Survivor
Chapter 18
Bailey's breath caught in her throat. She wondered for a fleeting second if she had heard right. What would he think if she asked him to repeat it? Without thinking, she spoke.
"Well, that was unexpected."
Nick laughed, a deep rumbling sound in her ear as her head still lay on his chest. Wrapping his arms tighter around her, he squeezed her to him.
"Bailey, you're so funny. How was that unexpected? You should have known this entire thing wouldn't have happened if I didn't."
"Nick," she said, raising up to look at him. The grin he wore was one of pure satisfaction. She couldn't exactly decipher what had put it there, though.
"Yes, baby." He looked into her wide blue eyes.
"How can you say you love me? We barely even know each other."
He looked at her, confused. "What do you mean, we barely even know each other. We survived a plane crash and being stranded in the mountains for nearly a week. You took care of me, saved me from being killed. My God, girl, you gave your virginity to me. Of course we know each other."
This was definitely not what she had expected.
"Bailey, am I going in the totally wrong direction? You told me that sex needed to have a meaning to it. I promise you I meant every thing. Especially when I said I love you."
Bailey saw his blue eyes begin to cloud over with anger. She certainly didn't mean to make him mad. Taking a deep breath, she tried again.
"Nick," she ran a finger across his jaw, "I didn't mean it to sound like that. I just meant...I was caught off guard. I love you, too. I didn't think you felt the same way. I mean, I figured you loved me, but not like that."
He pulled her up in the bed, their faces inches apart.
"Bailey, as far as I'm concerned, there is no other way to love you," he whispered to her.
She smiled at the tenderness in his voice, her eyes burning with tears. She looked away, not wanting him to see. He took her chin in his hand, turning her face to him again.
"Sweetheart, don't ever look away from me. I want to see everything you think and feel. Let me show you again how much I love you," he told her as he rolled her onto her back and gently climbed on top of her.
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The loud ringing of the phone caused Bailey to stir in her sleep. She waited Leslie to answer it. After a few more annoying buzzes, she rememberd where she was. Sitting up, she reached for the phone.
"Hello?" She said sleepily into the phone.
"Hello?" From the other end.
"I already said that," she murmured, fighting to keep her eyes open.
"Bailey?"
"What gave you the clue, Sherlock? Brett, is that you?"
"No," the other person laughed. "This is Kevin."
"Kevin?"
"Yeah. Kevin Richardson. You know, the jerk from the plane and the mountains."
"Oh," she said, the cobwebs of sleep slowly clearing away. "Kevin. Hey. How are you doing?"
"Great. Listen, I didn't mean to wake you. I was trying to get in touch with Nick. He doesn't have his cell on. Do you have a number where I could reach him?"
"Um, yeah. Hang on a sec."
She looked at the person sleeping in the bed beside her. His hair was mussed a little, giving him a little boy look. He even smirks in his sleep, she thought, her heart warming and her body feeling stirrings at the memory of the night before. She nudged him, trying to gently wake him. Nothing. She shook him harder, whispering his name loudly. He turned over, snuggling further under the covers.
"Nick," she said louder, placing her cold hand on his warm back.
"Aaah," he screamed, sitting up in the bed.
"Telephone," she said, holding it out to him.
He took the receiver, giving her a questioning look. She shrugged, sliding back under the covers.
"Yeah," he mumbled, his own voice thick with sleep.
"Heh-heh. I guess it worked, huh?"
"What the hell are you talking about? Who the hell is this?" Nick asked, opening one eye.
"Nick, it's Kevin. I thought I might find you there."
"Ummm, yeah," he answered, about to nod off again.
"Did you get it?"
"What?!"
"The gift we sent," Kevin said, laughing.
"Oh. Gift? The Cristal? You did that?"
"Yeah. Well, actually, it was Brian's idea. He can have some pretty good ideas when he's horny and the wifey's away. But enough about him. How was your sorority social?"
"It wasn't mine. But it was nice. How did the Cris get here?" Nick asked, sitting up in bed. "Don't tell me you two actually came into the room and left it."
"Yep, and we're hiding in the closet right now. Pretty good showing last night, Nicky."
