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“That was awesome Aaron!” Nick encouraged patting his brother on the back. “You’ve come a long way. Now don’t kill me for running off, but I wanna find Anne.”
“K, Nick! Thanks for coming! Glad you liked it!” Aaron finished as he raced up the stairs.
“Hey, Nick!” I sighed as he sat down beside me. Quickly I snuggled up against him. I felt his arms surround me and hold me close.
“How was BJ and where is she?”
“She was not good. I don’t know why, but she doesn’t like me.” I explained.
“You must not be thinking right. BJ has normally liked all my friends.”
“Nick, she was cold and hardly said a word when I asked her questions. I knew I shouldn’t have came.”
“Anne.” Nick whispered as he rested his forehead against mine. His lips pressed against mine for the longest time. It was a simple kiss, but I still almost got lost in his love.
“Nick, you’re home!” BJ called coming down the stairs. Her excitement ended as she saw us pull away from our kiss quickly. “Never mind.”
“What is it BJ?” Nick asked.
“Just forget it! Just forget me and everything else.
“Nick, I told you she doesn’t like me.”
“I just don’t get it! Why not?! What is there not to like?”
“It’s different for girls. They don’t have the lustful eyes that guys do.” I teased poking his stomach.
“I do not!”
“Carter! I see the way you’ve looked at me lately. You think I don’t notice, but I do.”
“Oh well…..do you hate me for it?” he pouted.
“Of course not. Wait…hold on. Maybe just a little.” We both laughed as we walked towards the kitchen.
“Christmas is tomorrow.” Nick pointed out.
“All of you guys presents are under the tree. How many do we get to open tomorrow?”
“Just one.”
“Awww man! Do you still get a lot presents at the age of 20?”
“Of course! Till I’m married and out of the house, I will!”
I cracked up laughing at the joy in his voice. At times I hated it when he brought up marriage. I know he had promised me we would get engaged in time, but I felt like he never was going to ask, almost as if he had changed his mind. But I had a feeling that he hadn’t. I just didn’t know what he was waiting for.
“Nick! Anne! Wake up!” Angel and Aaron pleaded. They were both tugging on our arms. “It’s Christmas Eve and we have a lot of baking and other junk to do!” After Nick assured them we were awake, they left.
“Is your family always this hyper during Christmas?” I sighed crawling out of the bed.
“Come back here!” Nick said shivering. “I’m loosing all my warmth.”
“Tough I’m getting ready. You can be lazy if you want to be.” I smile and walked off to get dressed.
“Hey everybody!” I shouted coming down the stairs.
“Hey Anne.” Aaron called from the couch. “Sorry to wake you up, we just had to for the fun of it.” I glared at him for a few seconds.
“Hey baby.” Nick smile sitting beside Aaron.
“Man! Boys make me so sick! They can get dressed so quick. Girls have to primp and waste the day away to look nice.” I whined and walked towards the kitchen.
“You looked fine last night!”
“Shut up Carter, before I make you!” I guess the threat worked. “Morning Mrs. Carter. Is there anything in here I can help with?”
“No, Anne. You’re out guest. So don’t worry about a thing.” She smiled shooing me back into the living room.
“Nick! I feel so lazy not helping out in some way.” I whined again.
“All you do is whine Anne Johnson! Go to your room!” Nick order pointing at the stairs.
“But I don’t wanna!”
“Do I have to make you?” he asked. I saw the look in his eyes. A feisty mischievous look. I loved it when he got like this. Without warning I took off running and went outside.
“I guess I do! Be back in a few.” Nick laughed trying to catch up with me.
“I really don’t like Anne.” BJ mumbled loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Why not? She is so awesome! She was like my big sister over the summer” Aaron inquired.
“That’s just it! She has to be the center of attention with everybody! I just don’t like it.”
“Nick no!” I screamed as he finally caught me.
“I hate it when people don’t listen to me.” He joked holding me in his arms.
“What are ya gonna do about it?” I challenged trying to pull away.
“This!” was all he said as he leaned down and punished me in our way Nick had made up. At times it made me want to misbehave even more.
“Thanks, Nick. I’ll try to listen to you better next time.” I teased and bolted away towards the door.
“What’s with you today? Are you hyper?” Nick questioned confused by my sudden actions.
“Just a little. Today is Christmas Eve ya know!”
“How could I forget?”
The afternoon slowly passes by. Everyone was anxious, except Mr. and Mrs. Carter, to open one of their presents. Nick never left my side. He was always cracking some joke or trying to annoy me.
