Chapter Sixteen


Gianna smiled to herself as she made her way downstairs later that morning. Nick. He was the only thing on her mind, the only thing she wanted on her mind. That morning was like living out a fantasy. Not necessarily a fantasy that had included him from the beginning, but a fantasy about a man treating her right, making her feel amazing. She had managed to remove herself from Nick’s arms after hours of pleasure, to get on with her day. Nick was still sleeping. Whispers were heard as she approached the kitchen and stopped abruptly when Gianna entered. Elise and AJ sat at the table, eyes glued to her.

“Morning.” she chirped, opening the refrigerator to find something to eat. She bent over to retrieve the milk, quickly tugging on the bottom of Nick’s shirt which she had pulled on.

“Afternoon.” Elise corrected, raising an eyebrow in Gianna’s direction.

“Oh..” Gianna said smiling sheepishly. “Well, good afternoon then.” she reached for a bowl for her cereal.

“I’m sure you had a good morning though.” Elise smirked. Gianna’s head shot up at that comment. She could feel her cheeks warm.

“Actually, I had an amazing morning, now that you mention it.” she said sitting down at the table. AJ smiled at her.

“Really now?” he asked, setting the sandwich he was eating down on his plate. He eyed her suspiciously.

“Yes, really.” she answered pouring some cereal into her bowl.

“I know that face.” Elise said laughing.

“What face, I don’t see a face.” AJ said leaning closer to Gianna.

“That face.” Elise said pointing to Gianna’s head. “Right there...see?”

“She looks a little flushed.” AJ commented.

“Yup..keep looking.”

“She’s biting her bottom lip?” he asked.

“Yes, AJ, but what is the reason for biting her lip?”

“Um...she’s trying not to smile!” he said catching Gianna’s grin.

“Mhmmm, and?”

“She’s wearing a jersey that looks mighty familiar. I believe a blond was wearing it the last time I saw it, though.”

“You’re getting closer!” Elise exclaimed.

“Her hair is a mess!” AJ said smiling. Elise giggled, nodding her head rapidly. “That’s the ‘just got laid’ face! I’d know it anywhere.” AJ finished with a nod. He picked up his sandwich and continued to eat. Gianna laughed.

“So, how is Nick?” Elise asked seriously.

“Sleeping?” Gianna offered.

“Well, I would assume that after the work-out you put him through this morning.” Elise said giggling. Gianna’s mouth dropped open in surprise, her spoon clanking in her bowl.

“Is this really that big of a deal?” Gianna questioned, her gaze shifting her gaze between Elise and AJ. Both of them were grinning at her. “What?!”

“Honey, its been months since you’ve gotten any. This is a time for celebration.” Elise said, resting her chin in her hands.

“And you?” Gianna questioned AJ. “What’s your excuse?”

“Nick Carter got down with someone other than Angela?” AJ said smirking.

Gianna rolled her eyes. “Well, I honestly don’t think this is that big of a deal. So we slept with each other...”

“So you slept with each other?! Gianna Lynn Smythe! I have never heard you talk about sex in such a casual manner. I know for a fact that you refuse to do the nasty with a guy unless you are completely committed to one another.”

“Are you?” AJ inquired.

“Yes, we are.” Nick stated clearly. Gianna looked up to find Nick leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed over his bare chest. Smiling he made his way over to the chair next to Gianna and sat down. “So that’s where my jersey went. I was trying to find it up there, but all I managed to locate were my sweats.” he said pointing to the pants he was wearing.

“How long were you standing there?” she asked, a chill racing up her spine as Nick clasped her hand in his under the table.

“Not long..I just caught the end of the conversation. I am committed.” he said making sure she was looking in his eyes. “I am. I promise you.” he gave her hand a comforting squeeze before he stood up. He dropped a kiss on her forehead before making his way around the kitchen to find food. Gianna looked down into the bowl of milk before her, feeling the blush rising in her cheeks. Cautiously she raised her gaze to Elise.

“Wow!” she mouthed, fanning herself for affect. Gianna glared at her for a few moments before cracking a small smile.

“Oh this is pathetic.” AJ muttered standing up to take care of his dirty plate.

“Excuse me?! Were you insulting me?” Elise barked comically at the tattooed man.

“Um..No, no, never.” AJ said rapidly shaking his head. Elise blinked silently at his response, convinced that AJ was playing it up. “Maybe?”

“Oh shut up.” Elise said shaking her head. She turned her attention back to Gianna. “So....”

“So...?” Nick asked sitting down with his bowl of Cocoa Puffs.

