Claire drove off to the grocery store and grabbed her bag, then headed inside. She bumped into one of her mother's friends and chatted for a few minutes, then headed off to do the shopping. She grabbed hot dogs, hamburgers, cheese, chips, soda and pickles. Then she headed over to the fresh fruit, for watermelon.
She grabbed a watermelon and threw it into the basket. As she took the corner around the display she ran right into someone.
"I am so sorry!" she said bending down to pick up the chips that had fallen out of the other person's basket.
"No, no, it's my fault." the man said.
Claire looked up and smiled at him. He was wearing hawaiian board shorts, a white t-shirt, flip flops and a bucket hat, pulled down low. She peered into his eyes closely.
"Brian?" she said in an uncertain voice.
He looked into her eyes and worried she was a fan. He loved his fans more than anything, but sometimes they caused scenes. He had gone through it before, and usually they started screaming, then attracted attention to him. He tried to smile, but it came out as a lip quiver.
"Have we met before?" he asked.
Claire giggled and stood up from the crouching position she was in from picking up the chips. Brian did the same and Claire shifted her basket to the other arm since it was heavy.
"No, we haven't met. I don't know if Nick has mentioned me, I'm Claire." she said.
"Your Claire?! At last! I meet the woman that Nick talks non-stop about." he said with a country accent that made Claire smile.
She smiled and blushed a little, "Yeah, that's me. I have heard a lot about you too. I recognized you from a picture of you and Nick in his house."
They began walking towards the registers and Claire immediately liked Brian. He was nice, charming and sweet.
"So, what are you and Nick up to?" he asked.
Claire shifted the basket again in discomfort and she was about to answer Brian, when he reached across and took the basket from her.
"Oh no, it's okay." she said.
He laughed, "We'll switch for now."
He handed her his basket and all it had in it was chips and fruit, making it much lighter in weight. She smiled and got into line next to him.
"We are having a cookout. Do you want to come over and join us?" she invited.
"Are you sure it's no problem?" he asked politely.
"Not at all." she smiled.
"Then I would love to." he laughed.
They loaded their items on the counter and paid. They walked out to their cars and talked the whole time.
"Okay, well I will see you at Nick's." she said.
He nodded and smiled, "Bye!"
"Bye."
She got in the car and drove back to Nick's. She pulled in the driveway and Brian pulled in behind her.
They walked into the house and out onto the patio.
Claire walked out onto the patio, "Hey Nick, I found this guy, and he was hitchhiking so I picked him up and-"
She looked at Nick and she held in a laugh that wanted to escape her lips. She looked him over and he was standing in front of the grill with the instructions in one hand, a match in the other and a determined look on his face.
"Can't figure out how to light the grill?" Brian asked.
Nick looked up and smiled, "Hey B-Rok."
He got up and handed the match to Brian, "If your so great, you light it."
Brian took the match, turned on the gas and lit the grill. He blew the match out and handed it to Nick.
"Oh, sure, I could have done it. I just wanted to see if you could do it." he said jokingly.
"Oh, of course." Brian nodded.
Nick and Brian laughed and sat down by the pool and began talking. Claire shifted the heavy bags of groceries and cleared her throat making both guys look up at her.
"Some help would be nice." she said pretending to be annoyed.
Nick got up and grabbed one of the bags from her and walked into the kitchen with her behind him. Nick tossed the hamburgers out to Brian, and Brian began cooking them. Nick put the groceries away as Claire grabbed the portable phone and sat on the kitchen counter. She dangled her feet and kicked them back and forth as she dialed Angie's number.
"Hey Ang?" she said once Angie picked up.
"Claire? How are you feeling?" Angie asked.
"Fine, thanks. Me, Nick and Brian are having a cookout. Want to come over?" Claire invited.
"Um, Howie and Kevin are over. They are writing some song with Aj. But once I mention food, I am sure they will jump at the chance. So we will be over in a few minutes." Angie explained.
"Okay, see you then." Claire said hanging up.
"Nick, grab the other burgers and hot dogs I bought, please. Howie, Kevin, Aj and Angie are coming over too." she said as she moved back on the counter a little.
Nick nodded and walked over to Claire. He stood between her legs and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He placed his hands on either side of her and leaned in close, just about to kiss her. She leaned forward expecting the kiss and Nick pulled back, making her almost fall off the counter onto him.
"I hate you Carter!" she said playfully pushing him back.
He put his hands on her cheeks and kissed her softly making her heart beat faster, like it always did with him. He pulled back and grabbed her hand as she jumped down off the counter. They walked back onto the patio and saw Brian flipping burgers.
"You know, if I ever stop singing, I could consider this as a job. I am doing pretty good." he said laughing.
Claire walked over, saw the burnt burgers and patted his shoulder, "I'd stick with the singing."
She went over to the pool and stuck her feet in as one of Nick's pugs ran over, onto her lap. She ruffled the puppy's fur and he settled down into her lap. She put her hands behind her and leaned back, resting on her palms. She sat with her eyes closed looking up at the sun, when she felt someone walk over and sit next to her.
She peeked open one eye and saw Nick sitting there patting the dog.
"Hey, you feeling okay?" he asked in a soft tone. She laughed and sat up straight, "Perfect."
He nodded and stuck his feet in the water. He bumped his foot into hers purposely and rubbed his against hers. Claire smiled and leaned down, kissing the dog on the head.
She looked up and Nick pouted. She smiled and leaned closer to him, kissing him softly but longingly. Nick took her hand into his and they just sat there together. A few minutes later, Nick heard Aj do some sort of animal call to express he was now at the cookout.
Nick took his feet out of the water, kissed the top of Claire's head and got up, walking over to Aj, Angie, Howie and Kevin.
Claire put the puppy next to her and got up also, to introduce herself.
She walked up to one man who was about Nick's height with jet black hair.
"Hi, I'm Claire." she said shaking his hand.
"Nice to meet you, my name's Kevin." he said with a light country accent.
Claire turned to the other unfamiliar face, "Hi, I'm Claire."
"Hey, my name's Howie. It's nice to finally meet you." he said with a big smile.
"Likewise." she said.
Nick came up behind her and put one arm around her shoulder and smiled big at Kevin and Howie.
"So, have you met my girl?" he asked them.
Claire crinkled her brow and pushed his arm off her shoulder, "My girl? What is this, fifth grade?"
She smirked at him and walked off towards Angie. She heard Kevin saying "Ouch..." concerning her comment to Nick. She laughed and poked Angie in the side.
"Hey." she said with a smile.
"Hi." Angie said.
Angie grabbed a handful of chips and shoved them in her mouth. Claire put on a grossed out look and Angie opened her mouth, showing the chewed up food.
"Angie your gross!" Claire complained.
Angie swallowed the food and smiled, "Yeah, but you love me regardless."
Claire just laughed and the two girls walked inside to talk and grab drinks.
