“I just wanted to talk to you.”
“Okay…you’re not going to kill me, then?”
“No, I’m not.” He sighed. “I’m not happy. In fact, I’m angry. But still, I realize the same thing could have happened to me and Jenny. I don’t even know how many times we did it without protection. We got lucky. So I’m not angry at you. I’m angry that this happened to my little sister, and she’s gotta go through it.”
“I understand completely. I would feel the same way if it were BJ. I’m really protective of her.”
“I should hope you wouldn’t get BJ pregnant,” Joey joked.
“I meant by a different guy, smartass.”
“Well, anyway, I want to warn you. I like you, Nick. You’re a great guy. We’ve been good friends since we were a little kids. Still, I have to tell you the truth. If you ever hurt my sister, I swear to God, I cannot be held responsible for what I do to you. I will beat the living shit out of you. I love her more than anything, and I want her to be happy. She seems to be happy with you. Let’s keep it that way.”
“I promise you, I will do anything within my power to not hurt her. I love her. You don’t have to worry.”
“That’s good.” He paused. “She really doesn’t deserve to be hurt, especially after what that asshole Brad did to her. I didn’t like him from the start. I knew he was bad news. I’m surprised he stayed with her so long when she wasn’t sleeping with him.”
“She tells you these things?”
He snickered. “Yeah. Not willingly, but I usually manage to pry it out of her.”
“Man, you have to teach me your techniques. My sisters never tell me anything. Well, yesterday, BJ told me she’s sworn off guys, but she would never even think of telling me anything about her sex life.” He paused. “Then again, if she did, she knows I would not hesitate to kill the guy. I’m incredibly overprotective of her.”
They sat in silence for a moment before Joey spoke. “To be honest, I’m really glad it was you who got her pregnant instead of Brad. I couldn’t stand that guy.”
“I’m glad, too, because I bet any money he would have left her to deal with it on her own. He was the biggest asshole. I don’t care how I feel about her. Even if I weren’t in love with her, I would never walk away from my responsibility. Of course, that’s not the case. I couldn’t walk away from her even if she wasn’t pregnant.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Thanks for not killing me.”
“You’re welcome.”
After Joey went inside, Nick sat on the grass for a good half an hour, just thinking. He wasn’t lying when he said he couldn’t leave her. God, he was in love with her. He loved her so much, he couldn’t even see straight. He’d never felt this way about anyone before. He was so lost in thought, he didn’t realize she had come outside until she sat down next to him.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hi.”
“You all right?”
“Yeah, I’m just thinking.”
“About what?”
“How much you mean to me.” He put his arm around her and kissed her cheek.