Chapter Thirteen
The Wednesday morning after the barbecue Kerry awoke to the sound of the phone ringing. She fumbled blindly for the phone, hoping it wasn't what she figured- her boss calling from work asking her to come in early. "Hello?" she said sleepily.
"Kerry? Did I wake you?"
'Arrgghh' Kerry grumbled t herself. It was her boss. "Yeah... but that's okay.. what's up, Joy?"
"Sorry, but we scheduled too many people for today and you haven't had a day off in... god knows how long, so I was going to tell you that you have a day off so relax and enjoy." Joy replied.
Kerry thanked her profusely and hung up, smiling. She threw the covers back, suddenly anxious to get up. An entire day to herself sounded... like something she couldn't remember. Haley and Miah had already left for school and she had nothing to do. She jumped out of bed and turned the stereo on full blast singing along with Enigma. As she got in the shower she thought about what she'd just been singing. "The experience of survival is the key to the gravity of love". It made sense... she'd survived hell with Josh, which made her appreciate Nick and real love more than she might have without having those experiences.
As Kerry dried off she thought of all the things she could do today- hang out at home, go to the park and go rollerblading, go to the beach, go shopping... wait. That was it. Nothing like a good shopping spree - especially a kidless one. Kerry felt bad sometimes, that she enjoyed doing things without Miah every now and then. Having her at 16 had put a damper on the "best times" of her life- missing the parties, shopping trips with friends and things like that, and she liked to be able to act her age ocassionally.
Kerry dressed quickly and grabbed the phone, calling Nick. She heard him clear his throat and mumble something that vaguely sounded like 'hello'. "Morning stud."
Nick immediately perked up at the sound of her voice. "Hey baby, what's up?"
"Weeelll, I have the day off today, and I was wondering what you were doing."
"I think I'm gonna spend the day with my lady." he said, getting out of bed and stretching. "What's she got planned?"
Kerry smiled, she loved it when he called her his anything- lady, woman, whatever... she liked it. "Actually, I was wanting to go shopping, think you could handle that?"
"Shopping?!?" he asked, trying to sound like it was a torture worse than death.
"You don't HAVE to... I just thought it would be fun to spend the day together..." Kerry said softly, disappointed by his reaction.
"Kerry, of course I can handle it. Not only can I handle it, I would love to go with you. I was just teasing." he said.
Her grin returned. "Perfection. When ya wanna go?"
"Give me a few to shower and stuff, and I'll be over."
"K. I love you."
"Love you too. Be there in a few. Bye." He hung up and quickly showered, thinking this would actually help him in his planning. He'd been wracking his brain since Saturday night, coming up with any idea he thought might contribute to a perfect evening for him and Kerry. If she was with him, he could come up with a nonchalant way to ask her opinions of things and see what she liked.
Kerry finished getting ready and had just grabbed a cold Pop-Tart for breakfast when Nick knocked on the door. She ran to get the door, and smiled as she opened, trying to quickly swallow her bite of Pop-Tart. Nick leaned in to give her a quick kiss and stole a bite of the toaster pastry as she reached up to hug him.
"Hey!" she giggled.
"Cherry, best kind." he said, wrapping his arms around her, and lifting her up to kiss her again. "But doesn't taste nearly as good as you."
Kerry blushed slightly and giggled. "You sure you're okay with going shopping?"
"Yup. I gotta find a... present for my ... aunt's birthday anyway." Nick said hoping that would be an acceptable excuse.
"Oh, okay. That's cool. Which aunt?" Kerry asked, walking out the door.
'Uh-oh.' Nick had to think quickly, he couldn't remember when any of his aunt's birthdays were. "Oh, she lives out of state.."
Kerry looked at him funny, shook her head and walked out the door. As she got into the Durango she asked, "What kind of present are you looking for?"
'This is too easy'. He backed out of the driveway and smiled at her. "Not sure, that's why I was hoping you'd help me."
"Oh, I suppose I could do that." Kerry returned his grin and reached over to put her hand on his thigh.
Nick's eyes darted quickly down to her hand, hoping she wasn't planning on sliding it anywhere and tried to concentrate on driving.
