Chapter 26
** the end of the week **
Things had gone considerably well during the week. Nick had called me almost every two hours to make sure I was okay. I finally had to tell him not to call me because he was not doing his work and I wasn't doing mine. I was laughing when he tried to beg me to let him call. He was yelling through the phone so loudly that even Dee could overhear him at the counter.
"Heather, will you please tell Mr. Carter that he needs to let you work, or I will fire you?" Dee said sternly.
"Nickolas, did you hear her? She will fire me if you keep calling like this. Honest, hon, I am fine. I promise." I said into the phone.
"Okay, okay, I will stop calling you at work, but I will call you as soon as your shift ends. Okay?" he said trying to convince me.
"That would be fine dear. I love you, and I will talk to you in a little bit. Bye bye…" I whispered into the phone.
"I love you too, bye." he finished and then hung up.
Only five minutes had passed before I heard Dee laughing uncontrollably into the phone at the counter. I wasn't sure what was going on, but all I know was that I suddenly heard Nick's voice. He hadn't realized that Dee had put him on speaker phone.
"Dee, now come on, she is the best employee you have, and you can't fire her. I will stop calling, just please don't fire her. She works hard, don't get rid of her just because of my stupidity. Please, please please. I will make it up to you and her. Honest…I swear. Please, Please…" he begged.
"Mr. Carter, do you realize that you are carrying on like a baby? You will be home in the morning, yet you make it sound like you will never see her again. Honestly, what a baby." she responded trying to keep from laughing.
I stood there in amazement as the conversation continued.
"But Dee, come on…please. I know I will be home tomorrow…but I can't live without her, and I miss her, and well, I just need to hear her voice. I mean, if she could hear me right now, she would know how much I needed her." Nick pleaded.
I stood there, trying to hold back the tears. Dee just smiled and said into the phone,
"Nick, I think she already knows. I had you on speaker phone. She could hear the whole conversation. God boy, it is amazing the affect you have on her. She has tears pouring down her face." she said sweetly.
"Put her on the phone..please, just let me say one thing…and in PRIVATE!! NO speaker phone." He demanded.
Dee handed the phone over to me and I listened intently to what he had to say. A smile quickly appeared on my face, and then a look of surprise. Dee couldn't hear what he was saying, but she knew whatever it was, it was making my day, and my week, and my life. I just stood there with a silly grin on my face for the rest of the day.
*****
I woke up late, as usual. It was only 20 minutes until Nick's plane would arrive from LA and it was a 30 minute drive to the airport.
"Damn, he is going to be worried! I can't believe I forgot to set the alarm. How blonde is that???" I scolded myself as I ran around the house looking for something to wear. I ran out of the house so fast that I forgot to finish putting on my socks and shoes and my hair was all in knots around my face.
Nick's plane had arrived on time, and he came bounding off the plane, anxious to see me. The guys had already separated to meet their family and friends. Nick just stood there, with a very confused look on his face.
"Nick, hey, Nick, you okay? Where's Heather? I thought she was going to meet you here?" Howie asked.
"I don't know, she told me she would be waiting for me right here. And, well I am here, and no Heather." he said sadly.
"Maybe she got called into work early." Howie said trying to reassure Nick that nothing was wrong.
"Hey, there is Dee, maybe she knows where Heather is." Nick pointed out.
Nick walked over to Dee and questioned as to where I could have been. Dee had told Nick that she had given me the weekends off, so I wasn't at work.
"Maybe she is just running late, the traffic is bad out there." she said.
Everyone was starting to make their way to the limo's, but Nick just stood his ground, waiting for me.
From the opposite end of the terminal, Nick could hear a loud commotion. He looked down the hall and saw someone running through the crowd. He soon realized that this person was in a mad panic and was in hysterics. After just a few moments, he could see a blonde figure running towards him.
"Nick!!! NICK!!! I am here! Wait! I AM SORRY!!!!!!"
I was screaming. I must have scared the entire airport staff.
Not only did I look like a mad person, but I had no shoes or socks on,
and my hair was all over the place.
I was so excited to see Nick that I leaped on him, knocking him to
the ground. Everyone around us was watching and trying not to burst
out in fits of laughter.
"Umm, Heather. God! It is sooo good to see you!! But hon, would you mind getting off of me? Umm, we can continue this at home." he laughed.
"Oh yeah! Um, I am sorry, I forgot to set the alarm clock and well, I overslept, and just ran out of the house trying to make it in time. I am so sorry. Could you ever forgive me?" I pleaded.
"Yes, I forgive you, but don't ever let it happen again. You understand that?" he said with fake anger in his eyes.
"Um, yes Mr. Carter. I promise never to be late again." I said, my head hanging down.
He burst into laughter at the sight of me. I think I had scared off a few airport security just from my looks alone. I could imagine the men with the little white coats coming for me. Nick couldn't help but giggle at me. He then motioned me around to his backside and I jumped on his back. He gave me a piggy back ride all the way out to the car. I could've cared less about what people were thinking. I was just glad that he was home, at least for a few days.
*****
Kevin and Dee had meet up with each other. Kevin had invited her to come to his house for the afternoon. He had lots of things to talk about, and frankly, he needed to do it on his own grounds. Dee was curious about what he had to say. Afterall, he had dropped a bombshell in her lap just a week before.
"Dee, do you remember what I told you about AJ last week?" Kevin asked.
"Yes, I do, but I don't really understand. I love you Kevin, not AJ." Dee answered.
"Well, I have to tell you something that may shock you. But you have to hear me out, and then you can talk. Just please let me say what I have to say." he told her.
"Okay." she simply said.
"I was talking to AJ while we were in LA. He had told me about all the good times you and he had. I know that I could never compete with that. However, I can compromise. I love you, and you love me. There is nothing that will come between that. AJ is not looking for a steady relationship, but I am. However, I want you to be happy. I will do whatever I can to make sure of your happiness. AJ just wants some fun, so why don't we let him have it?" Kevin stated.
Dee just looked on with confusion, and tried to understand what Kevin was trying to tell her.
"Now, what I think we can do is make arrangements, like those that AJ can be involved in. I was thinking that AJ could maybe join us on some evenings." Kevin said matter-of factly. "What do you think?" he finished.
"Kevin, I don't think I understand what you are saying." Dee said honestly.
"Just you wait, and you will see." Kevin finished. They then went
off to swim in his pool in the backyard.