The week progressed on the same as it did the first day. There were meetings, recording sessions, and more shopping trips with LeighAnne. As it neared the end of the short vacation for Amanda, she noticed she had hardly spent anytime with Nick. She seen him at night, in the morning, but then he was off to do something. It was their last night in Florida together before they flew back to Colorado, where Nick would take a plane back to L.A.
"I can't believe we have to go back already. It feels like the week just started," Nick spoke to her.
"I know. And we didn't get to spend any 'quality' time together either."
"Well, that's going to change. I have plans for us tonight. "
"Ooh, really?"
"Yup."
"Well, aren't you going to tell me what they are?"
"Nope," Nick stated.
"You are absolutely no fun Nickolas Carter."
"You sound like my mother with the Nickolas Carter line."
"So, does that mean I can punish you too?"
"Nope. Wai-wait a minute. I rethink that. You can punish me if you like," he said while having a sly grin appear across his face.
"Ok. You don't get any kisses for the remainder of the trip."
"What!? That's not what I had in mind."
"But that's what I had in mind. And now, it's in full effect."
"Nah uh! You get your booty over here."
Amanda showed her reply to that command by sticking out her tongue to Nick.
"See, you miss it already."
"Grow up Nick!!"
"Fine, since I don't get any kisses, then you don't get the surprise tonight."
"Fine with me!"
"You wish you didn't say that. Take it back."
"Man, Nick. This really is punishment for you. If you behave, then you can get kisses later tonight, deal?"
"Deal," Nick said sealing the deal with a hand shake.
Later in the day after Nick finished the last recording session with the guys, he went back to the hotel to spend some time with Amanda. She was in her pajamas with a pint of cookie dough ice cream in her hand, when Nick walked in the room.
"Amanda! What the heck?"
"Huh?" Amanda replied, unaware that Nick had entered.
"Still in your pajamas and eating ice cream at 4 o clock in the afternoon?"
"Yeah, so?"
"Sooo, I was going to take you out for dinner."
"Oh!," Amanda said, closing the ice cream.
"Get dressed."
"Yes sir!!"
"I take that back. I'll pick out something for you to wear."
"This should be interesting."
Nick dug through her suitcase, finding absolutely nothing.
"Look through the bags. I did buy some new clothes down here."
"Ok."
Nick went through her Old Navy bag, only to find pajamas, American Eagle had nothing really, same as Contempo, Gap, and Sears.
"Hmm."
"Hmm. what?" Amanda asked.
"Looks like you're going to have to wear what I bought you."
"What are you talking about?"
Nick dropped to the floor and pulled out a bag. He handed it to Amanda and said, "Go put this on."
"All right. "
Amanda walked the couple steps to the bathroom and closed the door. A few minutes later she appeared wearing the outfit Nick bought her.
"You look amazing." Nick complimented her.
Amanda was wearing a sleek black dress, with a slit going down the side of one leg. It had thin straps tied behind her neck. The dress itself went right below her knees.
"Nick, why did you buy this?"
"Because I wanted to. LeighAnne helped me pick it out. And plus you needed something to wear tonight."
"You are the best Nick."
"I try."
"You behaved long enough," Amanda whispered to him as she kisses him lightly on the lips.
Nick smiled as they pulled apart.
"Now, it's my turn to change. We'll leave in 5 minutes."
"Ok."
Amanda and Nick left the hotel about 4:30, Nick wearing a pair of khaki pants with a nice black button down over it. He drove Amanda to one of the nicest restaurants in town. He had requested a table in the very back just in case there happened to be fans it there. He didn't want to be disturbed tonight. Nick pulled out the chair for Amanda, while she sat down.
"Why thank you, " Amanda said.
Nick offered a smile and sat down across from her. The waiter handed them 2 menus and left them alone so they could decide what to eat.
"What looks good?" Nick asked Amanda.
"A lot. Nick, this is some really expensive food."
"I know. You deserve the best."
Nick's comment made Amanda blush. Finally, they both decided what they were going to eat. Amanda and Nick both ordered the lobster.
They ate their food in silence, just letting a few words slip here and there. After they ate dinner, Nick paid for the meal and led Amanda back to the car. By now it was nearing 6 o clock, which meant the sun would be setting soon.
"I'm going to have to blindfold you Amanda."
"Why?"
"Because I feel like it."
"Ok," Amanda said, letting Nick wrap a blindfold over her eyes.
Nick drove to a secluded area on the beach.
"Stay here."
Nick got out of the car and a few minutes later returned to get Amanda. He unbuckled her seat belt and told her to swing her legs around. She did as she was told and Nick carefully took off her shoes.
"Nick....what are you doing?"
"Taking off your shoes."
"I'm not even going to ask why."
Nick laughed. "Ok, now I'm going to help you get out of the car."
Amanda slowly got out of the car and was instructed by Nick to stay there. He closed the door and in one swipe picked up Amanda.
"Nick!!! You scared me!"
"Sorry."
He carried her over to the blanket he placed on the sand so neither of their outfits would get ruined.
He carefully placed her down on the blanket and sat down next to her.
"You can take off the blindfold now Amanda."
She pulled it off and smiled.
"I promised you that we would watch the sunset together."
"Thank you Nick."
They snuggled closer together, watching the sun go down.
After it set Nick turned to face his girlfriend.
"Amanda?"
"Yeah?"
"Will you marry me?"
Shocked at his question, she nearly fainted.
"Amanda?"
"Of course I will Nick!! I'll marry you!!"
Nick grinned and pulled her into a kiss.
"Amanda, Amanda? Are you going to get up?"
"Huh?"
"It's almost one o'clock."
"Yeah, mom I'll get up."
"Good."
"I had the best dream. I went back to California and Nick asked me to marry him," she told her mom while she got out of bed.
"It's been 2 years and you're just having this dream now?"
"Yeah, but it was so real. I wish it was. Gosh, I wish I had gone back. Maybe things would've turned out for the better."
"You'll never know Amanda. Now come on, let's go get some lunch before you have to go to class."
"All right."
