AJ looked at Brian who yawned and let his head fall back on the couch. He had come over because Jen had taken Anthony to spend sometime with her mother. A sudden silence had fallen between them.
"What's up?" AJ said.
"Just thinking you know, about Nick. What are we going to do with him?"
"Nothing, he's in a hospital bed."
"I know that, but when he gets better, I want to help him."
"Bri, he's beyond help. Come on, he spent two months in jail and that didn't help. What else can we do?"
"I don't know but there has to be something that we can do. I just don't want to sit back and let things get worse."
"They are worse. Things can't get any worse. Do you even know if he's going to live? If this doesn't snap him out of it, nothing will."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean he's almost dead! He did that to himself. If this doesn't make him realize that this is messed up, than there is nothing you can do to make him change himself."
"Everyone can change."
"But they have to want to change. That's something I learned and that Nick will have to be taught."
"You alright?" Brian asked AJ who was puzzled.
"Yeah, why?"
"I don't know, you just don't seem like yourself. You're a bit tougher on Nick than ever. It's not like you at all."
"Well, lots of things have changed. I guess I'm just going with everything that's going on."
"How did you get involved in all of this? I mean the second you came into the picture all of this happened. I just.."
"Wait, are you saying this is my fault?"
"No, not at all."
"Then what are you getting at?"
"Nothing, I just want to know how you got involved, that's all."
"I went to Jens to see what Nick was up to, but Jen was crying when I got there so I wanted to know what happened. She told me what happened, we talked then one thing lead to another. Then she told me about what life was like with Nick and I knew I couldn't just leave her."
"So you slept with her?"
"No, well yeah, but that's not why I did. So you don't get confuessed, I don't do that to girls and you know that. I honestly like Jen, a lot, and I wanted to help her because what Nick did was wrong."
"Maybe sleeping with her wasn't the best thing to do at that point."
"Yeah I know that, but it was one of those spur of the moment type deals."
"Next time, think before you act. You could hurt someone innocent."
"I really care about Jen, and it's not like I was with her for the fun of it. She is an amazing woman and I would be crazy not to like her. Damn it, you can even say that I love her, because I do."
"You love her?"
"Yes, with all of my heart," AJ confessed, shocking even himself.
"Wow, I didn't know you thought of her like that. I mean I knew you cared, but wow.."
"Is it that hard to believe?"
"Well kinda. I never heard you say that about a girl before. You were never the one to be in love. I've actually never seen you be in love. It's nice and I'm glad you really like, well love, her. Does she know?"
"Nah, I haven't told her. I don't know how she's going to take it."
"She might find it comforting, knowing that you love her might help her move on. I can't believe you haven't told her."
"What if she doesn't?"
"She will. I don't think that she has ever heard I love you from a man before."
"Then don't you think she'll be scared?"
"No, I think she needs that security right now and you're more than willing to suppily it to her."
"I can't just spill my heart out. I wouldn't know what to do if she rejected it."
"She won't man. I know she won't. AJ, you gotta be honest with her, and I have a strong feeling that she feels the same way." AJ just sat back to think. He truly cared for Jen, but he knew telling her might scare her away from him.
"You think?"
"Yes!" Brian yelled loudly.
"You don't gotta get jumpy!"
"I'm just trying to get you to do the right thing."
"Yeah, I know."
"Man, I can't believe you! I never thought that I would see you in love!"
"Get off of it already! I told you that I love her now get over it!"
"Now who's jumpy?"
"Whatever."
Chapter 19