Nadia pulled up to her house. She jumped from her car and ran for the house. Kevin was suppose to pick her up in ten minutes. Her mentoring section had been running late. But how could she walk on a kid who asked her for help?
Five minutes later she had changed, bet her hair and make up were a mess. Then the doorbell rang.
" Hello?" she said apprehensively.
" Hi," Kevin said. " Ready?"
" No," she bit her lip. " I just got in five minutes ago. Come in."
" What happened?" he asked sitting on the coach.
" Mentoring ran over. This kid asked me for help," she disappeared into the bedroom still talking. " He was being harassed by some kids about smoking. I mean I just couldn't turn him away."
Several minutes later, she returned. Her hair was brushed and her make up was nice and even. She came out.
" Sorry, to keep you," she said.
" It's alright. You looked like you needed a few more minutes."
" Ha. Ha. Ha."
" Well, you did," he said opening the door for her. " You looked very harried."
" I am."
" And I was kind of expecting it since this has happened three times in the last two weeks."
They got in the car.
" Well, I can't help it. I mean I'm so busy."
" I am too. But I'm always on time for dates, early even."
Nadia didn't respond; he had a point.
" Nadia, you're just so preoccupied by work. The other night I was trying to talk to you and you weren't paying attention. You were thinking about your upcoming photo shoot."
" It's not my fault Miss Majors decided to put off the shooting of my house till this month! I've still got to clean it! I'm going to have to shoot Friday! That leaves me with tomorrow! You're lucky I'm even here now!"
Kevin gave her a look.
" Sorry," he said offhandedly.
But Nadia was lost in her thoughts. What was he implying? That they should end it?
Nadia was writing a bill when Sophie came in.
" Hi," she said.
" Hi," Nadia responded not looking up.
" How's it going?"
" Busy," she pulled the check out of the book. She put it in the envelope and sealed it.
" Ah. Did you two have fun last night?"
" Not really. We got in an argument on the way to the restaurant."
" What were you argueing about?"
" About my job and me being late."
" Were you late again last night?"
She nodded. " Mentoring went over. And this kid was asking my help. I just couldn't."
" I understand."
" I've got to take half a day off to clean house for the shooting last night. I should have done it last night. I pointed that out too."
" Ah. Are you still going to Park Celebration this weekend?"
Then a light bulb came on over her hand. " Frick!"
" What?"
" Mom's coming over Sunday. Our mother daughter day! I forgot. I'm going to have to call it off. Kevin's not going to like it."
" He'll understand."
" Let's hope so," she said picking up the phone.
" Kevin it's for you," Brian said handing him the phone.
" Alright," he said taking it. " Hello? Hi! Oh? What now? But we've had this planned for weeks! Your mother? But. Yes. Alright, bye."
He hung up, " I don't believe this!"
" What?" Brian asked.
" That was Nadia. She was canceling Park Celebration."
" That's alright," Nick said. " You can still come with us."
" I'm getting worried?"
" What about?" Howie asked concerned.
" Nadia's been late constantly. I hardly ever see her. She always preoccupied. And lately she's been cranky."
" P.M.S." A.J. said.
Kevin gave him a this-is-serious look.
" Sorry."
" Why are you worried?" Brian asked.
" I think she's going to burn me. I don't want to be burned again. My past relationships have been nothing but burns."
" The break up with her," Brian said simply.
" But I really like her."
" You seem fed up with her," he said. " Annoyed."
" Well, I am annoyed."
" See?"
" But Brian," Howie intervened. " This is probably just a little hurdle they have to overcome."
" Why did she cancel?" Nick asked.
" Her mother is in town."
" See! Howie said. " She's not burning you! Her mother lives out of town doesn't she?"
" I think so."
" Nadia would understand. I mean what if your mother cam down from Kentucky?"
" True."
" About being late. She's busy. Things will calm down. You know this business. I think you're overreacting."
" Well, maybe you're right," Kevin began to think.
Nadia dropped her mom off at the train station Sunday night.
" Thanks for coming down," she said.
" You're welcome."
" I'll miss you," she said giving her a hug.
" I'll miss you too. And I can't wait to see in your house in the magazine. I love what you've done to the place."
" Thanks. Tell dad I love him."
" Sure will."
" Bye."
" Bye."
Nadia watched her board the train. Then she headed back to the car. She drove home singing to "If You Go" by Jon Secada. When she got there, Kevin was there.
" Hi," he said getting off the stoop.
" Hi. Uh, what's up?"
" Since you couldn't go to Park Celebrations, I reserved a table at an outdoor restaurant with a live band."
Nadia sighed.
" What?"
" It's just I'm tired."
" You don't want to go?"
" It's not that I don't want to go, it' just that-"
" I see."
" You don't; I can tell in your voice."
" Why don't you just tell me to leave you alone?"
" Huh? Kevin, what are you talking about?"
" You're tired of me say it."
" What make you say that?"
" Because you are!"
" Why!?" her voice rose a notch.
