door for her. Once they were outside, she handed Ananda to Nick and watched the baby breathe deeply from the scent of Nick's cologne. Tina laughed and said quietly "She likes the way you smell Nicky"
Nick shuddered at the way she said Nicky, and smiled at her. He reached out and gently took her hand. She looked up at him, confused. He just looked at her, and then she smiled and squeezed his hand softly. They walked home in silence.