“Hi,” I said softly.
“Hi.”
“Can I please talk to you?”
“I kinda had a day planned already...alone,” he hinted.
I picked up on it but pleaded for a chance, “Please!”
He gave in, “Fine, but I’m still taking my boat out. You can talk to me when I get to where I want to stop.”
“Ok,” I sat down as he started the boat’s engine and took off.
About an hour later he stopped the boat in the middle of nowhere and turned it off. “Ok..talk.”
I had been preparing myself for this moment the entire boat ride. “Geez, where do I start?”
“Take your pick. It’s 4:30 and I have all night to here what you have to say to me.”
“Well, first of all, the whole thing about me and AJ’s friendship being more important than you isn’t true at all!”
“Oh really? Then why are you ALWAYS with him?”
“God Nick, I don’t want to go over this with you. I really hope you aren’t jealous of it because you never have been before. He’s my BEST FRIEND.”
“And?”
“Nick! Look, I’m not gonna fight about this with you. AJ and I are friends..me and you are, were, more. You know you’re really important to me.”
“And you’re important to me, but I hate how little things ALWAYS come between us.”
Because I didn’t respond to his comment, there was a long silence. I finally brought myself to talk. “I know you don’t love me anymore, but can’t-”
Nick shot his head up, “What? How could you think that I don’t love you?”
“I figured..since you broke up with me, you didn’t love me.”
“I broke up with you because I was mad at you, not because I stopped loving you.”
“Oh.” I turned around and faced the water. I laid my head down on the side of the boat and closed my eyes. I fell asleep and when I awoke, it was dark and Nick was sitting beside me, staring at me.
“Hey,” I lifted my head and looked into his bright blue eyes.
“Hey.”
He looked uneasy so I asked, “What are you thinking about Nick?”
He hesitated a bit before answering. “Lindsey....I don’t wanna be one of those guys who looks back at that one moment that changed his life forever and say, ‘Why didn’t I just take that chance?’”
“What ch-” was all I got out before I felt his warm lips against mine. It was a kiss that sent chills up and down my spine. When he pulled away I asked, “What was that for?”
“I needed to see if it was still there after such a long time. I have been so confused lately about whether or not we’re meant to be together. But that kiss just said it all and set it straight.”
“Are we gonna be ok then?” I asked doubtfully.
“We’ll be fine,” he assured me with a hug.
“God, Nick, you have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear those words straight from you. I hear them all the time from everyone else, but I needed to hear them from you.”
“I’ll say them always.”
I hadn’t been this happy in a long, long time. Everything was perfect again.
~*~*~THE NEXT DAY~*~*~
“What the hell is going on?” AJ said, walking into the living room of the guys condo. He walked in just in time to see Nick and me hugging.
“Oh, AJ, we need to talk,” I said.
“Yeah...I uh think we do!”
I led him into the kitchen and he stared at me in disbelief, “Did I just see you hug Nick?”
“Yeah. See-”
“Why were you hugging Nick? What happened that I don’t know about?”
“Last night-” I started again.
“I can’t believe it!” he interrupted me again.
“Would you let me talk?!” I yelled.
“Sorry,” he said sheepishly.
“Well last night, I went out to Nick’s boat. We talk about everything and we’re fine now....no we’re GREAT now.”
“Really? That’s great!!” AJ exclaimed.
~*~*~A WEEK LATER~*~*~
“So Aaron, what do wanna do for your birthday? Only 4 more days!” I playfully punched his arm as we walked along the beach with Kevin.
“I dunno. Maybe go ride go-carts...or go to the arcade...maybe even lazer tag..then go to ummm....Disney World!” Aaron said excitedly.
“AC, you can’t do ALL of that!” Kevin laughed.
“Oh..”
“But maybe a lot of it,” I added after seeing his disappointment. “But anyway, I’ve got a BUG surprise for you,” I smiled.
“No way! What is it?”
“I dunno,” I shrugged my shoulders.
“Does Nick know? He’s so dumb I can get anything out of him.”
“Great way to talk about your brother,” I laughed.
When Aaron was far enough ahead of us, Kevin nudged me, “What’s the surprise?”
“Promise not to tell?”
“Promise.”
“I’m only telling you because I need your help.”
“Ok..explain.”
When I finished telling him my plan, he smiled.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Lindsey!” AJ shouted as he walked into my condo.
I emerged from my bedroom and walked down the stairs. “Hey AJ! What’s-” I began.
“I met someone today when I was at the mall!”
“Really? That’s great!”
“She’s so great, Lindsey.”
“When can I meet her?”
“I’ll invite her over to your place tonight. Me, you, Nick, and her can go out to eat and go see a movie.”
“Sounds great.”
“Ok. I’ll come over about 6.”
“Alright, I can’t wait.”
“See ya.”
Later that night I was sitting with Nick on my couch as we awaited the arrival of AJ’s new girlfriend. When the doorbell rang, Nick and I stood up as AJ went to answer it. As AJ led her into the room, I smiled to Nick. When I turned my head back around, I stood face-to-face with someone I had always hoped I’d never see again...Claire.