“Thanks for driving us here, you guys,” said Brooke. She hugged Kevin, Howie, Brian, and Nick good-bye..... then turned to AJ. “I’m really gonna miss you,” she said, beginning to cry. Her voice was a little shaky.
She always got like this when she said good-bye. AJ’s eyes were still puffy from the night before, but a few more tears managed to escape. The two held each other in a long embrace. AJ buried his head in Brooke’s shoulder, sobbing quietly. I even saw a few tears in Kevin’s eyes.
I thought we were never gonna get out of there.
After I hugged Kevin, Howie, Brian, and AJ, I walked over to Nick. I felt a huge lump in my throat. I knew this was it. I knew I would never get an opportunity like this again. “Hey, beautiful,” he said, smiling at me with teary eyes. I hugged him tightly.
Even though I had known him for an incredibly short time, the words just seemed to come, and I whispered in his ear, “I love you.”
He whispered back, “I love you, too.” He kissed me on the lips, and I began to cry. I picked up my bags, still sobbing, and turned around to see Nick sitting down, his head in his hands, with Brian comforting him. Then Brooke and I boarded our flight back home.