Kerry watched as Nick got a little fidgety when she touched him, and decided it was probably in their best interest of actually getting to the mall in one piece if she didn't let her hand wander.
After managing to arrive at the mall without any major mishaps, Kerry and Nick stood in front of the mall map trying to decide where to go.
"God, you think I'd know my way around here by now, after working here for a year!" Kerry laughed. "They just don't let me out much!"
Nick rolled his eyes and grabbed her hand, heading off in the direction of the sports store.
Kerry watched as Nick made his third trip around the store- eyeing jerseys, tennis shoes, ball caps, and not taking significant interest in any of it. She had to wonder how his collections had gotten to be so extenisive if this was the way he always shopped. She sat down on one of the benches in front of the shoes and waited for him. A few minutes later he wandered back over to her and sat down beside her. "Nothing screaming 'buy me'?"
He shook his head and looked directly at her. "That day.. when I went over to your house after you told me you couldn't see me anymore... I came here that morning, thinking I'd buy something, spend some money- anything to try to stop thinking about how much I missed you. But I didn't like anything I looked at.. it wasn't what I wanted... because it wasn't you. I look at things now.. and I still don't want anything... because I don't need it. I've got everything I could ever want or need right here." He leaned to her and softly brushed his lips across her cheek.
Kerry closed her eyes and sighed, wondering how he could always think of something to say that made her feel so special, and let her know that she really was an important part of his life.
Nick took her hand and stood up, "C'mon let's go look at some girlie stuff."
Kerry followed him out of the store, "Girlie stuff? Are you hoping I'm going to make a detour into Victoria's Secret and do some modeling for you?"
Nick's eyes widened. That was more than he was hoping for, but if she was willing... He shook his head to get rid of the thoughts now swirling around and said, "Uh, no... I was thinking, whatever you were wanting to look for.. and stuff."
Kerry shrugged. "Fine fine, don't take advantage of me being in the mood to try on skimpy underwear."
Nick groaned, she certainly wasn't helping him ignore the mental pictures invading his mind right now. He knew if they went in that store... naughty things would most likely occur, because he wouldn't be able to resist.
Kerry giggled, "Problems, babe?" She turned sharply, pulling him into a candle shop. She took a deep breath inhaling the strong scent of the candles. "I love this place!"
Nick blinked and wondered how long he'd be able to hold his breath. "How can you stand the smell of this place??"
She didn't hear him, she was already at the back of the store, gazing fondly at a large ornately fashioned candle.
Nick walked up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. He looked at the candle, it was cool- swirls of icy blue twisted around a base of irredescent white- looking like it'd give off an eerie silver glow when lit. "You like that?"
"It's gorgeous", she whispered. "I don't know what kind of taste your aunt has.. but that would make a great gift."
Nick laughed quietly to himself and kissed Kerry's forehead. "I was just thinking that."
Kerry walked around the rest of the store, thinking she should find something for Miah and Haley, while Nick bought the candle Kerry had been raving over and a few other smaller matching ones. Nick met her by the door and she asked if he could handle a jaunt through the toy store with her.
"Can I handle it with you?? You should probably be asking that the other way around!" Nick said with a goofy grin and dashed up the escalator to the upper level of the mall. He waited at the top for Kerry, and reached out for her hand, and interlaced his fingers with hers as they walked towards the toy store.
Nick watched her as she walked around the store, her eyes lit up like a little kid's. He heard her giggle come from down one of the aisle and went to find her and see what had her so amused. Nick cracked up when he turned a corner and there was Kerry- bright pink feather boa wrapped around her neck, hula-hooping.
Kerry giggled at his reaction and kept carefully moving in rhythm to keep the hoop up. "I rock at this!"
Nick bit his lip and nodded, watching the motions of her body... her hips swaying from side to side and quickly became lost of thoughts of being tangled up with her, their bodies rocking together.
She watched his eyes become transfixed on her and grabbed the hoop, stopping it and put it over his head, sliding it down to his waist and pulled him towards her. "Just what are you thinking about, Mr. Carter?"
Nick blushed slightly, knowing that she knew she'd caught him. He slipped his hands in the back pockets of her jeans and drew her to him. He bent his head and nibbled gently on her earlobe, whispering, "Just thinking how good it's going to feel... you moving like that with me..."
