chapter eighteen
chapter list
chapter twenty
Chapter Nineteen
I was holding my breath, but I released it when Kevin burst out laughing. I felt as though I was punched in the stomach.
“What’s so funny?” He stopped laughing.
“I thought you were joking. You’re 18. I’m 27. Tonight is the first time we’ve ever really even talked. You just broke up with Nick. You don’t really want to go out with me, do you?”
I felt the tears beginning to form as I made my way to the door. Kevin grabbed my arm. “I just don’t think it would work out. Don’t get me wrong. You’re wonderful, Nikki. You and I are just not meant to be together.”
He let go of my arm, and I ran to my room. I locked the door and fell to the floor bawling. I must have cried myself to sleep, because the next thing I knew it was 8 am, and I was awoken by my lovely wake up call.
“Where the hell are you?”
“Thanks, Bri. I’m good. Good morning to you too.”
“You were supposed to meet me for breakfast 30 minutes ago. Now, rehearsal starts in 30 minutes. Get dressed and come to my room. You have to tell me how it went with Nick. I’ll be waiting for you.”
I stood up and looked in the mirror. ‘Oh, great. My eyes are swollen.’ I showered quickly and went to Brian’s room being sure to check the hall for Kevin first.
“Wow, you look like shit.”
“Thanks, Brian. I needed to hear that.”
“That’s what best friends are for. Now, come in and tell me why you look like this.”
I talked on for what seemed like forever. It, of course, ended in me crying like a baby with Brian trying to comfort me.
“Honey, I’m so sorry.” I had just finished telling Brian everything that had happened.
“Well, what’s meant to be will be. This tour ends in a week. Maybe I should go away for a while.”
“Nikki, running away from it won’t help.”
“But at least I can think about things. I think it would be best.”
“You’re going to have to get by me first. I’ll tell AJ and Denise too. They’ll make sure you don’t move out.”
“Brian, why do you always have to be so damn stubborn? I don’t plan on going away forever. Just for a little while.”
“No.”
“But – “
“No, and that’s final.” The assertiveness in his voice was almost frightening. It wasn’t something he did often.
I got up to leave the room, and as I walked away, I whispered under my breath, “We’ll see about that.”
chapter eighteen
chapter list
chapter twenty
