It was now a beautiful sunny wednesday morning.
"Good morning," I smile as I walk into the kitchen, having just gotten up.
"More like good afternoon," Nick laughs.
I look at the clock on the microwave and see that it's 12:03.
"Damn. If only I'd gotten outta bed 4 minutes sooner!" I sit down on a stool at the counter and take a sip of Nick's coffee.
"Guess where we're going?" he says as he takes a bite of the apple he'd been eating.
"Where?" I ask curiously.
"On a promotional tour," he says casually.
"What? You guys just had a tour."
"I know. But this is a different kinda tour. We go to all different places and do photo shoots, interviews and T.V appearances to promote the new album." He takes another bite.
"Hmm. When do we leave?" I take another sip of coffee.
"Three days."
"Why is it that whenever you guys have to go on tour you hardly get any notice?" I ask as I get up to put some toast in the toaster.
Nick shrugs.
"You know, I really wish Carolyn and A.J. were still together. I totally missed her in Hawaii and I'm sure I'll miss her this tour." I pop the toast down and lean against the counter. "I mean we still talk on the phone but I haven't seen her since Howie and Alissa's wedding."
"Yeah, A.J. seemed so much happier when they were together. You guys can still hang out and stuff, you don't have to stop seeing her just because A.J. did," Nick says, as he gets up to throw his apple core away.
"You know," I say, suddenly thinking of something that may just solve my problems with A.J. "you're right." I smile.
Later that day I decide to call Carolyn and put my plan into action. I dial her number and it rings.
"Hello?" she answers.
"Hey C. What's up?"
"Hey Ally! Not much. Just watching some T.V."
"Same here. So, you enjoying the single life?" I ask. After she and A.J. had broken up, things kinda fell apart with the guy she'd been cheating with, Brad.
"Actually, not really," she sighs. "Ally, if I tell you something, you have to promise to keep it a secret, k?" she says, sounding very serious.
"Yeah, of course."
"When I cheated on A.J. with Brad, it was because things between A.J. and I weren't going well anymore and I felt insecure. At the time, I thought my feelings for Brad had rekindled, but really it was just the fear that A.J. and I would break up and that I'd be alone that sent me to Brad. I know now that maybe if I'd been stronger and not let the fact that A.J. and I were going through a rough patch scare me, that we might still be together," she takes a deep breath. "Ally, I miss him SO much," she explains, sounding almost in tears.
I stay silent for a few seconds, thinking. "Maybe you should talk to him. I know he misses you too," I say, trying to make her feel better.
"I doubt it. He can have any girl he wants," she says miserably.
"Well, not any girl," I say thoughtlessly.
"What?"
"Nothing. Carolyn, I think I have the perfect idea to get you and A.J. back together."
"And what's that?" she asks unenthusiastically.
"The guys are going on a promotional tour in three days. You should come! With you on the bus, how could A.J. resist the thought of romance?" I say, proud of my plan.
"Ally. That is so not a good idea," she says, not impressed.
"Why?"
"Because I can't just show up on the bus! He'd be like 'what the fuck are you doing here?'"
"Yes you could. I'll just ask Nick if it's OK if I bring a friend. I'll get him to ask the guys and most likely they'll say yes. They don't need to know that you're the friend," I say with a little laugh.
"That's so deceitful - "
"No it's not," I interrupt. "It'll work out fine, trust me! Be ready at 8:00a.m. on Saturday. Bye!" I say, hanging up before she has a chance to argue.
"Hey baby," I say as I pick Puppy up off the couch and lay down next to Nick.
"Hey. You know, you've got much better breath than the dog," he laughs.
"Thanks, I guess," I laugh. "What are you watching?"
"Some crappy biography about some crappy actor," he answers, changing the channel.
"Lovely," I joke. "So, umm, I was wondering, do you think it'd be alright if I brought a friend on the tour?"
"A friend?" Nick repeats. "I'm not friendly enough for you?" he jokes, hugging me tightly.
I laugh.
"Yeah, I guess that'd be OK. I'll have to ask the guys though. Is it someone from back home?" he asks.
"No, actually it's someone that I met here in Florida," I smile.
"Hmm. Do you trust her? I mean, I know it's a weird question but I don't want someone on the bus that's going to go to a magazine the next day and dish everything, you know?"
"Yeah of course. She's totally trust-worthy."
"OK. I'll call the guys in the morning," he says with a big yawn. "I'm gonna go to bed, you coming?" He sits up.
"Nah. I'm not really tired yet. I'll just watch some T.V. for a while." I pick up the remote and change the channel.
"K. I'll see you in the morning." He bends down and kisses me goodnight. "Love you."
"Love you too."
"So, did you call?" I ask Nick as I come in from having walked Puppy.
"Yeah, I called."
"What'd they say?" I ask impatiently, running over to sit next to him on the couch.
"They said it'd be fine," he smiles.
"YES!" I jump up excitedly. "Now everything is going to work out perfectly!" I blurt out accidentally.
"What are you talking about?" Nick asks, suspiciously.
"What? Oh nothing." I sit back down "So what do you wanna do today?" I ask, trying to change the subject.
"Nuh uh," Nick shakes his head. "You said "Yes! Now everything is going to work out perfectly!" he says in a mocking female voice.
I hit him playfully. "I don't sound like that!" I laugh.
"C'mon, I know you're up to something," he says, wrapping his arms around me and tickling me.
"Nick stop!" I plead between laughs.
"Only if you promise to tell me what you were talking about," he smiles.
"OK. Fine, fine! I promise!" I say, just to stop him from tickling me anymore.
He stops and waits as I catch my breath from laughing so much.
"So, go ahead, tell me."
"Nick." I look at him with puppy dog eyes. "Please just understand that I can't tell you. You'll find out soon enough but I can't tell you yet." I put my hand on his.
"Ugh," he groans. "Why do you have to be so damn cute?" He lays his head agaisnt the back of the couch.
I laugh. "I dunno, it just comes naturally. Thanks baby." I kiss his head and go to the kitchen to get something to drink.