As soon as Lance and Brook left Nikki leaned back against the bed. Ann walked over to her and said, “you okay?”
Nikki shook herself out of the daze that she was in and said, “yeah, I am fine. Why?”
“You just seemed a little spooked at Lance’s comment. I take it that you and JC aren‘t on talking terms?”
“Yeah, you could say that,” she said back with a soft look on her face. “I miss him a lot too. Things are just a little too difficult right now.”
“Does he know that you just...” she began to say.
“No,” Nikki said right away. “And I can’t tell him yet either. So if you talk to Joey, please don’t mention it.”
“Joey? Ahh, so Lance told you huh?”
“Yeah he did. I hope that is okay.”
“Yes, it is. I messed up really bad with him. I was afraid of committing and all that stuff, so I just left. It was horrible and I regret it everyday. I really loved him, still do actually. But I know that he has to hate me now. I’ve given him no reason to return the love that I have for him.”
“I’m sorry Ann. Maybe you should call him.”
“I can’t. I’m too afraid.”
“Well if you really care about him that much, maybe you should give it a try. I know how much he liked you, so maybe he won’t be as bad as you think he will be.”
“I don’t even have his number. Besides I gave mine to Lance to give him.”
“Ann, I have his number. If you were the one that messed things up, then you should fix them.”
Ann put her fingers to her mouth and began to bite her nails. “Will you dial for me?”
“Of course,” she said. Nikki took the phone from Ann’s hand and dialed Joey’s cell number. As soon as she punched in the last digit she handed the phone to Ann. “There ya go!” she said.
“Hello,” a voice said.
“Jo.. Joey?” Ann stuttered.
“Who is this?”
“It’s... it’s uh... Ann.”
“Ann?”
“Mm hmm,” she mumbled. “We need to talk. I mean, if you will talk to me that is.”
Joey sat down and let out a huge sigh. He hadn’t spoken to her in a long time and he didn’t know what he was supposed to say. “I have a few minutes.”
“Look,” she started.
“Yeah, you are sorry. Just tell me why you did it.”
“Joey, I loved you and I was afraid of it. The whole thing scared me to death, so I left. I know that I was wrong. I shouldn’t have done that. You know that I would never really want to hurt you. I was just confused and I... I was afraid of loving you too much.”
Ann hurt Joey a lot, but he did still have feelings for her. He could never stay tied down with any girl that he had been with since her. It was just too much for him to take it at once. Being with a girl and thinking of Ann. “You hurt me a lot. You know that right?”
“Yes Joey, and I am so sorry. I don’t know how to say how sorry I am. I hurt myself too ya know. That was one of the worst things I have ever done, and I regret it everyday.”
“Where are you living now?” he asked.
“I’m in L.A.”
“I was JUST in L.A. a couple days ago.”
“I know,” she said. She remembered Nikki saying that she wanted to be kept a secret, so Ann couldn’t exactly tell Joey that she knew he was around because Lance told her that day when he came to visit Nikki at the hospital because she had just had a baby. So instead she said, “I ran into Lance.”
“Really?”
“Uh huh.”
“Small world huh?
“Yeah.”
“Well look. I really need to go. I have some stuff that I need to do with Justin. I will, uh, can I maybe call you later. We can talk, see what we come up with.”
Ann was so happy that Joey was willing to possibly try it again. “Yes. Do you have a pen or something?”
“Yeah, go ahead.” Ann told him her number and then Joey said, “Alright. I got it. I will call ya as soon as I can.”
“Okay, bye Joey.”
“Bye Ann,” Joey said and then shut off his phone.
“Did I just hear you say Ann?!” Justin exclaimed as he walked in the room.
“Yeah, yeah you did J.”
“Oh and enter us into the twilight zone,” Justin joked. “Come on, you can tell me about it on the way. We gotta jet.” They both got up, grabbed their papers and left.
The next morning Nikki was sitting on her bed waiting for Lynn when lance walked in with a small bouquet of daisys. He knew that Nikki loved them, she always had. “And for the beautiful mother,” he said. “And this is for the beautiful baby Courtney,” he said as he handed Nikki a small pink carnation. “Let her grow to love them.”
Nikki smiled and couldn’t help but giggle. “Pushing forth father likes and dislikes already?” she asked.
“Well if I don’t, who will?”
Nikki sighed and said, “I guess you’re right,” and then looked down at the baby that laid nestled within her warm embrace.
“Can I hold her?” Lance asked as he sat on the edge of the bed next to Nikki.
“Of course,” she said and carefully handed Lance the infant little girl. “So where is Brook?”
“She had to go out this morning. She said that she would call me as soon as she could to see if we could stop by your place to see you. I guess she really just would like another girlfriend to hang out with that won’t spazz anytime that she mentions one of our names. Especially Justy’s.”
“Justy’s? Why his?”
“Her friend Stephanie has a huge thing for him and is dying to meet him. But Brook told me that she is to psycho to meet him,” he said and then laughed.
“Ah, I see,” she said. “Well, Lynn should be here anytime to bring me back to her place. And you two are more than welcome to come visit whenever you like.”
“You know I am gonna take you up on that offer right?” he smiled. He ran his finger over the side of the baby’s arm and hummed the tune of ‘Sailing’. Lance looked into the baby’s eyes as she fluttered them open and he said, “Nik... when are you gonna...”
Nikki cut in before he could finish the sentence. She already knew what he was going to say. “I don’t know yet Lance. I need some time. As it is he probably hates me bunches now, and with this whole thing, it will only piss him off more.”
“Who knows, maybe not,” he said.
“I know, and it will.” Nikki looked at her child and sighed. She really didn’t want to keep it a secret for forever, but she knew that right now she was emotionally stable to let it all come out. Soon she thought. Soon.