Nick was standing outside near Kevin and looked at his watch, noticing that Jordyn had been gone for an awfully long time. He excused himself and headed for the the house.
He opened the backdoor and stepped inside, looking in the kitchen, but it was empty. He frowned slightly, knowing that Brian and LeighAnne had both gone inside the house earlier.
He heard a sniffle and spun around to see Jordyn getting ready to open the door. "Hey, there you are."
She looked over, surprised to see him, "Oh hey, yea, sorry I was gone so long."
"Are you okay?"
Jordyn nodded, "Yea, yeah, I'm fine."
"Have you seen Bri or Leigh? I swear I saw them come in here..."
"Uh no...they were in the kitchen...maybe they went upstairs or something..I don't know."
Nick peered down at her, knowing something was up, "You sure you're okay?"
"Yea Nick...I'm fine."
He nodded finally, "Alright...wanna head back outside?"
"Sure."
Nick watched her as the evening went on, she was quiet and withdrawn and wouldn't make eye contact with him. He sighed and walked inside to get something else to drink.
He was leaning against the sink when he heard the door open, then close. "Hey...Nick?"
He turned to see LeighAnne there, "Oh hey Leigh.."
"Hey...you okay?"
"I just...I don't get her..."
"Who?"
"Jordyn?"
"Why?"
Nick sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "One minute she's like...she's like all warm and everything and holding my hand....and then a few minutes later she'll barely talk to me...and barely look at me. Did I do something?"
"No..you didn't do anything..."
"Then what is up with her?"
LeighAnne sighed, "I...I think I know what's wrong.."
"What?"
"Just...tell me one thing...do you really care about her Nick? Can you see yourself with her in..say, five years?"
"I...I think so....why?"
"Do you think she is with you because of you...or because of who you are?"
"Leigh....don't do this.."
She held up a hand, "I'm not saying she is....but Brian thinks she is just with you for the money..."
"What??"
LeighAnne closed her eyes and knew she had to tell Nick, he had a right to know. "She came in here earlier and Brian followed, and accused her of just being around you for the money. And that she had no intention of ever 'liking' you for you..."
His face paled, "But...but...I thought he wanted me to find someone..."
"He does, honey, he does. I think...I think he's just afraid you're going to fall for someone...."
"Like Kate."
"Yes.
"I think I've learned my lesson....what did she say?"
"I don't really know...I heard the tail-end of the conversation....but she did start crying and was very upset. And as much as I love my husband, he can be a real jackass sometimes..."
Nick leaned against the counter, "How could he Leigh...."
"Brian worries about you Nick. We all do, because you've had to deal with alot in such a short period of time...we all want to protect you. But most of us know that we have to step back into the shadows sometimes and let you find your own way...but Brian has been there the most.."
"I know..and I see where he's comin' from...but Leigh, he hurt her feelings..."
"Yeah he did. I wanted him to tell you...but I think he chickened out....I wanted you to know though..."
He turned to face the window and watched her as she talked with AJ. "I like her alot Leigh..."
"I know you do, I can tell. I like her too. She's so your type."
"We decided earlier today...that we'd take it slow and everything....I really like her though...she's everything I could ever hope for...she's great with Brayden and puts up with my mood swings like no one else I've ever met.....I usually trust Brian's instincts like my own..but he's wrong this time. She's not in it for any of that.."
"I don't think she is either...she's is real Nick. But like I said, I love my husband. But he's a jackass at times..he gets blinded by other things."
A small smile found its way onto his face, "Yea...I know..."
LeighAnne reached up and ruffled his hair a bit, "It'll work out Nick, I know it will. It's about time you get some happiness in your life.."
"Thanks Leigh....thanks for telling me."
"No problem...oh and, it'll probably take Bri a few days to come around..."
His eyes darkened slightly, "He doesn't have to do anything for me or to me....he needs to do it to her."
"He will..it just may take awhile.....oh yea, and Nick?"
He turned to where she stood just outside the kitchen, "Yea?"
"If you two want to leave early....I won't tell anyone what's up...or think badly of you at all.."
He smiled again, "Thanks..."
Back to the 'Ready to Fall' Main Page
To Chapter 16
Back to the Main Page