Lis pulled her convertible up beside the driveway and saw Nick's Durango in the garage. A smile appeared on her face and her heart started to pound, she was actually going to be back with the man she was supposed to be with. She jumped out of the car and went up the walk, to the front door. She knocked and stood there waiting but no one came. Lis looked around her and heard muffled voices from the back. She walked along the side path to the back and let herself through the gate, continuing down the cement till she froze and stared at the sight on the deck.
Nick stood with his back to the path, concentrating on the steaks he was barbecuing. E walked out in her tank tops and shorts carrying two wine glasses. "I've got the glasses, where did you set the wine?" she asked, glancing out at the pool.
"On the table. Here let me take those." he lowered the cover on the barbecue and took the glasses from E. "I'll pour."
"Such a gentleman, is this what Florida does to you?" she asked with a laugh.
Nick smirked and shook his head. "You're saying I was a jerk in New York?"
Lis' hand flew to her mouth, and she turned and headed quickly to the gate before she was seen by either of them. The gate slammed behind her and she ran for the convertible, jumping in and gunning the engine, all she cared about was getting away from there.
Brian walked through the front door. "I'm home!" he called out, looking for signs of life.
Shan walked out of the kitchen with Michael on her hip. "Hey B, didn't expect you here."
"I told Lis I was coming home tonight. Where is she?"
Shan bit her lip, "She went out, may not be home tonight."
"Oh." Bri set his bags near the stairs. "And how's my little man Michael?
Look what B brought you." He said pulling a stuffed panda bear out from behind his back. Michael reached for it and hugged it to him. Brian smiled then looked at Shan. "How long you been here?"
"About an hour."
"No hot dates?" he teased, going into the kitchen.
"Nope, living the single life." she said, putting Michael in his highchair.
"I remember that, it's hell huh?" he asked, getting a drink from the fridge and passing her one.
"Especially if you have your eye on someone and they don't know it." she said outloud. She blushed realizing she'd said that outloud, but then realized he wouldn't know she was talking about him.
"Aww I'm sure he'll realize it soon Shan." he patted her hand reassuringly and nearly jumped when he felt electricity run through him.
"I hope so." she mumbled.
Lis sat on the beach, not caring that her dress would be ruined from the wet sand. The sun set as she watched and she drew in the sand, she had no idea what to do anymore. She got up and walked further down the beach before heading back to her car.
E helped Nick load the dishwasher with the dishes. "So where's AC and BJ?"
Nick closed the dishwasher. "They went to visit some friend's in Orlando for a few days."
"And here I am cutting into your alone time." she said sitting down at the table.
"Hey, I happen to like you cutting in on my alone time. I'd probably be pulling my hair out if you weren't here. I should be thanking you for keeping me sane." he smiled and sat down across from her.
"Well then you're very welcome. Now I'm going to take a shower." she stood up.
"All righty, I'll be out back." he informed her.
Brian watched as the door opened up and he quickly shut the television off. His eyes went wide seeing the state Lis was in. "Are you okay?" he asked, walking towards her.
She looked up at him startled. "I'm fine." she said, a feeling of numbness washing over her.
"You don't look fine." he said lifting her head to look at him. "What is it? You know you can talk to me."
"It's nothing." she took her heels off and started to walk away.
"It's him isn't it?" Brian asked, the hurt evident in his voice.
She froze. "What do you mean?"
"I accidentally saw that tape Lis...you slept with him?" he asked walking up behind her.
"It meant nothing." she turned around to face her fiancee.
Brian studied her face, her eyes were lifeless. "It meant nothing but you still..."
"Can we please not talk about this?" she asked, heading up the stairs. She walked into her bedroom and into her bathroom.
Brian followed her. "I think we have to, you won't sleep with me till we're married but, you sleep with him and you say it was nothing."
"Is that it, you want to go to bed?" she spun around, staring at him.
"No, it's just this doesn't make sense to me Lis." he said honestly, sitting on the edge of the tub as he started to run some water.
"Look Bri I thought I was dreaming, if I had known I wasn't nothing would have happened." she said, sitting beside him.
"I believe you." he whispered as he leaned forward kissing her neck.
Nick stared at the clock, it was too late to call about Michael now. He sighed and leaned against the railing. He wished he knew whether or not she had watched the tapes, course if she had she would have called or stopped by he figured. He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see E standing there.
"I'm interrupting," she said turning back around.
"No, I could use the company." he said, smiling at her.
"Okay then." she walked over beside him and leaned against the railing.
"What's wrong?" E asked, seeing his eyes clouded over.
"She should have called by now." Nick answered, eyes on the sky.
"Didn't you say Brian was coming home today? Maybe he came home early and she didn't get around to watching them yet."
"Yeah maybe." he said, sounding unconvinced.
Brian rolled over in bed, still sound asleep as Lis slowly crawled out and headed across the hall. What had she gotten herself into, she wondered outloud as she sat down in the nursery. Her eyes drifted down to the ring on her right hand and she sighed. She was being pulled in two directions and she couldn't stand it anymore.
Nick sat up in bed, he'd been sound asleep when he suddenly felt funny. As if part of him was being torn away. He got out of bed and walked to the little balcony, staring out at the sky. Deep inside he knew the feeling had to do with Lis, "What's wrong baby girl?" he asked outloud, wishing he could hear her answer.
She grabbed the baby monitor from the night table and went outside to the deck, staring at the sky. She sat down on the steps and put her head in her hands, if things didn't get better soon she knew she'd go crazy before the wedding.
