*~*Chapter 14*~*
The girls were in the basement in the entertainment room.Blane patted
Erica's shoulder.
"Erica,you need to cheer yourself up girl.Tomorrow we're leaving for a
two~week trip to the Bahamas.Nothing but blue,open sea and sun,sand,and
surf.It'll be complete heaven," she replied.
Kelly squeezed Erica's hand."She's right.We're gonna have a blast," she
said.
Kari laughed."I modeled my new bikini for Howie today and I thought his
eyes were going to pop out of his head."
They all laughed,even Erica.She smiled at them."I don't mean to be a
downer.I'm just a little nervous about being away from Taylor for so long,"
she told them.
Blane stretched."That's only natural.We're going to have so much fun,"
she said.
Kari smiled slyly at her."What are you in such a good mood about?I know
it has more to do with than just going on a cruise," she remarked.
Blane pulled her knees to her chest and let out a sigh."Married life is
so much better than I thought it would be," she breathed."Me and Nick have
been getting along so well lately it's unbelieveable."
They all exchanged knowing glances and giggled.A few minutes later,they
heard footsteps on the stairs and saw Karen.
"Mind if I join you?," she asked shyly.
Blane patted the seat next to her."Not at all.Come join our little
gabfest," she told her.
Karen sat down next to her,and said,"I hope I'm not interrupting
anything."
Kari shook her head."We were just ragging on the guys," she joked,and
they all laughed.
Karen looked around.Then she said,"I can't believe I'm hanging out with
the Backstreet Boys' girlfriends."
Erica and Blane both chimed in at the same time with,"Wives."
Karen smiled."What are they really like?I mean,I know a little bit about
Brian but not too much," she replied.
Erica faced her."They are the five nicest and sweetest guys you'll ever
meet in your life," she told her.She smiled at her."You must be a fan."
Karen nodded."Yeah,I am," she admitted.
Erica glanced at her."How do you feel about Brian?," she asked seriously.
Karen took a deep breath."I think he's a great guy.He's helping me
through a really hard time right now.If it wasn't for him,I don't know what
I'd do."
Kari squeezed her hand."Brian is a great guy.He'll do anything for
anyone," she told her.
Karen smiled at her.""I've come to realize that about him," she
remarked.She got a faraway look on her face."I think I might be liking him
more that I really should.But I know nothing can happen right now because of
everything that's going on."
Erica squeezed her hand."Who knows?He may feel the same way about you,"
she replied.
For the rest of the evening,they all sat around getting to know Karen
better,and just hung out.
*~*Chapter 15*~*
THE NEXT MORNING...Erica rocked back and forth on the bed in her and AJ's
cabin.
"I think I'm gonna be sick," she moaned,and she jumped up,a frantic look
on her face."Oh my God!What if this ship goes down like the Titanic did?I
can't swim!"
AJ grabbed her by the shoulders."Erica,calm yourself.You'll be fine," he
reassured her.
She wrapped her arms around him and sighed."I'm sorry.I didn't mean to
flip out on you like that," she told him.
Just then,Kari and Howie poked their heads into the room."Ships about to
set sail," Howie announced.
They all went to join the others on the deck.Nick and Blane were
kissing,as were Kelly and Kevin.Brian and Karen were deep in conversation.
AJ and Erica were in one cabin,as were Nick and Blane,and Kevin and
Kelly,and Howie and Kari.Brian and Karen both had separate cabins.
"Save that for later,guys," AJ joked,and Nick and Blane and Kevin and
Kelly pulled apart.
They all stood gazing out over the water as the boat pulled away from the
dock and the horn blared.A few minutes later they were out on the open sea.
Blane and NIck went off by themselves,as did Howie and Kari.Brian and
Karen stayed at the railing continuing their conversation;Kevin and Kelly
went back to their cabin.
AJ turned to Erica."So what shall we do first?," he asked her.
She didn't answer;instead she said,"I think I'm gonna be sick," and
turned and ran.
AJ let out a sigh and raked his fingers through his hair."Oh,I'm having
fun already," he muttered,and went after her.
*~*Chapter 16*~*
Blane and Nick walked along the upper deck of the ship,taking in the
fresh air around them.She took a deep breath.
"I so needed this cruise," she told him,as she squeezed his hand.
He pulled her closer to him and kissed the tip of her nose."I can't wait
to see you in your bikini," he told her,running his hands down her back and
resting them on her backside.
She laughed."Nickolas,get your mind out of the gutter.We're here to have
fun," she remarked,as a breeze lifted her hair and blew it around her face.
He leaned over and kissed her."Oh,I'll have fun alright," he murmered.
She pulled away from him and took his hand."Come on.I want to tour this
boat from top to bottom," she declared,pulling him along.
Suddenly a female voice cried out,"Nick!Over here!"
They stopped and Nick turned toward the voice.His heart jumped into his
throat when he saw Amy,a friend of his from childhood.
She walked over to him and Blane.Blane had only met her once,and she
seemed like a nice girl.She hugged Nick.
"How have you been?," she asked.
Nick nodded."Good.Me and Blane are married now," he told her.
She smiled at him."That's great.I knew you'd work things out," she said.
Blane turned and looked at Nick,a confused look on her face.Before she
could say anything,Amy looked at her watch.
"I gotta scoot.Maybe we can meet up for lunch sometime," she suggested.
Nick nodded."Sure," he said,and Amy turned and walked away.
Blane turned to look at him,her eyes filled with suspicion."Nick,what did
she mean when she said she knew we'd work things out?Did you tell her our
problems?," she accused.
He sighed."That last huge fight we had involving Mandy,after you left she
stopped by and we talked.And I told her what had happened," he explained to
her.
She glared at him."How dare you tell her our personal life!," she
exclaimed,causing people to stop and stare.
He opened his mouth to say something,but she put up her hand."No Nick.I
don't wanna hear it.I can't believe you," she tossed at him,and turned and
walked away.
He sighed and raked his fingers through his hair,and leaned on the
railing.He couldn't believe their vacation had started out like this.
He couldn't believe he and Amy were on the same cruise.The last time they
had seen each other they had almost wound up in bed.That had been the night
he and Blane had had a huge argument over Mandy.They had both confessed that
they had feelings for each other,and things had gotten crazy.But he had
stopped things before they went too far,and told Amy that he loved Blane and
couldn't be with her in the way she wanted him to be.He and Blane had made up
that night,and he had tried to push the incident out of his mind.If Blane
ever found out what had almost happened...he didn't even want to think about
it.
Hesighed again and walked back to their cabin,hoping she'd be there.He
didn't want to start their vacation with her mad at him.
Chapters 17-19
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