I loved the feeling of the close-knit family. The love was in the air. Nick was so lucky! It was as if he got it all, an awesome family that truly loved him and the best job with so many girls screaming to be with him.
“Hey Anne, phone!” Aaron called waving the phone in the air.
“Thanks, AC.” I smiled yanking it away. “Hello? Brian! Oh my gosh! How are ya? We’re all good here. Leigh okay?…..good!” I stayed and talked to him a few more minutes before Nick called me to dinner.
Mrs. Carter had out done herself! The table was beautiful, table cloth, candles, best china. The food smelled wonderful. Nick had to guide me towards the table I was so lost in the beauty.
I enjoyed the Christmas meal so much and was surprised when we finally got to go in the living room for presents. I decided to open Aaron’s since he had begged me too. It was a CD, Savage Garden. They were one of my favorite groups.
After Nick opened his present he crawled over to me, laying his head in my lap. I ran my fingers through his hair, not even noticing the looks of disgust BJ gave me. I felt Nick intertwine his fingers with mine, but left one hand free to continue playing with his hair.
I glanced up and saw Mrs. Carter looking at us. Her eyes were full of love, happiness and complete approval. I couldn’t help but smile. Time passed me as Nick still lay in silence. Before we realized it, everyone was gone. Suddenly Nick sat up and looked at me.
“Anne, I have one more present I want to give you tonight. Wait here and meet me in the back yard in five minutes.”
I starred at his back as he ran off. I was slightly curious to what he was up to. “Nick! Where are you?” I called walking out in the cold wind.
“You have to come find me!” His voice echoed.
“Nick, I don’t know my way out here.”
“Just follow my voice.” Quietly he sang ‘I Knew I Loved You” by savage Garden. In a way we had called it our song. It really had felt that way for us.
Slowly I made my way towards Nick. I found him standing in the middle of the moonlight, behind a tree. He almost looked like an angle the way the light spilled over and around him. I quietly sang with him as we looked at each other for a minute. My heat started to race as he reached towards me.
“ Nick, what is it?”
He placed a finger over my lips. I could feel the moonbeam around us, as if we were on spotlight for the entire world.
“Anne Johnson, I have never loved anyone like you, never will!” Nick whispered holding both my hands. “I couldn’t think of anyone else in the world I would want to spend the rest of my life with. You’re so beautiful, loving, you know me, the real me. I could go on for hours about how wonderful you are, but I’ll cut to the reason I brought you out here.” He smiled bending down on one knee. He pulled out a small velvet box. My heart was now pounding as he opened it still holding one of my hands. “Anne, would you please give me the honor of being my wife?”
“Of course Nick! I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I sighed as he slipped the ring on my finger. I saw the happiness and love over flowing as he gathered me in his arms. Gently I pushed his hair away from his face. “I love you Nick. I always have.”
“I love you too.” He whispered. Slowly he leaned down and kissed me lightly. Then he leaned down and deepened the kiss. I felt like we couldn’t get close enough. The win whipped around us. I slightly shivered from the chill as Nick pulled away from our kiss.
“Are you cold, sweetheart?” he asked putting an arm around my shoulder.
“Just a little.”
“Let’s go in and sit by the fire. Thin that will warm you up?” he questioned. I nodded my response as we walked towards his house.
“No Nick!” I laughed later that night still in front of the fire. Once again he was doing something to make me laugh.
“What? You don’t like it?” he pretended to be extremely insulted.
“No baby….I dunno. It’s just enough. Are you getting tired yet?”
“Hate to say it, but…..no! I haven’t been this happy in a while.” He exclaimed. I smiled as he pulled me in his arms. His lips pressed gently on my forehead as I relaxed against him.
Little did either of us know that we had an intruder, BJ. She was crouched on the steps watching, disgust written clearly across her face by Nick’s actions. Quietly, after watching a minute more, she crept back to her room.
“What are you singing?” I yawned as I lay in Nick’s arms. For some reason we still hadn’t gone to bed, I had a feeling we’d be spending the night here. I didn’t care.
“Just a song I’m working on. I just have the tune. Soon I’ll work some words with it, or get some of the guys to help.
“Sing for me. Sing me to sleep.”
“What song?”
“More Than That. I’ve always loved that song.” I snuggled close to Nick as his pure voice quietly rang in my ears. I loved when he sang to me, although it was very rare. Before long, I was completely asleep.