CHAPTER 7 – GOOD NIGHT, SLEEP TIGHT


The phone rung loudly beside Alicia, snapping her quickly from her slumber. She looked over to the other side expecting to see Nick, however he was nowhere in sight. Beyond the sound of the phone Alicia could slightly hear what she assumed to be the shower. She rubbed her eyes softly and picked up the phone.

“Hello?” she said trying her hardest not to yawn down the phone
“Uh, is Nick there?” a female voice inquired hesitantly
“I'm sorry he’s busy at the moment, can I help you?” Alicia inquired, a tad suspicious of the lady on the other side of the phone
“This is his mother, if you could tell him to call me, I’d greatly appreciate that” Jane responded
“Oh sure thing” Alicia replied, quietly sighing a sigh of relief
“Thanks, bye” Jane said before hanging up just as Nick walked into the room.
“Oh hey Nick, your mom just called” Alicia smiled putting the phone back down
“Really” Nick mumbled walking over to the closet
“She wants you to ring her back” Alicia added, slipping out from the covers
“Good for her” Nick replied coldly
“Is something wrong Nick?” Alicia inquired
“No!” he snapped grabbing some clothes from his draws “I gotta go out for a while” he announced before walking out of the room.

Alicia flopped back down onto the bed in wonderment. Despite the fact she didn’t want to acknowledge it, things had changed over the past 2 years. Maybe a rekindling in love, just wouldn’t work.

~ LATER IN THE AFTERNOON ~

Eve wandered blankly around work, her mind mulling over what she had right now. Without resisting a smile came upon her face – she had a healthy happy child, and a boy friend that was nothing but caring and loving towards her. her smile soon disappeared as she come to the realization the two most precious things in her life had never even met each other, in fact they didn’t even know the other one existed.

Soon, maybe one day soon, you’ll know each other She drummed in her head.



~ AT THE SAME TIME ~

Neither Kevin or Kristen had inquired over the cut in Tara’s head after she offered them a weak, I feel over excuse, strangely enough they bought it – that or they knew better than to delve deeper. The afternoon had cleared up considerably, though still wet in patches the rain seemed to have stopped, much to Joshua’s delight as he practically begged to play outside. Seeing no reason to argue Tara followed him outside and was now sitting on a deck chair watching as he ran around with the family dog.

“Boo” a familiar voice announced from the back fence
“Oh hey Brian” Tara responded practically falling off the chair
“Sorry didn’t mean to startle you” Brian smiled reaching over the gate to unlock it
“I was away with the fairies watching Josh play” Tara replied
“You like kids?”
“Love them, I think their amazing how they can play without fear, how truthful they are, and how honesty a child can be. I mean you don’t see a child worrying about getting their clothes dirty, they just bound on in there both feet forward” she laughed plopping the book she had on her lap onto the ground “What brings you around here?” she questioned
“Not allot, just came to see Kev, and I heard Josh playing out back so I thought I might just come around here”
“You just missed Kevin, he went over to someone called AJ or something”
“You haven’t met him yet?” Brian inquired cocking his head to the side
“No, in fact from what Kristen said there’s some barbeque thing tonight, weather permitting and all”
“Yeah, you must be enjoying this Florida weather” Brian smiled
“Actually, I'm used to it, reminds me of home” Tara responded laughing a little

~ 5.00PM THAT NIGHT ~

Tara watched as Kristen darted around the house, checking and double checking everything to make sure it was all perfect as Kevin and Brian sat in the lounge watching some basketball game, Leigh Anne sulking around behind them as Sam played in the lounge with his blocks.

