"This has been the longest three weeks of my life... and there's another week left!" Nick said to Brian and Jenn as he paced. "I don't know how I'm gonna make it through."
"Nick, don't be so melodramatic. One more week after 'surviving' three isn't gonna kill you. I have great faith in you... you WILL make it through this week." Brian said, watching Nick pace frantically. "And PLEASE sit down, you're gonna wear a groove into my floor!" he added with a chuckle.
Nick cracked a half-smile and sat down. He let out a slight laugh and said, "Sorry, Rok, I just get anxious when I know she's out with Kevin."
Jenn smiled warmly. "Well, I don't know if it's any consolation, but Kevin feels the same way when you're out with Laura, too."
Nick smiled slyly. "He does, huh?" he asked, almost ecstatic. Kevin feels the same as I do... here I thought he was the calm and collected one, he thought to himself. "Yeah, that does make me feel a bit better," he said with a laugh. Just then there was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it," Jenn said, getting up to get the door. Opening it she saw Kevin and Laura standing in the doorway. "Hey you guys, c'mon in!" she said, stepping back so they could walk in. Kevin walked over and sat down next to Nick.
Laura's breath caught in her throat as she saw Nick. Laura had made her decision, a week ago already. She decided that the next time she had both Kevin and Nick in the same room that she would tell them. She got nervous, though, for she didn't expect it to be today, for she had hoped for a few more days to prepare. But prepared or not, this was it, she had to let them know her decision.
Jenn sensed her sister's anxiety. "Laura, you OK? You seem a bit tense."
Laura broke her stare from where Kevin and Nick were sitting. "Huh? Um, yeah, I'm fine. I just--" Laura stared back over to where they were sitting. Her trance was broken by the phone ringing. "Mind if I get it, Brian?" Laura said quickly, trying to get her mind off of the task ahead of her. Brian smiled and nodded as Jenn went and sat down next to him.
Laura picked up the phone. "Hello? ... Oh hey, Howie ... Yeah, they're right here, wanna talk to them? ... Oh ok, I can sure tell them. No problem ... OK, later!" she said as she hung up the phone. She walked over to Brian and Jenn. "That was Howie," she stated matter-of-factly.
"Duhhh, honey, we figured that out," Brian said, laughing. Jenn chucked too. "What's the message?"
"Weeelllllll, HONEY, if you would have given me a minute to spit it out," Laura said, smacking Brian lighty on the side of his head. "He said to meet him and Cherie in 15-20 minutes at Jackson Park."
Brian smiled at Laura, then Jenn. "Well, Jennifer, shall we?" Jenn nodded as they got up. "You guys will lock up the house if y'all leave before we get back, right?" he asked, looking between Nick, Laura, and Kevin.
"Yes, 'Dad,' we'll lock up. Just go!" Nick said with a laugh. Kevin and Laura smiled and laughed too. Brian just rolled his eyes as he and Jenn left.
Laura sat down in the chair across from where Nick and Kevin were sitting. She sighed and smiled at both of them, and they smiled back at her. Laura shifted nervously in her chair as she felt both of them looking at her. C'mon, Laura, you've gotta do this, you've made up your mind, and you've got to tell them! she urged herself. Taking a deep breath, she spoke.
"Wow, awkward silences suck," Laura said with a laugh, trying to lighten the mood. Nick and Kevin laughed too, but were unable to hide their restlessness. They both sensed something was going to happen now that all three of them were in the same room, but didn't expect what was to come.
"I'm--I'm glad I have both of you in the same room," Laura started, her voice trembling. "I have something that I need to tell you. I've been waiting for a moment like this for the past week... damn, I'm nervous," she said, shifting again in her chair. "Well, here it goes..."
Nick and Kevin exchanged glances. Could Laura have made her decision already? They figured they were about to find out....
