Chapter 16"Mandy is going to be here in about an hour so I have to get ready," Kristen said looking at the clock.
"Can't you just stay here in bed with me all day?" AJ asked with a wicked smile on his face.
"No, because you would enjoy that too much," Kristen said getting out of bed and slipping on one of AJ's t-shirts that was laying on the floor. Kristen got in the shower and finished getting ready as soon as Mandy got there. "I'll see you later," Kristen said giving AJ a quick kiss before she left.
"Bye, have fun. Pearlman will probably have you two sign some contracts so make sure you read them over carefully. Call Howie if you want him to go over it with you. He's good with that business stuff."
"AJ don't worry about it. We are both big girls and can take care of the whole business deal ourselves. Right Mandy?"
"I wouldn't exactly know. I've never been signed to a contract before," Mandy said.
"Stop by Howie's house on your way. I'm sure he wouldn't mind going with you."
"AJ, we'll be fine. Don't worry about it. I told you it would all be fine so just trust us okay?" Kristen asked reassuringly.
"I trust you, it's Lou I don't trust," AJ said as Kristen walked out the door ignoring AJ. AJ picked up the phone and called Nick's house to tell him and Toni about Kristen making the group.
"What are you so worried about her for?" Nick asked after he got done explaining the whole deal.
"Kristen and Mandy are going to be screwed over by Lou. That is what I'm worried about. If he has them sign a contract somewhere in it there will be a twist where if they make it big Lou is going to get the greater portion of their money. I don't want them to go through all the things we did."
"What makes you so sure that Lou would do that to them?"
"Hmm, I don't know, maybe because of the fact he's done it to us along with 'N Sync."
"Listen I was never in this deal with Lou and I don't plan on being in it now. So you might want to call one of the other guys for this. I'll talk to you later," Nick said hanging up the phone.
"What was that about?" Toni asked coming up behind Nick and wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Kristen and Mandy made the group and AJ is worried Lou is going to screw them out of money if they make it big."
"Kristen's a singer!" Toni said excitedly. "Do you know how cool that would be if they made it big! I could meet all kinds of famous people since she's my best friend!" Nick turned around and gave Toni a really weird look. "What?" Toni asked confused by the look Nick was giving her.
"Has it ever crossed your mind that you're dating me?"
"Yeah, so, what is that supposed to mean?"
"Next time we go to an awards show you, of course, will you be my date and then you can meet a bunch of people."
"That's great," Toni said sarcastically.
"You are complicated and make no sense, you know that don't you?" Nick asked and Toni just smiled. "I better get going. Me and Bri are going to play a little one on one at his place."
"Again?"
"Hey he beat me last time so now I have to crush him. You can come with me if you want to."
"No, I'll just stay here. I'll see you when you get home though," Toni said getting off of his lap then giving him a kiss as he left. It was going on ten o'clock at night and Nick still wasn't back from Brian's place. Toni went into her and Nick's room and changed into a dark green, two piece, swim suit. She wrapped a towel around her body and went out back turning the hot tub on and then taking her towel off and getting in. She folded up the towel and put it on the edge of the hot tub so she could lay her head back and relax. Her hair was in a messy pony tail and the steam from the water was causing it to get damp. Nick got home about twenty minutes later and looked around the house for Toni. After not finding her he looked in the back yard and saw her relaxing in the hot tub. He went and changed into his swimming trunks then went out back and knelt down and kissed Toni on the forehead. Toni opened her eyes to see Nick hovering above her. She moved forward allowing Nick to get in the hot tub behind her so she was sitting between his legs leaning her head against his chest while he had his arms around her waist.
"How long have you been out here?" Nick asked.
"Probably about a half hour. I got bored waiting for you to get home."
"Sorry, I should have called you. Don't stay in here much longer it won't be good for your body."
"I won't," Toni said then remained silent for a few minutes.
"About what?"
"Okay don't get mad for me going through your stuff or anything like that
but I was bored and I decided to look through your photo albums. I found
pictures in there of you and Kristen when you two were dating."
"Toni they are just pictures."
"I know but she was like your first love and that has to be hard for you
to get over. Do you still love her?" Toni asked knowing that Nick would
be honest with her.
"Yes I do still love her but not the way I used to. I only love her as a
friend. If me and Kristen didn't remain friends I would have gotten rid
of the pictures a long time ago. None of the pictures in the photo album
are of the two of us kissing because I always want to remember the two of
us as friends and nothing more."
"Really?" Toni asked turning around and facing Nick.
"Yes, really. Truthfully Kristen has to be the best thing that has ever
happened to me," Nick said causing Toni's expression to change. "If she
had never moved to Florida she would have never introduced me to you.
Without you my life isn't complete. I love you Miss. Ortiz."
"I love you too," Toni said with a smile as she wrapped her arms around
Nick's neck and he kissed her passionately.
