Chapter Twelve
"So what are you doing Saturday afternoon?" Nick asked as he continued to wax the Prowler's shine to perfection.
"Well, I dunno... this really hot blonde guy keeps pestering me to do something with him, so I'm thinking I may have to cave just to get him to leave me alone." Kerry smiled, looking up at him from ArmourAll-ing the interior of the car.
"Really hot, huh?"
"Yup, hotter than hell." Kerry replied, leaning over the door to kiss Nick.
Nick flashed her a sexy grin and asked, "So does he have a pretty good chance of getting you to do something with him?"
"Oh, maybe. Depends what he had in mind. I was hoping for something along the lines of eating pork rinds and drinking Jolt while watching 'Showgirls'.. but I'm open to suggestions." Kerry said, trying to look as serious as possible.
Nick just looked at her and they both burst out laughing so hard Nick dropped the can of wax and ended up sitting on the garage floor, shaking.
In the three weeks that had passed since the ex-girlfriend incident, changes had taken place in their relationship- all for the better. Nick had realized how much he really had to lose and had consciously made an effort to make sure she knew exactly how much he appreciated her and that he really was always thinking of her. Kerry had done her best to forget about how much it had hurt her, she knew she loved him, and had to be willing to forgive and move on. She'd done just that, putting it behind her and concentrating on how much she enjoyed being with him and how loved he made her feel.
Nick took a deep breath and attempted to stop laughing. "Oh god.. anyway.. Kevin is having a barbecue this Saturday afternoon and I wanted you and Miah to go with me. After that we can come back here and watch 'Showgirls' if you want."
Kerry was a little shocked. They'd been together for a while now, and she had yet to meet any of his friends, but she didn't mind keeping it that way. She was afraid they wouldn't like her, or worse, wouldn't approve of her.
Nick noticed the change in Kerry's expression. "What is it, baby? Do you not want to or what?"
"No, it's just... I guess I'm kinda scared to..." Kerry almost felt silly telling him this, but knew it was better to now than spend the rest of the week worrying about it.
"Scared to what? Meet the guys?"
"Yeah... what if they don't like me? Or don't think I'm good enough for you. Or..." Kerry was cut off by Nick standing up and pulling her up from where she'd been sitting in the drivers seat to look at him.
He looked Kerry right in the eyes and said, "Don't ever say you're not good enough for something. I love you, and I know they will like you. They'll like Miah, too. You have nothing to worry about, okay?"
Kerry nodded, then hugged him and kissed his lips softly. She had come to like how he was very firm about some things, usually when they involved his feeling for her, or her having a perception of herself he didn't like. She just knew he was serious, and he did it without being forceful, making her feel safe, rather than scared of him.
Nick returned her hug and kiss with enthusiasm and pulled away from her, smiling. "Do I need to go find 'Showgirls' then?"
"If you really want to... but beware, that movie makes me want to do baaad things." She smirked. She and Haley had rented the movie one night when their parents had taken Miah out somewhere, and both girls had agreed there was definite naughty amusement potential in much of what they saw. Kerry had to admit she would like to try most of them on Nick.
Nick's eyebrows shot up and he cleared his throat nervously. He'd only seen parts of the movie before, thanks to AJ, but knowing that something made Kerry want to do any kind of bad thing from that movie made him more than a little excited. "What kind of bad things?"
Kerry leaned lazily back in the seat of the car and smiled mysteriously. "Have you seen the movie?"
"Parts of it..." Nick knelt beside the car, folding his arms on the door and rested his chin on them, anxiously waiting to follow Kerry wherever she was going with this.
"The swimming pool?" Kerry asked, licking the tip of her index finger and then tracing it over Nick's lips.
Nick kissed her finger and shook his head, "Nope, didn't see that part."
Kerry chuckled softly. "Maybe we'll have to .... watch that sometime."
Nick had no idea what she was talking about, but he was willing to watch anything she wanted him to. He made a mental note to rent the movie soon and find out just what she was refering to.
******
On the way to Kerry's house Saturday afternoon, Nick was extremely wound up and almost afraid to see Kerry for fear he'd just blurt out that he wanted her to do bad things to him. He hadn't had time to rent the movie, but had called AJ to get a quick rundown of what significance the swimming pool held. After being informed that it was the supercharged climax of a long running tease that began with an extremely erotic lap dance, Nick was confused. He'd seen the lap dance and wondered how it got more... climatic than that. AJ explained with amusement that they had sex in the swimming pool- and lead to an orgasm with the girl that every guy should be so lucky to witness.