"Are you serious?"
"No, man. We drove up and left the champagne with the guy at the desk with specific instructions as to what to do with it. Did it work?"
"Now, Kevin, you know I'm not the kind of guy to kiss and tell," Nick told him, looking at Bailey beside him. She was asleep again, looking so beautiful.
"Oh yeah, right. Obviously it worked, or else you wouldn't still be there with her. Way to go, champ. I like her. She's plucky. We'll talk later. Are you stopping by Brian's on your way home?"
"I guess I can. I think I need some help with something. I'll explain later. See you then. Oh, Kev?"
"Yeah."
"Thanks for everything, man. You have no idea how much I owe you."
**************************
Nick stood on the porch of the sorority house with his arms wrapped around Bailey. The wind was whirling snowflakes around them.
"I can't believe the weekend is over," she said, sighing and looking up at him.
"I know," he pressed his forehead to hers. "I had a wonderful time. I didn't think it would be as fun as it was."
Bailey giggled, causing Nick to tilt his head to one side. When he did that, it reminded her of a golden retriever trying to figure out what someone was saying.
"What's so funny?" He demanded.
"I was just thinking of you at the formal. You were so handsome in your suit. But you still acted silly, just like you were one of the frat guys. Why don't you quit the group and attend college here with me?"
"Hey, now, just because I said I love you doesn't mean you can go all Yoko Ono on me," he teased.
"I would never do that. I can't handle the thought of anyone not liking me."
The wind whipping around them had turned her cheeks pinker than usual. She was positively glowing, she was so happy.
"Well, Kevin actually said to me that he likes you. I swear he did. So, that has to count for something. Damn, I'm going to miss you at Christmas," he told her, sliding his hands in the back pockets of her jeans.
"I'll miss you, too. Wait. How would you like to spend Christmas with me?" She asked, her eyes suddenly brightening.
"Here?"
"No, silly. At my daddy's. I really don't want to have to face him and that twinkie alone. But, I guess you've already got plans. So, just forget I asked."
"Bailey, would you stop answering for me? I'd love to spend Christmas with you, no matter where it is. Well, maybe not back on that mountain again. But anywhere else, yes."
"Oh, Nick!" Bailey squealed, wrapping her arms around his neck, bringing his head down to kiss him.
He slowed her excited kiss with his passionate one. She was so eager, he thought as her lips melted into his. A rap on the window from the housemother broke them apart.
"I guess that means I've gotta be going," he said, blushing slightly. What was it about being around her that caused him to do that?
"Yeah. Be careful. Call me and let me know you got home safely," she told him, reluctantly letting him go.
"I will. I love you, Bailey Brooks Townsend," he said, giving her one last quick peck.
"I love you, too,” she said, giggling at the disapproving scowl from the window.
Bailey stood on the porch, watching as Nick got into his Jaguar and drove away. Smiling, she opened the door to the house, ready for the demerits she knew were coming.
********************
Nick strutted into Brian's living room, a silly grin on his face.
"Well, if it isn't the studly frat boy,” Brian teased.
"Ah, bite me," Nick responded, grabbing himself in an offering.
Kevin threw his head back and laughed. Apparently things had gone very well for Nick over the weekend.
"So?" Kevin asked, leaning forward carefully. He was still extremely tender, even though it had been nearly a month.
"So, I am in love," Nick simply stated.
"In love? Yeah, for the first time today," Brian commented.
"No, for the first time in my life. She's something special."
Kevin's green eyes searched Nick's face. He was serious about this.
"Nick, have you said anything to her about this?"
"Yeah," he grinned sheepishly. "It was right after we had...Let's just say it was a special moment."
"Nicky," Brian said, sitting next to him. "You do understand there is a difference between love and lust, don't you?"
"Oh, yeah," Nick sighed. "And it's definitely love. I wish I could tell you how, but trust me on this one. Kevin, I need your help on getting her something really nice for Christmas. I'm going to spend the holiday with her and her dad."
Kevin leaned back slowly, grimacing slightly as he held his ribs.
"Daddy? Love, huh? Yeah, I'd say you definitely need my help. Tomorrow, first thing, we're going shopping."
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