Part 15
"Are you high?" Alex asked, not believing he thought she was beautiful.
"Smoking or snorting Yoo-hoo doesn't sound very appealing to me. Injection would work, but I'm not a fan of needles of any kind. Besides you wouldn't be able to taste it."
"What about knitting needles?" Alex asked Nick.
"Well. . .they're controversial." For the first time in three hours, Alex laughed. To Nick it was the best sound ever.
"Where are you going?" Alex asked when Nick rose. Nick laughed.
"Shower. IF we were engaged, I'd ask you to join me," Nick remarked, grinning evilly.
"You would, huh?" Alex asked interested in his answer.
"But since we're not, I won't."
"Right. `Cause it was all an act," Alex said dully.
"Right. It was all an act," Nick said quietly as he walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Leaning against the door, Nick wished it hadn't all been an act. He wished he had proposed. He wished she did love him. Being famous, Nick never thought he'd find love. All he had to do was convince her to love him. Little did he know, he wouldn't have to work very hard to convince her.
Alex waited for Nick, but he seemed to take too long. A matter of moments seemed like ours for he. She looked at the clock. Not any later than two seconds ago.
Finally she decided she should call Tom. He would want to know. He'd probably be home by now. Alex picked up the phone and dialed his phone number. After two rings, he picked up.
"Hello," he said.
"Hey Tommy," Alex said back.
"Alex? What's wrong?"
"I've been disowned."
"You too?"
"Yeah, I'm staying with a friend."
"What's he like?"
"He?" Alex tried to sound innocent.
"I know you too well. What's he like? If you want, you can come stay with me."
"What's he like? You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Try me."
"Nick Lachey from 98 Degrees."
"How much like him?"
"100%."
"You're kidding!"
"I told you," Alex said like a little kid. "I was attacked and he saved me.
"He really is your knight in shining armor, isn't he?"
"Yeah."
"Wish I could find one," Tom said wistfully.
"What happened to Jake?"
"Richard," he said in a breathy voice, mocking the way his ex used to talk.
"Sorry."
"That's okay. There's a new guy at work. Buns of steel. Abs. Pipes as big as Arnie's."
"Wow." Alex heard the shower turn off.
"I gotta go Tommy. Nick's getting out of the shower."
"What I wouldn't give to be there."
"Love you. Bye, " Alex said as Nick opened the door and stepped out of the bathroom.
"Love you too. Take care, lil' sister."
"Bye." She hung up.
"Who was that?" Nick asked, rubbing his hair dry with the towel.
"Tom. I had to tell him what happened."
"Oh," Nick replied, his voice dripping with jealousy.
"You don't have to be jealous, Nick."
"Who said I was jealous?" Nick asked.
"No one. Just if you are, you don't have to be."
"Well I'm not!" Nick said angrily.
"Okay, you're not."
"I'm gonna sleep on the sofa," Nick remarked.
"No, I will, you take the bed."
"No. You're already under the covers. It's fine."
"I just can't do anything right!" Alex cried. "May parents hate me, and now you do too!" Alex said, starting to cry again. Nick looked at her and immediately felt bad for the way he'd acted.
"I don't hate you, Alex."
"Yes you do! You hate me because of Tom!" she cried into the pillow. Nick sat on the edge of the bed.
"I don't care about Tom!"
"That's just as bad!"
"Alex, look at me." When she didn't move, he pulled her up from the pillow and forced her to look at him. "I don't hate you. I could never hate you. Ever. It's not gonna happen."
"I always make people mad; make them hate me; make them feel sorry for me."
"I don't hate you, I'm not mad, and I don't feel sorry for you. I love you!" Nick said in a rush. Then he realized what he'd said. Alex was looking at him with wide eyes, her mouth hanging open.
"You barely know me," she whispered.
"I know you enough to know I love you. And you know me better than anyone save Drew."
"You mean it?"
"Yeah, I do."
"I love you too," She said with a silly grin.
"You don't have to say it `cause I did."
"I didn't. I've loved you since that day in the alley when you saved me. No on has ever practically killed someone for me."
"I didn't practically kill him."
"Shh. Let me have a story to tell people." She hugged him.
Nick kissed her passionately before they snuggled up together to fall asleep.