“Are you sure there’s nothing I can do?” Tara inquired as Kristen chapped madly away at some vegetables
“Nope, it’s fine Tara, I'm okay” she replied pushing a loose bit of hair back with her elbow “This isn’t in your job description” she added smiling
“Then let me do it as a friend” Tara responded taking the knife from Kristen’s hand “I'm sure I can handle cutting up salad”
“Thanks” Kristen sighed turning her focus to the pie in the oven

The door bell sounded loudly throughout the house followed by Sam calling “I’ll get it” he darted out of the lounge as fast as his little legs could take him, then peered out the glass windows.
“Who is it?” he called through the door
“Its you’re uncle Alex” the response came
Stretching up as high as he could Sam could juts reach the door handle, he pulled it down and walked backwards, opening the door.
“Hey Uncle Alex” Sam laughed smiling up at AJ
“Hey Kid” AJ replied rubbing Sam’s head

A tall confident dark skinned Jasmine followed him in the door, her tight jeans flaunting her trim figure. She followed AJ into the lounge where he quickly introduced her to everyone. He’d told her this would be a good opportunity to get her demo tape – which they recorded earlier – heard by others in the field, reluctantly she had agreed after she made him clear things with the organizer. Kristen had simply replied “The more the merrier” knowing full well about AJ’s reputation.

~ LATER THAT EVENING ~

“You must really like kids” Jasmine laughed as Sam climbed onto Tara’s lap
“I reckon you wouldn’t see me doing that for a living, I worked in a study program with kids a while back and 3 hours a day was enough for me” Alicia added as she sipped away on the wine in her hands
Eve sighed quietly to herself as she watched the small boy play.
Luke must be near the same age, perhaps a little older, but that doesn’t mattershe thought as she envisioned the two kids playing together happily
“It beats some 9-5 office job where I listen to people blab on about things” Tara chuckled as Kristen approached the girls
“Come on Sammy, time for bed” Kristen smiled as she opened her arms to Sam
“Can Tara take me?” Sam pleaded hugging onto Tara’s neck
“Sure if she doesn’t mind” Kristen replied
“No problem, just go say good night to everyone alright, then I’ll read you a story then to bed” Tara responded

~LATER THAT NIGHT ~

“Come on then” AJ sighed as he tried to tug Jasmine away from the bar
“I wanna stay” she laughed, her vision clouded by a little too much drink
“I'm really sorry, she’s not usually like this” AJ announced looking over at Kevin
“It’s cool man, all your chicks are like this” he laughed “We heard her sing, she has a good voice”
“So you’re willing to back her?”
“All the way man, she’s your project but we’ll lend a hand where we can”
“Thanks Kev, that means a lot. Come on Jas, up and at ‘em”
“Really? I have to go? But why?” she whined as AJ practically dragged her out of the room
“Night guys” AJ laughed waving to the few people who were left

~ 20 MINUTES LATER ~

“Come on” AJ pleaded helping Jasmine up the front stairs of his house
“Oh god I need to be sick” she announced before what seemed to be dinner splattered across the lawn to the side of the door “Oh shit” she whined bending down
“Leave it, I’ll clean it up tomorrow” AJ laughed struggling to pull her inside
“You’re quite sexy really aren’t you” she laughed as he propped her up against the wall so he could close the door.
“And you’re drunk” he laughed leading the way upstairs “So you get to sleep in the spare room” he smiled
“I don’t wanna, I wanna sleep in your room” she winked trying her hardest to stay upright
“Tipsy girls are okay, but completely drunk girls, seems wrong” AJ muttered
“Come on, you wanna fuck?” she inquired as they reached the top landing
“Night Jasmine” he smiled pointing towards the door
She ran past him and into his room, flopping onto the bed in a lump.
“Come on Jasmine, next room over” AJ announced leaning up against the door frame
Jasmine yanked her top up and over her head as she sat seductively up on the bed.
“Come on J, show me that famous bone” she laughed
“Night Jasmine” he announced closing the door

Under normal circumstances, with a little alcohol in him, he would have been right in there, but something was different about Jasmine, she had an amazing voice and he wanted to nurture that voice, and do nothing to jeopardize that standing. He walked slowly back to the guestroom and closed the door behind him. It wasn’t long before he was fast asleep.

Chapter Eight

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