The barbecue at Brian's was in full swing when Nick and Jordyn arrived. She grew increasingly more nervous as they walked through the house and into the backyard. Even though she'd met everyone in Nick's inner-circle before, she was still a little nervous. But Nick held tightly to her hand as they reached the backyard where everyone was.
LeighAnne spotted the two first and walked over, "Hey, glad you two could make it...how are you doin' Jordyn?"
"I'm good, it's nice to see you again."
"You too...everyone's around here somewhere...Brian's manning the grill, which is a little scary....but yeah, just make yourselves at home. I've gotta run in the kitchen and get some stuff.."
Nick smiled at Jordyn, "See? Everything's alright.."
"I know..sorry..it's not usually like me to be such a nervous wreck.."
"It's alright..I'm gonna go say hi to everyone, come with me?"
"Sure."
Jordyn was once again welcomed by all. Brian was still a little cold to her, but he seemed to be making some effort. She had a feeling that he was just waiting, and watching, to see when she would mess up and make a mistake.
Nick had wandered off with AJ somewhere and Jordyn walked back inside the kitchen to get something else to drink.
Her back was to the door, but she heard it open but just figured it was someone going to the bathroom or something.
But it was Brian. He cleared his throat and she spun around, "Brian! What are you doing in here?"
"It's my house."
Feeling like an idiot, she blushed a little, "Oh yeah..sorry...you just surprised me, that's all."
He walked closer, standing at the sink, washing out a glass, "Sorry. I was wondering when I'd finally get you alone. We need to talk."
She nodded, "Okay..what do we need to talk about?"
"What do you want with my friend?"
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly that. What do you want with Nick?"
"I...I don't want anything with him...we're friends Brian, that's it."
"Just friends? You all seem to be acting like more than just friends out there...holding hands and stuff.."
"Well..we're taking it slow. Why the inqusition?"
He shrugged, "He's been hurt before, I don't want to see him be hurt again."
Now Jordyn was getting it, "And you think I'm going to be the one to hurt him again, huh?"
"Yeah, I do. Is it the money you want? The recognition that you're 'with' Nick Carter?"
"No! That's not it at all! And that's perposterous that you would even think that, Brian!"
"Is it? I've watched him fight the demons in his mind for over five years now...he's my best friend, Jordyn, and I'm not going sit around watch some...some..woman hurt him again."
Jordyn was hurt by those accusations and her eyes began to tear up, much to her dismay, "I would never hurt him Brian. I wasn't even sure the way he felt about me..I was fine just being friends with him..."
"Why'd you just all of a sudden pop into his life? It's pretty suspicious Jordyn."
"Is it so hard for you to see that maybe he's finally happy and wanting to move on? I thought that's what you all wanted for him!"
Brian threw the glass down, a little surprised it didn't break in the sink, but anger began to nearly shoot from his eyes, "We want him to move on, yes! Just not with you!"
Jordyn gasped, shocked that he would say something with that. She caught sight of LeighAnne just out of the doorway, who looked just as shocked. The tears finally escaped from her eyes and she ran for the doorway that led to the front of the house. LeighAnne tried to stop her, but Jordyn shrugged her off and kept running.
Brian was breathing heavily, his hands poised on either side of the sink, his head down. LeighAnne walked in, her arms crossed in front of her, "Brian..."
He held up a hand, "Don't say it."
"Excuse me, but I think I will. That was stupid Brian. Everyone else sees how good she is for him, except for you. You were so gung-ho about him going out with someone...who do you want it to be Brian?? Who?"
"She's with him for the money!"
"If that is really what you think of her, then I feel sorry for you Brian Littrell."
She then turned, and walked out of the kitchen, leaving him alone.
LeighAnne found Jordyn in one of the upstairs bathrooms, crying her eyes out. She looked up as the bathroom door opened and began to cry harder as she saw LeighAnne.
LeighAnne felt all the pain that she was going through and hugged her, "Oh honey, I'm so sorry he said those things..."
Jordyn sniffled, "I...I didn't know I...I could be so hated!"
