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Stepping into the beautiful house that Nick called home, Jenny had to hold her breath and stop herself from dropping her bags. This was larger on the inside then it looked on the outside, and much nicer and roomier than any house she had ever been in. Did he live in this place all by himself? Turning around to ask Nick just that, she was cut off by his laughter.
“What? Why are you laughing?”
“You just look so stunned!”
“Well, do you realize how nice of a house you have and that it is far nicer than many homes across the country? Homes of people that share income to pay for it and spend a lifetime saving for it?” she asked, wondering if he really understood. Nick thought this over for a moment and then half shrugged.
“I guess I neva really thought ‘bout it. I just got dis a little over a year ago. Before then I lived in my ‘rents’ old house. They live on da West Coast now. I couldn’t leave Florida, though,” he confessed. His love for Florida, and the ocean in particular, was very evident. Jenny smiled in spite of herself. She wished she had something or someplace like that where she could just escape. Where she could be by herself, and no one could bother her. She used to have her horses; whenever she needed to get away from everything she would go out to the barn and hop on Buddy or Peppi and just ride around, enjoying the solitude. When she needed more money for college and for the price of staying in a dorm, they had to sell the horses. As much as she hadn’t wanted to, since Buddy was a pony and she could no longer ride him, she didn’t fuss too much over him. But how she had fought for Peppi. He had only been four when she’d gotten him, and she felt like she had almost raised him. Not physically, but in the mental sense. He couldn’t do very much when he’d came to her, and by the time he had to go, they could so many things, had been so many places together. Thankfully, Peppi had gone to a close friend, so while he wasn’t still hers, she got to see him on occasion.
Jenny took a moment to have a deep breath and to calm her nerves. Squeezing her eyes shut to stop the emotions from leaking out didn’t help, either, because one stray tear got loose. Nick just watched her, wondering what was going through her head. She had been fine a moment ago, but here she was, closing herself up again. Something was very wrong, and he couldn’t even figure out what it was. He decided to give her another moment while she pulled herself together before he spoke.
“You ok, Jen?” Her head snapped up at him; she had forgotten he was even there.
“I’m all right. Don’t worry about it,” she replied with a sniff, hoping he would let it go. Nick got her message, too, and he was feeling in an accommodating mood.
“Well, ya wanna see da room ya get to stay in for the next week?” Nick asked, returning to his excited, cheerful self. Jenny put on her best, though fake, smile and nodded at him. As he turned to lead her away, she quickly wiped the tear off her cheek, thankful he hadn’t mentioned it. She then turned her attention back to the gorgeous house. Going up the stairs was so much fun for her because the view she got of the rest of the house below.
At the end of the hall was the only room with its door open. She could only imagine that that one belonged to Nick. Her room, she quickly discovered, was only a few doors down from his and was rather large for a guestroom. She was grateful for the space, though. In the corner was also another door, leading to her very own bathroom. Words couldn’t express how relieved she was to have her privacy. After the last few days on the bus, privacy was something she was lacking.
“So how do ya like it?” Nick inquired after she had set her things down. Jenny gave her room another look before answering.
“It’s wonderful. I can’t thank you enough for letting me stay here,” she lied. When the Boys had gotten back on the bus and she had discovered that Mrs. McLean’s prediction had been correct, Jenny’s heart had sunk.
“No prob! It would’ve been wrong for ya t’have stayed in a hotel. They’re neva comfortable. Trust me. It doesn’t matta how much ya pay for da room, home is always better.” With that, Jenny was in full agreement. Home was better. “So what do you wanna do now? The fella’s and I had planned to go out ta eat tanight, but it’s way too late now. You wanna see if I have anythin’ good in da fridge?”
“Sounds good. I’m starved!”
“Me too!” Nick assured her. She didn’t need it though, for the way he hurried down the stairs convinced her enough. Just then the doorbell rang. Nick slid to a stop across his clean, shiny floor, and rushed back over to the door. He opened it to reveal a very mischievous looking Brian.
“Hello, Frack!”
“What you doin’ here, Frick?”
“Just thought I’d stop by,” Brian answered, shoving the door open and setting some luggage down. Nick lifted an eyebrow in question. “…for the night. I’m stopping by for the night. Actually, would ya mind if I stayed here the whole week? I don’t want to sleep in another hotel, and ya know my home is up in Georgia. I don’t feel like driving, either. It’s a long way, anyway.”
“What about Leighanne? Ya gonna leave her up dere?” Brian gave a sad, torn look. It was obvious he was over-exaggerating, but Jenny could tell he really did miss the woman.
“Tyke and Leigh can watch her. And they are inside the house, so no one is gonna steal my guards,” Brian joked. Nick joined him in laughing, and Jenny felt herself feeling lost. Then she remembered something. Hadn’t I heard that some celebrity’s dogs had been kidnapped a while back? Was that Brian’s? she wondered.
“Anyway, can I park it here?” Brian asked.
“And what would ya do if I said ‘no’?” Brian brought up his arms like he was about to beat Nick up. “That’s what I thought. I don’t want one o’ our fans ta witness me kickin’ yer ass! So course ya can stay! Me an’ Jen were just ‘bout to get some food.”
Brian rubbed his hands together anxiously. “Carter house food! The best food!” Jenny just stared at him like he was crazy. “No one has a better selection of junk food in their house. No one!” Brian explained. The two of them laughed while Nick tried to look indignant.
“I eat healthy, too!” he protested with the most childish whine. Brian gave Jenny an exaggerated nod and roll of his eyes, hoping to get her to giggle some more. It worked, for no matter how much she hated to admit it, Brian and Nick were quite the pair.
Dropping the matter, the two of them eagerly headed over to the kitchen as Jenny followed. Nick stopped by the refrigerator while Brian continued onto the pantry, looking for some candy or chips or whatever else he could get his hands on. Nick fished out some left over pizza and was about to take a bite when he noticed something odd about the piece.
“Brian, I don’t like anchovies, correct?”
“Correct. So?”
“Then why does it look like dere are some on here…?”
“How long has that pizza been in there?!” Brian asked, then gave the chip that had almost reached his mouth another look. He shrugged in what seemed to say “looks fine to me” and then popped it into his mouth. Nick just stared dumbly at the pizza, not quite sure he was willing to give up his favorite food. Jenny’s impatience got the better of her, and she ripped the piece out of his hands.
“Where’s your trash?” Brian pointed to the cabinet under the sink as he continued to stuff his face, “You weren’t honestly thinking about eating this? Goodness… this is… disgusting! Do I really want to eat anything here?” Jenny asked after throwing the pizza away and wiping her hands on her jeans.
Nick just shrugged and returned to rummaging through his kitchen. Exasperated, Jenny rushed over to stand in front of him, hands on her hips with a fighter’s stance. She couldn’t explain why she felt bold, but it was the same feeling she had felt during the autographing session, like she just wanted to smack him! “Are you going to ignore me, Nick Carter?” Nick stared at her in shock. This wasn’t normal Jenny. Then again, Nick had to correct himself. He didn’t know the normal Jenny.
“No… I wasn’t-“
“You most certainly were ignoring me!”
“She’s got ya, Frack. Give it up! Even the girls can outsmart you!” Brian laughed.
“What’s that supposed to mean?!” “They can not!” the two of them shouted at the same time. Brian only got louder. At this, Jenny and Nick looked at each other and smiled. Both of them then turned toward Brian, Nick with a mischievous look on his face and Jenny wearing a wicked grin. Brian dropped the chip bag as the two slowly advanced and then went after him at a full run. His yell echoed through the house as he took off.
"Shit!”
Broken Promises