" I can tell by the way you're acting. You're not serious about me."
" What if I told you I was?'"
" You wouldn't."
" What If I told you I loved you?"
" Don't. I don't want to hear it!"
" What? Are you calling me a liar?"
He fell silent.
" Fine," now Nadia was mad. " Just forget it all happened."
She walked past him and into the house.
Nadia slumped into her seat the next day. Sophie was there on her lunch break. Then Stephanie came in with the mail. Nadia flipped through it. There was an unusual size and shape letter. She opened it.
" Dear God, please help me," she said in a begging tone.
" What is it?" Sophie asked.
" An invite to an some entertainment awards. It's for books, magazines, TV, and music. I'm nominated for best photographer for inanimate objects. She they have a live photographs section too."
" That's great!"
" But I have no one to go with. You'll come with me right?"
" Yes."
" Good. I need to RSVP But I need a date as well. You're going to bring Casey right?"
She nodded. Then the phone rang.
" Hello? Oh, Mark.Hey what are you doing this Thursday night?"
" Hey, Kevin," Howie said reading the paper. " Guess who's nominated for that awards show this Thursday?"
" Who?" Kevin said reading the paper.
" Nadia."
" Ah."
" But of course she would be there already."
" She would?"
Howie gave him a funny look.
" Kevin?" Brian asked. " Is something going on?"
" We broke up last night."
" Why?" Howie asked.
" I told her that she was tired of me. And we got into this fight. She was going to try to tell me she loved me, but I wouldn't let her."
" Do you love her?" Nick asked.
Kevin looked at him funny.
" I don't know."
Nadia entered the arena in a long silver holographic dress. It was perfect for pictures. At her side was Mark in a nice suit. Sophie, in a daring red dress, followed with Casey. Nadia bit the inside of her lip. She hoped she wasn't suppose to be seated anywhere near Kevin.
" Don't be nervous," Mark said. "I'm sure you'll win."
" I'm not nervous."
" You are. You're shaking like a leaf."
They found their seat. But to the right two down, she saw Kevin sitting down with the guys. And he saw her.
" Who is she with?" Kevin asked.
Brian shrugged. " Who cares? She doesn't want to have anything to do with you."
" Maybe, he's just a friend," Howie said.
" I don't know of any guy friends. But there's this guy Mark. He's her ex. He keeps pestering her about work."
" Kevin," A.J. said. " You've been acting all week like you're happy you broke up. Now all of a sudden."
Kevin didn't answer.
" Maybe he just realized how much he cared for her," Howie said under his breath.
The music portion came and went. The Backstreet Boys won two awards. Then last, was the magazine awards.
" And in the category of Inanimate Objects Photography are Della Perkins for her pictures in Home Range, Michael Lucas for his pictures in Time, and Nadia Prinze representing Our Home; Your Home," he picked up the envelope.
" And the winner is…"
Mark squeezed Nadia's arm. Kevin closed his eyes and gritted his teeth.
" Michael Lucas and Time."
Kevin looked back at Nadia. He saw her raise her hand to her eyes. She wiped them and tried to be strong. But he could tell that she was really upset.
" Are you sure you want to go to the party?" Mark asked afterwards. " I mean we could go somewhere quiet."
" Mark we're here as friends. We broke up for a reason."
" I know. That's not what I intended. You're upset. I mean, Sophie and Casey are invited too."
" Mark. Go home. I'll be fine with these two."
" Are you sure?"
" Yes. Go."
" Alright."
" Come on," Sophie said. " You'll hang with me and Casey and have a good time."
As they walked down the aisle, she looked back. Kevin was watching her.
" She's alone," Kevin said as they entered the party.
" Kev," Brian said. " You have two choices. Be quiet or go talk to her. Because I'm tired of hearing it."
" Me too," A.J. agreed.
" Yeah, go talk to her," Nick said.
" But what if that guy-" Howie started.
" He can shove it," A.J. said. " Go Kevin."
Kevin looked at her. Then he walked over.
" Hi."
" Hi."
" Are you alright? You looked upset earlier."
" I feel better."
" I think you should have won."
" Yeah, well I see why you weren't happy with me. You and your band, you deserve it; I don't."
" I don't get depressed," Kevin said. " You look too pretty."
In the dance area, Joey McIntire's "I Love You Came Too Late" was playing.
" Would you dance with me?" he said.
" Sure," she smiled.
They headed to the floor.
" Nadia," Kevin said as they danced.
" Yes?"
" I'm sorry."
" About what?"
" This situation. I miss you."
" I miss you too."
" Who was the guy?"
" Mark. We're still good friends."
" Then why did y'all break up?"
" Because he told me he loved me and I didn't believe him."
" What if I told I loved you? Would you believe me?" his green eyes burned into hers'
" I don't know."
" I love you, Nadia."
" I love you."
The song ended and a slow song came on. It was " I Do (Cherish You)". Kevin wrapped his arms around her. And she knew then that she believed him.