Chapter 7
"So, where we headed to next?" Erin asked, looking out the window.
"To AJ's, he borrowed a book on money management and I need to stop by and pick it up."
Erin raised an eyebrow. "Money management huh?"
"Yeah, says you can never know enough." Nyla chuckled.
"Why does that not seem right to me?"
"Cause it's not!" Nyla laughed.
Erin shook her head. "I don't know bout him...what I wanna know is...why is he still single?"
Nyla rolled her eyes. "Cause you haven't asked him out."
"I'M not asking him anything, that's up to him."
"Come on Erin! This is the twenty first century! You can ask him out ya know."
"Hey, I want the romance, the stuttering and all that jazz that goes with guys asking you out. I won't settle for less." She replied stubbornly, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Yeah yeah, you two have been dancing around each other since we've known them. One of you has to give."
"It's gonna be him."
Nyla groaned, pulling into AJ's driveway and buzzing to be let in. They pulled up and parked, getting out; they headed up to the door, ringing the doorbell. They heard a pounding and then the door swung open.
"Ladies! Come on in!" AJ grinned.
"We can't stay, just came to get the book and..."
"Shut up and get in here." AJ grabbed them by the arms and pulled them in. "Come and hang with me. I'm lonely."
Erin grinned suddenly. "Can't have that now can we?"
"No we can't." AJ chuckled, leading them down to his studio. "Was workin' on some stuff for the next album, now I can play it back for ya."
"AJ, really, you don't..."
"Hush!" He murmured, flipping a few switches on the console and raising the volume as the music started to play.
Nyla and Erin listened intently, smiling.
"Hey, this is really good!" Erin grinned.
"Naturally." AJ replied smugly, winking.
Nyla rolled her eyes and looked up as his doorbell rang.
"Excuse me ladies, I'll be right back." AJ turned and headed back up.
Erin and Nyla continued listening and about a half-hour later, AJ came back with three other guys in tow. "One came and then the other two all at once." He chuckled.
They all said hi and sat to the console.
"Hey, where's Nick?" Howie asked.
"I dunno, he said he'd be here on time." Kevin frowned.
"You know how he is." Brian grinned.
"Oh well, let's start without him." AJ went on.
"You sure we should do that?" Howie hesitated.
"Who cares? I'm gonna go get Nyla's book and then we'll get going" Was AJ's reply as he started back up the stairs.
They chatted amongst themselves, when the doorbell rang again.
"That must be Nick." Kevin offered, a hopeful expression on his face. "I swear, twenty three years old and you'd think he could learn to be on time?just once." He sighed, shaking his head.
Nyla grinned in remembrance, same ole' Nick, always late. There was the sound of a door slamming AJ's voice and then a pounding up another flight of stairs and then a set of feet pounding down the stairs to the studio.
"Hey guys! I made it! Sorry I'm late." Nick grinned, his hair tousled.
She recognized that look, that look like he'd just gotten out of bed. She shook her head, a soft chuckle escaping her lips.
"Hi Erin..." He smiled, his gaze resting on Nyla, his smile faltering a bit. "...Nyla."
"Hey Nick."
"What's your excuse this time Nick?" Kevin frowned.
He looked over at Kevin; "Umm...I overslept?" He smiled bashfully.
"Figures." Howie groaned.
"Sorry! Good thing management woke me up."
"Management?" Brian questioned.
"Yeah, Phil called, wanted to tell me something." Nick went on.
"Oh yeah?" Brian raised an eyebrow.
What was taking AJ so long Nyla wondered, looking up towards the ceiling. She wanted to get out of there so bad.
"Yeah, I have to do some promotion for the album, I'm leaving tomorrow for about three days up to New York."
"When's your flight leave?" Howie asked.
"Not flying."
"Not...flying?" Howie repeated.
"That's right."
"Tourbus?" Kevin offered.
"Nope"
"No? What else is there?" Kevin asked.
"I'm gonna drive." Nick grinned.
They all looked at him, stunned.
"What?! Why?" Kevin blinked.
"I have some thinking to do, figure some things out."
"You're just crazy. It's gonna take you about three days just to get there!" Brian exclaimed.
"I don't care."
"I can't believe they're letting you do this! You're crazy! You're flying and that it's" Kevin announced.
"This isn't your decision Kevin." Nick stated.
Just then there was pounding and AJ bounded down the stairs.
"I found it Nyla. What the hell is going on down here? I could hear you all the way upstairs."
"Nick is being a dope!" Brian muttered.
"Hey!" Nick yelled.
Nyla bit her lip, trying hard not to laugh.
AJ groaned, rolling his eyes. "What'd he do now?"
Kevin went about explaining it, his hands waving to and fro.
Nyla walked up to AJ, tapping his shoulder. "AJ, I really need to go. Can I have my book please?"
"Oh! Sorry babygirl, here ya go." He grinned, handing her the book. "Thanks for letting me borrow it, I found it helpful."
"You're welcome, glad to help you."
"I don't see where you need any help." Erin winked.
AJ grinned, walking closer to Erin. "You think?"
"Absolutely, I think you're fine the way you are. Tattoos and all."
"Did you happen to see my new one?" AJ questioned, his eyes sparkling.
"No! Please, let me see!" Erin all but squealed.
Nyla sighed, looking around. Nick, Kevin, Howie and Brian were still arguing about Nick driving to New York, AJ had his shirt now up over his head, showing Erin his new tattoo. What next? She really had to get out of there. Rubbing at her temples, she startled a bit as her phone vibrated in her pocket.
Walking to a quiet corner of the room, which was hard considering all the talking and yelling going on, she pulled her phone out and flipped it open, turning it on. "Hello?"
"Nyla? Sweetie!"
"Mom, hey, can I call you back? I'm at AJ's and it's so..."
"Baby look, I have something to tell you..."
"Yeah, but can you wait till I can get somewhere quiet? It's really too..."
"Grandma had a heart attack."