"Oh he doesn't hate you.."
"Yea right!"
Jordyn sat down on the toilet seat while LeighAnne went about finding a wash cloth for her to wash her face off with, "Honey...Brian cares for Nick alot and it really hurt him when he saw what...what Kate was doing to Nick. And it hurt all of them when she up and left him with an infant...Nick was depressed and lonely and just..hurt...and angry. He wouldn't talk to anyone but the guys and wouldn't leave Brayden alone for more than a few hours or so...and he wouldn't leave Brayden with one of the other wives or girlfriends....Brian's scared for Nick. And I know that doesn't help the situation at all..but my husband can be a real jackass sometimes.."
Jordyn sniffled again and LeighAnne handed her the warm washcloth, "Thanks LeighAnne. I know Nick was hurt by Kate...and I know the guys want what's best for him....I just thought...I thought that maybe I could..you know, help Nick get through that hurt.."
LeighAnne knelt down in front of her, "I have no doubt in that Jordyn. Everyone else sees how he lights up when you're around and how happy he's been these past couple weeks, months, that you two have been around each other. I have no doubt that you are the one to help him through the hurt and things he's going through in his head.."
"Really?"
"Really. Brian had no right to say that, and I know this..."
"But...he's your husband."
"And he does stupid stuff sometimes.."
A small smile crossed her face finally, "He does?"
"Yea, he does...I'm sorry Jordyn, I really am..."
"It's okay..."
"No it's not, it doesn't excuse his actions. Want me to go get Nick?"
"He'll get mad...."
"He'll want to know you're okay.."
Jordyn sighed, "I'll just clean up and try to make myself presentable again..."
LeighAnne stood up, "Are you sure?"
Jordyn forced a smile onto her face, "Yea...I'm sure...thank you though..."
LeighAnne nodded, "Okay..I'm going to go downstairs..come down whenever you're ready."
"I will....thanks...."
Brian was still in the kitchen when LeighAnne came back down. She glared at him and he immediately knew he'd screwed up, badly. "Baby.....baby...Leigh, come on.."
She shrugged his arm off, "How could you do that Brian?"
"It just all came out.."
She sighed, "Well you should have tried harder to keep it inside. She is not trying to hurt Nick! How can you not see how happy he is? Think about it Brian, this is the first time we've all done something where we haven't had to force him to come. This is the first party we've had that AJ or you haven't had to go over there and practically drag him out of his house kicking and screaming. He wants us to get to know Jordyn because he likes her Brian. He wants us to be around her, to get used to her and to see what he sees when he looks at her."
"What do you see Leigh? You can't honestly tell me that you think she won't hurt him."
She sighed, "Sometimes I think your head is too thick. Get it through Bri, she's not going to hurt him! You want to know what I see? I see a young woman who is bright, funny, friendly, she's caring and intelligent. And she was thrown into an inner circle that didn't really want her there, but as soon as everyone but you saw her they knew that she was an okay person. The same thing happened when I first met the guys after we went out a couple times. They weren't for sure how to accept me, but eventually they did. Why can't you give her that chance?"
"I just...I have a feeling about her Leigh.."
LeighAnne rolled her eyes, "And how much have your 'feelings' been right? Very rarely, if at all. Do you think that Nick would just let any person in to his life after all that's happened? He wouldn't let her near his son if he thought she would hurt him or Brayden in any way....he's learned alot and he's an adult Brian. If he gets hurt, he gets hurt again, as much as I hate to say it. But I don't think Jordyn will be the one to hurt him."
Brian sighed, "Whatever..."
"Don't 'whatever' me...it is not fair what you said to her..."
"I know..."
"I'm glad you know....I want you to go outside, find Nick, and tell him what you said to her. And I want you to apologize."
"I'm not apologizing!"
She put her hands on her hips and glared at him, "If you don't apologize, then don't come to bed tonight."
"Leigh!"
"I'm serious Brian....that was wrong. And Nick needs to hear it from you."
Back to the 'Ready to Fall' Main Page
To Chapter 15
Back to the Main Page