Kerry moaned softly and took a shaky breath. "We need to go... now." If they stayed like that any longer, she was going to be doing things that would get her banished from the mall.
Nick kissed her quickly and pulled the hula hoop off of them. Kerry unwound the boa from around her neck and tried to get his voice to stop echoing in her head. She grabbed his hand and walked briskly out of the store, wanting to get somewhere to get her mind on something else.
A pair of strappy sandals in the window of the shoe store provided the distraction she needed and she veered into the store to try them on. Nick followed her into the store, hoping shoe shopping with her wasn't anything like it was with his sisters. Nick sat beside her as she waited on the sales girl to bring out a pair in her size.
"You know, you're evil." Kerry said, smiling at him.
"One of the many reasons you love me." he replied, kissing her hand.
"Can't argue with that," Kerry giggled as the sales girl approached with the sandals.
The girl handed Kerry the shoes and gave her a funny look. "Do you know Josh Johnson?"
Nick watched as Kerry's smile quickly faded into a look that was part pissed and part scared. He squeezed her hand and waited for her to react.
Kerry's voice was cold and hateful, "Yeah, why?"
"You're Kerry... I thought you looked familiar... I've seen pictures. Josh talks about you sometimes. I'm his girlfriend." she replied, giving Kerry a pitiful look, suggesting she believed everything awful Josh had said about Kerry.
Kerry didn't reply, but just nodded her head slightly, trying to stay calm. She looked at the girl, Lauren- her name tag read- blonde, big boobs, long legs- everything he'd told her he'd wanted and she wasn't.
Nick stood quickly, pulling Kerry up with him, still gripping her hand. "C'mon baby, we gotta be somewhere."
"Should I tell Josh you say 'hi'?" Lauren asked, smiling smugly.
"You can tell him I said to rot in hell." Kerry said, before turning and walking out of the store.
Nick glared at Lauren as he followed Kerry out the door, and then smiled- proud of how Kerry had handled herself. "That's my girl..." he started to say, just as Kerry let go of his hand and sunk down on a bench in the middle of the walkway. He watched her head drop into her hands, her body trembling as she tried to keep from crying. He quickly sat next to her and pulled her against his chest, hugging her tightly. "Kerry, baby, it's alright." he said softly.
Kerry's voice was quiet and wavered as she said, "No, it's not.. he's going to know..."
"Know what?" Nick asked, rubbing her back, trying to ease her tension.
Kerry looked up at him, her eyes clouded with fear, the tears she'd been trying to stop tickling down her cheeks, "About you."
Nick couldn't help but worry a little. "What about me baby?"
"He's going to know that I'm with someone... he'll show up again... " Kerry whispered, looking down at her shaking hands.
Nick took her hands in his and held them tightly. "Kerry, look at me." He waited for her to make eye contact with him and then continued, "He's never going to hurt you again. I won't let it happen. You're going to be fine. Okay?"
Kerry desparately wanted to believe him. She took a deep breath and nodded, hoping that somehow Nick was right.
He pulled her into a tight hug. "I love you, Kerry."
She slipped her arms around him, returning his embrace. She was safe in his arms, and that's the only place she wanted to be. "I love you too, Nick."
"Good, 'cause I need you to do something for me." Nick said, thinking this to be a good way to get her mind off what had just happened.
"And that would be?" Kerry asked, sitting up to look at him.
"Make sure Haley doesn't have any plans for Friday night. Or Saturday morning. And maybe Saturday afternoon." he replied, giving her a sexy grin.
The smile returned to Kerry's face. She thought quickly, 'okay.. good time of the month' and said, "If she had plans, she doesn't anymore".
Nick laughed and felt relieved- she was smiling again, and she seemed to be happy with his plan. "I know this isn't all spontaneous and romantic or whatever.. but I thought you'd want to know what was going on."
Kerry nodded. "I appreciate that. We can be spontaneous later." she leaned to him to kiss him and stood up before her mind could run off with thoughts of her impending evening. "I'm hungry. Let's hit the food court."
"Yes, ma'am." Nick chuckled and followed her to the chinese place in the food court.
Later that afternoon as Nick walked Kerry to the door, he said, "Keep that fortune cookie.. I'm gonna ask if it was accurate later." He kissed her deeply, leaning over and dipping her down.