Nick hadn't been quite sure what to do with the information after he had it. Was that supposed to be a subtle hint that she was ready to have sex? He didn't know how to ask what she meant either and decided to just wait and see where she was leading this.
Miah was waiting on the front steps for him when he arrived. She ran to the Durango as soon as he pulled up and the second he got out she wrapped herself around his leg.
"Hey Munchkin" he laughed, reaching down to pick her up and hug her.
Miah threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. "Hi hi, Nick!"
Nick had to admit that Miah had stolen his heart, too. "You ready for today?"
Miah smiled and nodded, "Momma said we're gonna get to meet your friends."
"Yup, and they're all gonna love you." Nick replied, rubbing his nose against Miah's, giving her an eskimo kiss.
Miah giggled and did the same. "I wuv you, Nick."
"Love you, too, Munchkin." He said and hugged her tight. "Now let's find that lovely mother of yours." Nick carried her inside the house, as Miah lay her head on his shoulder, smiling happily.
Nick and Miah found Haley in the kitchen, baking cookies and talked to her while Kerry finished getting ready.
As she pulled her hair back into a ponytail, Kerry wondered what Nick had thought after their conversation the other day. She'd half expected him to run out that night and rent 'Showgirls' if he actually hadn't seen it before. She wasn't even exactly sure where she'd been going with all that. She had enjoyed the swimming pool scene to a certain degree, even though it did seem a little... violent. Although, being that she'd never had an orgasm with anyone to compare it to, she didn't really know. She did know, though, that she was wanting to be more intimate with Nick. She loved him, trusted him, and felt ready to try having a physical relationship with him. She wasn't sure what to do about it, he'd never really mentioned it. She didn't know if that was just because he was waiting on her, or if he wasn't interested in it at this point or what. How the hell do you talk abut that? 'Hey Nick, here I am, take me?' Not hardly. She laughed at the thought as she walked down the steps.
She greeted Nick with a smile and a kiss and told Haley not to burn the house down while they were gone.
Haley rolled her eyes and told them to have fun and sneak her back some food if they could.
Nick laughed, and said of course they would as he took Kerry's hand and lead her out to the truck.
On the way out to Kevin's, Kerry carefully observed Nick, his mannerisms and movements as he spoke and drove. She loved his hands- the way he moved them... sliding over the steering wheel or rapidly gesturing when he was telling a story, and the way they felt- when he reached over to grab and hold hers. She watched his eyes as he periodically shifted his gaze from the road to the rearview mirror, checking on Miah in the backseat. His voice- soft and smooth... the smile he'd turn to give her... there wasn't anything about him that she wasn't totally in love with.
They were the last to arrive at Kevin's, and Kerry felt slightly intimidated knowing that she'd have to face all of them at once. Seven pairs of eyes sizing her up, comparing her to his ex and making judgements before she'd even said a word. She took a deep breath and slid out of the truck, watching Nick grab Miah out of the truck and put her on his shoulders.
*****
Brian looked up when he heard a door slam. He knew it had to be Nick. He was anxious to meet Kerry, he'd heard so much about her- Nick talked about her incessantly. He was glad that Nick had found someone, and fallen in love, for real this time, with someone who loved him back. Brian watched as Nick walked through the gate, an adorable little girl with strawberry blonde curls on his shoulders and a young woman with a bright smile by his side. Brian took in the sight, startled by what he saw- how natural it was for his best friend to be in that situation.
Nick shouted hello to everyone, causing them all to turn and look. Kerry tried to smile and look as comfortable as possible. Nick flipped Miah over his head and set her down on the ground in front of him. He took her hand on one side and Kerry's on the other and lead them over to the already assembled group. "I'd like you to meet Kerry and Miah..."
****
The afternoon quickly passed, and Miah and Kerry had both won everyone over in no time. Brian had become particularly fond of Miah, and spent a good deal of time causing her to laugh hysterically with his Donald Duck impression and goofy faces. By the time the sun was setting and the tiki torches were brought out, the usual segregation of men and women had taken place. The guys, plus Miah draped across Nick and Brian's laps napping, were gathered near the grill. Kerry and the other girls had settled themselves over by the pool.
"So what was that 'Showgirls' deal about, Nick?" AJ asked.
"Kerry had mentioned it, and I just wanted to know what she was talking about." Nick replied, hoping to keep the conversation as vague as possible, but knowing it wouldn't work.
"That's ... quite a movie." Kevin laughed.
