The weekend away was just what I needed. I hung out with my friends and tried not to think about Nick. It was tough not to, but by Sunday, I felt ten times better. By the time I landed in Chicago that evening, I was actually smiling. Dave picked me up and brought me back to the hotel. As soon as I got there, I went straight to Leigh and Brian’s room:
“Hey guys!” I walked in and hugged Leigh, not seeing that Nick was sitting on the other side of the room playing N64 with Brian. When Leigh let go, I noticed him:
“Uh, I’ll come back later.” I walked out of the room with Leighanne close behind. She followed me into my room:
“So how’d it go?” I smiled:
“Great. Just what I needed. I feel a lot better now.” She hugged me:
“That’s great, Kate.”
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
The next night we were at the guys had a show. I stayed behind at the hotel to type some stuff up for Denise. She gave me a lot of work that I could do from the hotel so I didn’t have to be around Nick. I looked at the clock when I was finally finished: 11:54pm:
'I wonder if everyone’s back yet.' I was extremely bored out of my mind. I had been cooped up in the hotel room all night doing work and I was about to go insane. I needed company. I decided that I’d check my email in the meantime. I had about 50 new messages since I hadn’t checked it in a while. One in particular caught my attention:
Sarah_Baxter@villanova.edu
My eyes widened. What the hell did she want? I looked at the subject:
"I’m sorry.” I was about to skip right over it. I honestly thought that I might shoot myself if I heard one more apology. But my curiosity got the best of me and I opened it anyway:
*
Dear Katelin,
What I’m about to tell you is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life. But you, and Nick, both deserve the truth so here goes. Nick and I never slept together. God knows that I tried. But he all he kept saying was how much he loved you and no matter how mad at you that he was, he would never, ever in a million years, hurt you like that. After basically throwing myself at him, he still only thought of me as a friend. Nothing more. I know the situation looked really bad the next morning but it was completely innocent. Atleast on his part. Nick was in his boxers because his clothes reeked of alcohol and I threw them in the wash. When you walked in the next morning and asked if we slept together, seeing as Nick didn’t remember a thing, I said yes because I wanted you guys to break up. I’m in love with Nick, Kate. I have been for a long time and I saw this as a perfect opportunity to get what I wanted. But my plan backfired. Not only have I lost a friend in you but Nick won’t talk to me and probably never will again when he finds out what I’ve done. Kate, he loves you. He would never do anything like that to you. I realized that I’ll never be able to have him, Kate. I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused. I just hope that one day, you and Nick can find it in your hearts to forgive me.
I’m sorry,
Sarah
*
I couldn’t believe it. I just sat there and stared at the screen:
'Should I buy this? Or did Nick put her up to it?' Deep down, I believed it. There were so many emotions going through me at that moment. Hurt, anger at Sarah, love for Nick.
Nick. I had to see him. I quickly printed out the email, picked up my room key, and ran out the door:
'God, please let them be back.'
I paused outside of Nick’s door and took a deep breath. It was slightly ajar. I pushed it open and quietly closed it behind me. I saw Nick laying on his bed with his back to me. I walked over to his bed and sat down. I heard his heavy breathing. He was sleeping. I lightly brushed my lips against his cheek. He must not have been sleeping long because his eyes flew open and he stared at me. He grabbed his cheek:
“Katelin?” He had a look of disbelief in his eyes:
“What? Why? What are you doing here?” Tears were flowing down my cheeks:
“I’m so sorry, Nick.” I didn’t say anything else. Just handed him the printed email. I watched his face turn to anger as he read it:
“What the fuck? I can’t believe she did this to me. Did this to us!” I took it away from him:
“It doesn’t matter, Nick. I’m so sorry for all the awful things I said to you.” He stared straight in my eyes:
“I love you, Kate. I would never hurt you.” I smiled. A genuine smile for the first time in days it seemed:
“I know you wouldn’t. Can you ever forgive me?” Nick was confused:
“Forgive you? For what?” I absentmindedly played with the ring on my finger:
“For everything, Nick. None of this would have ever happened if I hadn’t lied to you to begin with.” He cupped my face in his hands:
“I forgive you, Kate. I love you and would never hold that against you.” With that he kissed me and we spent the rest of the night proving how much we loved eachother.