“Hey,” BJ said, stepping out on to the front porch where Katelin was sitting. The guests had long since left, realizing that Nick was not going to show up. “How are you holding up?”

Katelin shrugged. She didn’t know if she wanted to cry or to wring Nick’s neck. Probably a little of both. At first she was just worried. She was worried that something had happened to him. But then she was mad. If something had happened to him, she would have definitely heard something. After Brian had talked her out of calling all of the area hospitals, she reluctantly admitted to herself that he just wasn’t coming. Something more important had come up and, as usual, he decided to do that instead.

“Why don’t you go home and get some sleep,” BJ suggested. “I’m sure mom’ll have no problem keeping the kids tonight.”

“I couldn’t ask her to do that.” Katelin wiped her tears away and looked up when Jane walked out.

“It’s no problem, hon,” Jane told her. “I’m sure you and Nick are going to have some things to discuss. I don’t mind at all. In fact, I insist.”

Eventually, Katelin agreed and said goodnight to the Carter’s, before climbing into her car and driving home. During the fifteen-minute drive to her house, her mood changed from upset and sad to furious. Nick had better have a damn good explanation for not showing up tonight.

Pulling into her driveway, she noticed that Nick’s car was not in the garage. She climbed out of her car and walked into the house. Emotionally drained, she walked up to their room and took a quick shower, before changing into her pajamas and going downstairs to wait for him.

By the time he finally showed up, it was a little after midnight. Katelin heard the key in the lock and the quiet footsteps as he stepped into the house. She was sitting in the kitchen in the dark, knowing he would come in there to throw his keys on the counter and check if there were any messages. She heard his footsteps approaching and suddenly, the light in the kitchen was turned on. Nick didn’t see her sitting at the kitchen table as he tossed his keys on to the counter. Just as he was about to turn off the light, she cleared her throat. Nick spun around, surprised, and saw her tear-streaked face.

“What’s wrong?” Nick questioned, running over to her and throwing his arms around her.

Katelin angrily shoved him away from her before reaching up to wipe her eyes. “Don’t.”

Her voice was cold and distant and Nick didn’t understand why. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t come near me,” Katelin growled. “I have never ever in my entire life been as angry with anyone as I am with you right now.

“What did I do, Kate?” Nick was thoroughly confused. And he wasn’t exactly sober. He had no idea what she could have possibly been so angry at.

“I thought you were supposed to pick up Aaron, Brian, and Kayleigh,” Katelin stated. “What happened?”

“I figured when I hadn’t heard from anyone that you had,” Nick replied.

Katelin’s eyes grew wide. “That’s your excuse? Are you kidding me? What kind of a parent are you, Nick?” Nick went to respond but Katelin didn’t give him a chance. “You don’t just assume that your children were picked up, Nick. You find out if they were for sure. Where the hell were you, anyway?”

“I had to meet someone,” Nick mumbled. He knew that if Katelin found out who it was she would kill him.

“Who?” Katelin asked, warily. She had a bad feeling about his answer. When Nick didn’t answer, she knew something was wrong. “Who was it, Nick?”

“Mandy,” Nick answered, almost inaudibly.

The look that registered on Katelin’s face was enough to bring tears to Nick’s own eyes. He didn’t know what to make of it. Was she angry? Or just extremely upset? Finally, she produced the gift-wrapped box from it’s spot in her lap and stood up, shoving the present into his hands. “Happy Birthday, Nick.” Nick watched, clueless, as she stomped out of the room and up the stairs.

“Kate?!” Nick finally called after her. “What is this? My birthday’s not for another two days.” He ran up the stairs two at a time and reached their bedroom before she could slam the door in his face. “What is this?”

“Do you k now what tonight was, Nick?” Katelin asked, quietly, sitting down on the bed. Nick shook his head, indicating that he had no clue. “We didn’t need for you to pick up the kids. That was just the plan to get you there.”

“Get me there for what?” Nick questioned, stepping towards her.

“I was having a surprise party for you.” Katelin looked up with tear-filled eyes and met Nick’s, causing Nick’s heart to break.

“I’m sorry, baby,” Nick apologized, stepping towards her. “I had no idea.”

“Don’t.” Katelin held her hand out to stop him from coming any closer. “Do you know what it was like? Sitting there, waiting for you to show up? Everyone was there, Nick. All of the guys. Their families. Your family. Brent and his family. I mean, do you know how humiliated I was when you didn’t show up?”

“Katelin…” Nick began.

“And then to find out that you didn’t show up because you were with your ex-girlfriend?!” Katelin interrupted, her voice raising. “The ex-girlfriend that hates me more than anything?”

“I’m sorry, Kate.” Nick now had silent tears streaming down his face. He didn’t want to hurt her. Never. He had already hurt her so much in the past. “It was purely platonic. She had a question about her recording contract. That’s all.” He made another move towards her, his heart breaking when she held her hand up to stop him again.

“I need you to leave,” she whispered, not looking at him.

Nick froze in his tracks. “What?”

“Just get out Nick.” She raised her head to look at him, ignoring how much it hurt to see him with tears streaming down his face. “Please.”

“Don’t do this, Kate,” Nick begged, kneeling in front of her and grabbing her hands. “I know you’re angry and you’re hurt but please don’t kick me out.”

Katelin angrily yanked her hands away. “Go to your parents or something tonight, Nick. I need to think and I can’t do that with you here.” Before he could get a chance to respond, she stood up and walked into the bathroom. Leaning against the door, she slid down to the floor with her hands covering her face, where she remained for almost an hour until she heard the squeal of Nick’s tires as he drove out of the driveway.

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