Chapter 22

6:45 am, the next morning.

N- Wake up, Lexi.

He shakes her.

A- (groggily) I thought I changed my mind about this.

She gets up anyways because she really wants to see the sunrise. Ned comes behind her, wraps his arms around her, and kisses her cheek.

N- It's pretty, isn't?

A- Yeah, it is.

N- We'd better dress and start packing.

They order a quick breakfast of muffins and orange juice. by 8:00, they are ready to go.

N- We should leave around 8:30. It'll take about a half hour to get downtown.

A- What do you want to do until then?

Ned looks at the bed.

A- No.

N- Why not?

A- Because I said said so.

N- (smiling) I don't think we've tested it enough.

A- (smiling too) I do. Get that grin off your face.

She takes a playful swat at him. He grabs her arm and pulls her onto his lap.

A- Am I in trouble?

N- Maybe.

A- What are you going to do?

He gives her a long, passionate kiss.

A- Wow.

N- I take it you like that?

A- Yeah. C'mon, we should check out.

Alexis goes out to the limo while Ned checks out.

N- What stores do you want to go to?

A- Van Heusen and Ralph Lauren.

In the car, a soft rock staton is playing. The song is "All the Man I Need" by Whitney Houston.

He fills me up
He gives me love
He's all the man I need
He's all I got

Ned reaches for Alexis's hand and smiles at her. Alexis tenses up and then relaxes. Ned can feel this.

N- Are you okay?

A- Fine.

She smiles brilliantly at him, but Ned still looks unconvinced.

A- Really, I'm fine.

But Ned has a pretty good idea of what's wrong. He thinks she is scared of being vulnerable, which is how she feels right now.

He fills me up
He gives me love
He's all the man I need
He's all I got

Chapter 23

The driver's voice comes through the intercom (or whatever it is they have in limos), telling them that they have reached the store.

N- You go in.

Alexis goes into Van Heusen. She looks around, but doesn't see anything that she likes. Not that she has any idea what to give Ned, anyways. But, still, nothing seemed right, so she left the store.

N- Nothing you wanted in there?

A- No, maybe I'll find something at Ralph Lauren.

The driver interrupts, announcing that they reached the other store. Alexis gets out again. She walks purposefully, but has no clue what she wants. She finds herself in front of a display of sweatshirts. Did Ned wear casual clothes? She thought he had a few pairs of jeans, but couldn't remember seeing him in anything but suits. Even on this vacation, he wore khakis. But the gray Chaps sweatshirt looked nice, so she picked it up. What else could she get him? Cologne, maybe.

Saleswoman- Will that be all?

A- I'd like a bottle of Polo cologne.

Saleswoman- Of course.

A- Could you wrap that?

Saleswoman- Sure.

Alexis paid and left.

N- You found something?

A- Yeah.

N- Is it for me?

A- No.

He tries to grab the boxes, but Alexis stops him.

A- I bet you were one of those kids who always looked for presents in the basement of your mother's closet.

N- Who, me? You have the wrong person. So, if those packages aren't for me, why'd you push me away?

A- Because I wanted to do this.

She kisses him. The song in the car is "Time of my Life" from Dirty Dancing.

I'm having the time of my life
I never felt this way before
In my life

Alexis lays down and pulls Ned on top of her. She starts working on his shirt buttons.

I'm having the time of my life
I never felt this way before
In my life
The time of my life
I never felt this way before