"Yeeaahhhh" AJ agreed. "Nick-ay's gonna get lucky in the pool!" he added laughing.
Nick blushed. "Shut up! we haven't even... y'know... yet." Nick wasn't sure if Miah was asleep and he wasn't about to say anything that she'd go back and ask Kerry about later.
Brian nodded approvingly. "Good for you, bro."
AJ's jaw dropped. "You haven't?? You've been togther how long now?"
"Leave him alone, Bone." Brian cut in. He knew the other guys weren't aware of the history that came with Kerry and now wasn't the time to get an explanation going.
"No, we haven't. I love her, and I want her to know that, before we take it anywhere else. When it happens, it happens. God knows I'm ready when she is..." he smiled at the thought and looked over at her with the rest of the girls.
"It's fine most of the time," LeighAnne began, "it's just when everyone thinks you're a whore or a bitch just because of who you're dating, without having any idea what you're really like... that's when it's not so much fun."
Amanda and Kristin nodded their agreement. They'd been discussing the perks and pains of being a Backstreet girlfriend and Kerry was just taking in all in, unsure of what to think. The girls, whom she liked very much, had said she was lucky to have gotten together with Nick when she did, this was the most free time the Boys had had in years. She knew that it wasn't always going to be like this, having him all to herself- no crazy schedule or fans to worry about. But she felt like he was worth whatever she may have to deal with to be with him.
As the evening continued, the group slowly congregated back together, laughing and enjoying the company. Kerry felt at ease already, after having spent a while talking with the girls, and she felt like she knew the guys after all the stories she'd been told. As far as she could tell, they'd taken well to her, and to Miah. She leaned against Nick, resting her head on his shoulder as she tried to take in all that was around her. It seemed unreal somehow, that the people sitting around her were who they were- and she was almost a part of it now. She wondered how she'd gotten here from where she used to be. The thing that seemed to be the most odd to her- was being surrounded by this many people- that she guessed she could consider her new friends. It had been so long since she'd done something like this, her world had revolved around Miah from the time she arrived, but it was expanding now and she liked it.
When they left Kevin's house, Kerry got a hug and a smile from everyone and was almost overwhelmed by it all. She was glad she'd allowed Nick to bring her with him, she'd had a good time, and she knew Miah had enjoyed all the attention.
After Kerry put Miah to bed, she and Nick went out to front porch and sat and talked for a while. They sat together on the steps, her sitting one lower than him, with his arms wrapped around her. He asked her about the day- what she thought of the guys, if she'd had fun talking with LeighAnne, Kristin and Amanda. She told him that she'd had fun and enjoyed them all very much.
For a moment, for the first time either of them could remember, there was an awkward pause. They were both thinking the same thing, just neither of them was quite sure how to say what was on their mind. Kerry got up, and moved to sit beside Nick. She knew she was going to have to say something if she wanted anything to happen, and just hope he wasn't going to think she was being too forward. Nick watched her and turned to face her as she sat down.
She took a deep breath. "Nick, I've been thinking alot lately... and I don't know exactly how you feel about this, but I wanted to tell you what I feel." She stopped and looked him in the eyes. "I love you very much, and I trust you, and ... if at some point, you'd like to... further this relationship... so do I."
Nick's eyes widened, feeling like she'd been reading his mind. He smiled, and just to be sure he knew exactly what she meant, said, "So you're telling me that you want to..."
"Have sex with you." Kerry finished for him.
Nick gently cupped her face with his hands and shook his head.
Kerry's eyes widened and she swallowed hard. 'Fuck. You get up the nerve to tell him and he doesn't want to.'
Nick watched her expression change and said, "Let me explain. Sex can be random and meaningless, and I won't do that. I love you, and I want to show you that in every way I can. Which is why I won't have sex with you, but I would very much like to make love to you."
Kerry felt her heart melt. That's why she wanted this, because she knew he would be good to her. She scooted closer to him and wrapped her arms around him. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Kerry." Nick breathed a sigh of relief, as he hugged her tightly to him. That hadn't been so hard and he was glad that they'd said it. Now he was just going to go crazy trying to figure out when the right time would be, and how to make it perfect for her. He wanted to be the exact opposite of everything she'd experienced before. He wanted it to be sweet, gentle, loving and most of all, consensual.
Kerry looked up at him- his eyes glowing in the moonlight, the slight smile on his lips- she was anxious now, to be with him. "When?"
Nick smiled, "Soon, baby. I promise it'll be worth the wait."
Kerry returned his grin, knowing he was right and kissed him softly. "Thank you."