Part 2
Hanging up the phone, Brianna collapsed on the couch, tears falling unheeded. This wasn’t supposed to be happening. She had tried so hard to forget Howie, to make the relationship with Nick more than just a friendship. A picture on her bookshelf caught her eye and her memories took her back to the day it was taken.
"I’ll make you a promise, Brianna," said Nick as he tossed her the basketball.
"What kind of promise?"
"If we’re both still single when we turn 23, I’ll buy you the biggest diamond you’ve EVER seen and we’ll get married."
Brianna laughed as she took the shot. "Why 23, Nicky?"
"Cuz that’s OLD and you don’t wanna be an old maid, do ya?"
"I doubt very seriously that I’ll be an old maid. Besides, 23 isn’t THAT far away and what are you gonna buy this diamond with?"
"It’s ten years away and I plan to buy it with all the money I make singing!!"
"Sure," smirked Brianna as she watched Nick take his shot. "When you’re 23 and a rich and famous rock star, I’ll be the last person on your mind. You’re gonna be too busy dating all those super models!"
"That’s not true!! You’ll ALWAYS be my best friend."
Nick had sealed the promise with a kiss, their first kiss, and that was it….a promise to be together forever.
For her twenty-third birthday, Nick had flown home, rented ‘Underground’, their favorite nightclub in Tampa, and thrown her a blow-out party with all their friends, including the guys in the group and select members of management. His present to her, besides the party, a two-carat diamond ring and some blonde heiress hanging from his arm. She hadn’t minded the blonde since she knew it was his latest fling but she had minded him getting completely trashed and leaving her stranded at the club. Fortunately, Howie had come to her rescue and driven her home where they had sat through the early dawn hours talking and then gone for a walk along the bay holding hands watching the sunrise. It hadn’t been a complete disaster because she and Howie had fallen deeply in love.
Unfortunately, that love had to be kept secret. The next day, the announcement had been made that Nick and Brianna were engaged with a Christmas wedding planned. Nick hadn’t denied the announcement. In fact, he told Brianna to start planning whatever she wanted; no expense was to be spared. Howie had tried then to convince her to call it off, to tell Nick she didn’t want to get married but she was scared to upset everyone. For the last ten years, everyone had expected the two to get married and she had made a promise to Nick to be together forever. Instead, just a month before the wedding, she had told Howie it was over between them. She was going to marry Nick and she was going to make it work. It had broken her heart but she couldn’t go back on her promise to Nick.
Five minutes after the phone call, there was a soft knock at the door. She wiped her eyes and went to answer it. There, on her doorstep, stood Howie wearing his tux minus the tie and jacket and holding a single red rose.
"May I come in?"
"Howie, there’s nothing to be said. I told you it’s over and I’m marrying Nick."
"I know what you’re head is saying but if it’s really over, why are you wearing the necklace I gave you…the one you told Nick was a gift from a fan? Please, I don’t want to hurt Nick but I can’t let you walk down that aisle knowing that it’s me you're in love with. Please Brianna, let me in?"
She had no defenses against Howie’s pleading brown eyes so against her better judgment, she stepped aside and allowed him to enter. With the door closed, Brianna turned around and into Howie’s arms.
"Brianna, tell me you don’t love me and I’ll walk away forever."
She couldn’t look him in the eye but she said weakly, "I love Nick."
"Come on, Bria…look me in the eye and SAY it…say you don’t love me."
Howie was the only one who ever called her ‘Bria’ and it always made her weak in the knees to hear him say it…soft, full of love. As she looked up, she looked into his eyes and her tears began to fall harder but she couldn’t tell him she didn’t love him. "It has to be over, Howie. The wedding is in two hours."
"It can be called off."
"I can’t do that to Nick…or the group. The press will destroy you if I call it off because I’m in love with you." It was thin, really thin, and she knew he wouldn't take that as an excuse.
"So you’re going to go through with it simply because of the press. That’s ridiculous, Bria. We’ve had bad press before and we’re still around."
Tucking her head to avoid his gentle eyes and to hide her tears, she whispered, "I…I can’t…I made him a promise."
Gently, he used his finger to tilt her chin upwards then wiped her tears. Touching his lips to hers, he whispered, "Let me show you what our love feels like."