“So, that cereal is so bad for you.” Gianna said eyeing Nick shoveling the chocolate cereal in his mouth. He stopped mid-chew to give her a strange look before shrugging his shoulder. He tossed her a smile before shoving another huge spoonful of the cereal in his mouth.

“Men.” Elise muttered smiling at Gianna. Gianna nodded and rolled her eyes yet again.

“Hey there.” Brian said coming into the house through the back door. “Nick, I thought you wanted to play b-ball this morning.” He dropped himself into a chair across from Nick. Nick paused, a spoonful of Cocoa puffs half-way to his mouth and looked up at Brian.

“I got a little tied up this morning.” he finally said, shooting Brian a smirk. Brian raised an eyebrow and let his gaze fall on Gianna. She smiled shyly at him.

“You two..again?” he questioned.

“Absolutely!” Nick said wrapping an arm around Gianna, pulling her closer in a jerky half-hug.

“Uh, yeah. What he said.” she answered, squirming out of Nick’s grasp. “I am going to get dressed.” she stated, standing up. Nick looked up at her curiously. She leaned down at kissed him softly before glancing at Elise. Elise took the hint and followed her out of the room and upstairs.

Once in her bedroom, Gianna fell onto her bed and heaved a huge sigh.

“What?” Elise asked standing over her.

“I am in love.” Gianna whispered. She closed her eyes, playing that morning over again in her mind.

“I kind of figured that.” Elise answered, sitting carefully on the bed.

“Lee, he is so amazing.”

“Yeah, but he’s fickle.”

“Fickle, yes, but....” she paused unable to find the words to describe Nick.

“But?”

“Aren’t men supposed to drive you crazy?”

“Yes, I do believe they are.” Elise answered making herself more comfortable on Gianna’s bed.

“So..” Gianna began, turning her face to look at her best friend, “he’s doing exactly what he’s supposed to.”

“Well..I wouldn’t exactly say that changing his mind about hooking up with you, numerous times, would be filed under ‘things he’s supposed to do’. But, I do see what you’re getting at.”

“It’s just that...I don’t care how many times or how long it took him to realize...”

“But, G, what happens if he changes his mind again?” Elise asked cautiously.

“I don’t know.” she answered flopping on her back again, heaving a huge sigh.

“You can’t keep letting him do that to you, you know? The man has to know that he can’t date you on a whim and then suddenly decide that he wants something else.”

“I know. I’ve just never felt this way...”

“Honey, you’re only 20 years old. You have years ahead of you that are just waiting to be filled by men...you don’t need stake your claim on a guy right now. Date Nick, have fun, get all dreamy and love-sick. But, don’t make him your life...”

“I’m trying Lee! He’s just so perfect, though.”

“G, we both know that Nick is not perfect.”

“Fine, so he has flaws..big deal.” Gianna said shrugging her shoulders. She cringed at the words leaving Elise’s mouth, but deep down she knew the honesty that lay beneath them. Nick was the first guy she had dated since her break from her last boyfriend. She had been in a relationship for almost three years, and they had mutually separated. She couldn’t risk drowning herself in another serious relationship until she knew for sure that commitment was what Nick wanted.

“That makes him normal, G. He has normal feelings, fears...”

“What should I do?” she asked, sitting up.

“Take things slow.”

“Slow.” Gianna repeated.

“Slow. I know you guys, uh...”

“Please don’t go into that again.”

“Well you did! Gianna, sex is a big step.”

“Yes, Lee, I am aware.”

“Slow down.” Elise said shrugging her shoulders. “Nick is not exactly, shall we say, stable. And you just got out of a long-term relationship last year. There is no hurry. Just...go for it at your own pace.”

“You know..that actually sounds like something worth trying. Take things slow. Nick already asked me to slow things down for him...honestly, what need is there to rush into things?”

“Exactly. Talk to him...”

“How do I start a conversation like that? What do I say to him?” Gianna asked, nervously chewing on her thumbnail.

“Just say it. What’s the problem?” Elise questioned giving Gianna a strange look.

“What if that hurts him? He tells me he’s finally ready to move on from Angela...what if he’s upset that I don’t want to be too serious?”

“The boy will have to accept it! Who cares what he thinks..you waited weeks for him to finally get his head on straight, the least he can do is respect your wished to take your own damn time.”

“I hope you’re right.” Gianna whispered, making up her mind to talk to Nick later that day. She silently prayed that he would go along with her request, but deep within her heart, she knew that Nick wouldn’t be happy about her choice.


Chapter Seventeen
Table of Contents
Chapter Fifteen