Kerry giggled as he raised her back up. "I'm sure it will be."
Kerry had introduced Nick to the "In Bed" game, read the fortune from the fortune cookie and add "in bed" onto the end of it. At Kerry's insistance, Nick had read his first "Stop searching forever, happiness is right beside you. In bed." He'd smiled and said, "Actually it's sitting across the table from me at the moment." Kerry then read her's- grinning before she even got the words out, "A thrilling time is ahead of you. In bed." She kissed Nick and said it was the first time she'd ever believed one of those things.
"I love you. I'll see you on Friday." Nick said, winking at her.
"Love you too. I can't wait." She blew a kiss at him as he drove off and she opened the door practically falling inside the house. She slammed the door closed and ran over to the couch, jumping up and down on it and shrieking like she was seven years old again.
Haley had been in the backyard with Miah, and came running inside when she heard Kerry's squeals of excitement. "God! What is your deal, woman?" she asked, looking at Kerry bouncing on the couch.
Kerry abruptly flopped down onto the couch. "Do you have plans for Friday night?"
"Do I ever?" Haley asked sarcastically, lowering herself onto the loveseat.
"Saturday morning?"
"Planning on being gone a while?" Haley asked stretching out, making herself comfortable.
"Maybe..." Kerry replied, looking over at her sister with a mysterious grin.
Haley quickly sat back up, wide eyed, "Are you gonna...?"
Kerry's grin got wider and she nodded.
"OHMYGOD!!" Haley jumped off the loveseat and ran over to the couch where Kerry was giggling hysterically.
Kerry suddenly stopped laughing and looked at Haley. "Oh god."
"What??"
Panic suddenly set in and Kerry's face mirrored her feelings. "I'm going to have sex.. no wait.. make love... to him... Shit! Haley!! I haven't done that in... What am I saying? I've never 'made love' before... but whatever... I haven't seen a naked guy in four and a half years! I don't know what to do! Hell, I'll be surprised if I remember what goes where!!" She keeled over onto her side and put her hands over her face.
It was Haley's turn to crack up, laughing at her sister's little freak out.
"Hay!! This is not funny! I am STRESSED OUT!" Kerry wailed, tossing a pillow at Haley.
Haley dodged the pillow and kept laughing. "I see that! God, Kerry- it's sex, not rocket science! Just chill out and enjoy the thought of having a gorgeous guy all over you all night."
Kerry rearranged herself on the couch, laying down, propping her feet up on Haley's lap. "I can't even imagine... god knows I've tried... just when he touches me, I get all tingly... and when he holds me... I love feeling his body against mine... and being skin-to-skin..." Kerry stopped talking to tug on her shirt, fanning herself. "Fuck, I'm getting hot just thinking about it."
Haley smiled, but at the same time, felt a little twinge of jealousy. Apparently, there were indeed a few good guys in the world, and Kerry had managed to fine one of them, so why couldn't she? "You are gonna tell me all about it right?"
"Um, you're my sister aren't you??" Kerry gave Haley a look that obviously suggested she was crazy to think otherwise.
"At least you'll have something good to tell about this time." Haley remarked.
Kerry heard what her sister said and wondered off into a daze of thoughts.
"Kerry? Hello, earth to Kerry." Haley said. When Kerry acknowledged she wasn't in orbit anymore, Haley asked what was on her mind.
"I'm scared of this... I have no good memories of sex at all. I didn't like it. But yet, I want to do this with him, cause I know it won't be like that.. I mean, no matter what happens with Nick it couldn't be as bad as anything with Josh. And it's been so long.. it's going to be like, losing my virginity again..." Kerry said quietly, thinking as she spoke.
Haley turned to face her sister, "Ker-bear, this is different. You are losing something this time- those memories of Josh. This is starting over, think of eveything you're gaining. This is going to be Nick, who loves you and wants to make you happy- and will still be there in the morning."
Kerry smiled and reached up to hug Haley. "I love you sissy."
"I love you too. Wear your red bra." Haley said, grinning.
Kerry laughed. "That is a good one... but y'know, this deserves even better. Go grab Miss Thang, we're going lingerie shopping."