''Are you okay?" Ashleigh asked.
"I'm fine, why?" Nick asked, looking over at her. They were in his Durango on their way to the house they were looking at.
"You're barely talking," Ashleigh said. Nick looked back at the road. Keeping this from her was going to be harder than he thought. He usually told Ashleigh everything.
"What did you get at the mall?" he asked, changing the subject.
~~~~~~~~
Howie felt someone wrap their arms around him from behind and he could smell the sweet scent of Regan's shampoo.
"How ya doin?" Regan asked.
"Great, I never knew playing with Barbie's could be this much fun," Howie said. Regan laughed and sat next to him. Howie had been playing with Savannah and Regan just came back from putting her down for a nap.
"I'm serious," Howie smiled.
"She loves you," Regan smiled. They were planning to leave the next morning for Florida. Howie had rented a Tahoe to drive down all their stuff. Regan insisted Savannah and her move into Regan's own place instead of Howie's.
"I love yo...her," Howie quickly covered. A smile crept across her face.
"Howie, thank you," she said.
"For what?"
"For being this great. I thought after I told you I was a mom, it'd scare you off. But it didn't," she said. Howie took her and pulled her into his lap.
"Nothing could scare me off," Howie said.
"I still feel bad for not telling you at first," she confessed.
"I understand why you didn't. It's okay," he kissed her forehead. They laid in each others arms for awhile. They didn't say anything but nothing needed to be said. Howie took a deep breath.
"I love you," he said. She looked up at him and starred into his eyes.
"I love you too," she said. They both smiled as their lips met.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The phone rang in the big house and Nick paused his video game he was playing. He reached over to the phone carrier to find it was empty. He followed the sounds of the ringing all through is house and still couldn't find the cordless. The ringing continued and he heard the machine click on.
"Hey we can't come to the phone, leave a message. BEEP"
"Hey guys, it's Kristin..." Kristin started to talk. Nick's head shot up and he started searching franticly for the phone. He finally found it under the couch pillow and pressed 'talk'.
"Hello?!" Nick said, out of breath.
"Nick," Kristin said.
"Hi Kristin," he said.
"Is Ashleigh there?" Kristin asked.
"No, she went to Gwen's to help her with AJ's costumes. Want me to have her call you?"
"No actually, I called for you to make sure she wasn't home. Can I come over? We need to talk," Kristin said.
"Look Kristin...." Nick started. "About the other night...I don't need you covering my ass."
"You better thank your lucky stars I did...that girl asked a lot of questions when I took her shopping so she wouldn't have to see you come home. I'm sure you had one hell of a hangover. A guilty, hungover face is never a pleasant site," Kristin shot back.
Nick was silent. ''Fine, come over. Make it quick because I dunno when Ash will be back."
"Fine. See you soon." Nick hung up the phone and sat down. Why did Kristin cover for him? Most everyone else would have squealed. He was sure Gwen would tell on him in a second and he was pretty sure Regan and Leighanne would too. But what about Kristin? Soon enough, his doorbell rang. He stood up and let Kristin in. They walked into his kitchen and they sat on the stools at the island.
"First, can I ask you something?" Nick asked.
"Sure."
"Why did you cover me? What made you not tell Ash I messed up?" Nick asked.
"Nick, I saw how hurt you were when you finally broke up with Mandy. Then when you met Ashleigh, you became yourself again. Not yourself when you were with Mandy, yourself before Mandy. That part of you that was like a little kid. Ashleigh brings out the best in you. I know how much you need each other and I know you guys both can't afford to get hurt again," Kristin said. Nick looked down at his shoes.
"I hurt her, Kristin," he admitted.
"I know, but she doesn't," Kristin said.
"That hurts me even more," Nick confessed.
"Nick, I didn't rat on you because you guys have something amazing and I don't want to see you guys ruin it. But...I don't know now," Kristin said.
"If you found out Kevin cheated on you, would you want to know?" Nick asked. Kristin took a deep breath and let it out aloud.
"I don't know. I dunno if I'd choose the lie that would bring me a smile or the truth that would bring me to tears," she said. Nick looked out the window.
"So you're saying I should lie to her and go on with our lives?" Nick said.
"I don't know Nick...it's completely up to you. But you two need each other," Kristin said. Nick was silent. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Nick said.
"What are you gonna do?" Kristin said. Nick looked Kristin straight in the face and saw the trust bond they were forming.
"I'm not going to tell her," Nick said, quietly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
