Chapter 24
During brunch, Kristina had explained everything that had happened to Nick. Several times he had been completely silent, his face reflecting his emotions as she recanted not only her injuries but her emotional struggle as well. Howie sat beside her, one hand rubbing the small of her back, the other holding her hand in his as she talked. When she was finished, Nick got up and took her in his arms, hugging her tightly.
"I’m so sorry that you had to go through all of that," he said softly.
Kristina stood on her tiptoes, kissing his cheek lightly and brushing a single tear from his cheek.
"It’s okay. I know you ALL would have protected me if you could have" and then to ‘D’ she said, "The most important thing is that I am surrounded by people who love me and that are willing to help me get through the next phase of my life."
"I will always be here for you, angel" Howie said with a wink.
"Me too!" chimed Nick, proudly.
Kristina laughed. "Good – now you clowns can clean the kitchen while I go ‘sun’ by the pool."
Howie and Nick looked at each other and let out a collective sigh. "Yes Dear!" they said in unison as Kristina blew them a kiss.
"See you losers by the pool."
Howie and Nick watched her bounce happily into the bedroom. Shaking his head, Nick laughed.
"She SO has you whipped, ‘D’."
"Uh huh, but look who’s cleaning the kitchen with me."
"That’s only because she cooked such an awesome breakfast and I had to repay her somehow" Nick laughed.
"Yeah right! Now, help me clean up this mess. I feel like getting all WET with my girl."
Nick sighed. "Aww man. You don’t know how bad I NEED a girl. It’s been so long since I had a steady girlfriend that my palm is getting blisters."
"Kris has this really cute friend named Fiona. When I met her the other night and she realized I was one of the Backstreet Boys, the first thing out of her mouth was, "Is Nick here too?"."
Nick smirked and cocked an eyebrow in interest. "Really? Why don’t you invite this girl over so I can meet her?"
Kristina had heard the conversation as she came out of the bedroom dressed only in her bathing suit. "Because Kevin took her home the other night and I have a feeling he stayed."
"DAYUM WOMAN!" Nick shouted as Kristina kept her back to them and walked towards the pool area.
Howie punched him in the arm. "OUCH! What did you do that for?" Nick asked rubbing his bicep.
"She’s my girl. You don’t need to be looking at her like that."
Kristina laughed, knowing that her bathing suit, or lack of, had gotten their attention.
She called out over her shoulder. "The sooner you get that kitchen cleaned, the sooner you can rub sun tan lotion on me, ‘D’."
Howie immediately began clearing the dishes from the table and piling them in the sink. He slapped Nick in the back of the head and said, "Get busy, bro. You heard her. I’ve got work to do."
Nick helped Howie finish cleaning the kitchen, the two of them laughing and cutting up the entire time. When they were finished, Howie changed into a pair of swimming trunks while Nick headed out to the pool area to talk to Kris.
"Are you going swimming in your clothes, Nick?" Kristina said with a laugh.
Taking off his shirt, he said, "No. But I am going in with my shorts on, unless you want to go skinny dipping with me."
Kristina laughed out loud. "Um, NO! I don’t think ‘Thor’ needs to be turned loose, especially since he hasn’t had any action in a while."
"Ha Ha Ha – very funny!" Nick said sarcastically. "Just for that, I think I’m gonna throw you in!"
Nick picked Kristina up and carried her to the edge of the pool. She was kicking and screaming playfully as he walked closer and closer to the edge.
"Put me down, Nickolas Gene Carter!" she giggled.
From inside, Howie could hear her screams and squeals and hurried towards the glass sliding door. Just as he was about to yell at Nick for threatening to throw Kris in the pool, the doorbell rang.
"Shit!" he shouted as he opened the door. "Nick-put her down! You better not throw her in!"
Nick turned and laughed in Howie’s direction. "What? What did you say, ‘D’?’
Howie shot Nick a dirty look and then went to see who was at the door. He opened the door, surprised to find Kevin and Fiona standing on the doorstep. They were laughing and talking, oblivious to the fact that he was watching them. From behind he heard a loud scream and then a splash.
"I’m gonna kill him!" he shouted.
Fiona and Kevin looked up just as Howie walked away. Turning to each other, Fiona said, "Kill who?"
"I don’t know, but he looked pissed! Let’s go see," Kevin said picking up the box of Kristina’s stuff and setting it inside the door.