A week later Nick walked into his house through the garage door entrance. He tossed his suitcase onto the living room couch and walked over to listen to his messages. One was from his mother who just wanted to make sure he had arrived safely. The next was from Brian wanting to make sure Nick had gotten home all right. The third one was from A.J. who also wanted to make sure his flight had gone okay and to remind him that they had tickets to go to a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game the next Saturday. Nick sighed. They were all still treating him like the thirteen-year old foolish kid he had been when the band had first started out.
There was one more message, but the line was silent for a few seconds. Nick almost deleted it until he heard Ashley’s voice, “Nicky? It’s me. I would have called you in L.A., but I didn’t want to intrude on your time with your family. Brian told me that you would be in today and I hope he’s right because Preston’s parents are throwing an engagement party for us and I would really like for you to be there. Feel free to bring the guys if you want, or even a date. I hope you get this message. Love you. Bye.”
Nick sighed. He had almost forgotten that Ashley was engaged. That fact was one he didn’t delight in on so it had been easy to forget. Just thinking about Preston made Nick seethe. The last thing he wanted to do was spend an evening with the guy, but he knew that it would mean a lot to Ashley if he came.
Nick thought back over her message. She had said to bring the guys or a date. There wasn’t a chance in hell of him finding a date this late. Maybe he could ask A.J. to whip a girl’s name out of his little black book, but Nick didn’t feel like getting to know someone new. He’d call Brian. Maybe Brian would go with him. Nick would call him before he called Ashley to tell her that he was coming.
*****
Three hours later Nick and A.J. walked up the drive to the Vanderbilt’s home. He had called Brian, Howie, and Kevin before trying A.J., but they had all been busy. A.J. had been the only one free. Nick glanced at A.J. with a bemused look on his face. It wasn’t that he didn’t like A.J., it was just that he knew A.J. wouldn’t exactly fit in with Preston’s crowd. Nick took in the tattoos that decorated his friend’s arms, his spiked hair, dyed blue, and the green fur pants that A.J. had decided to wear for the occasion. He might not fit in but he sure would scare the hell out of them and give them something to talk about for a while.
“You look like you’re going to your death sentence, Nick,” A.J. commented as they stood between the massive white columns that lined the porch of the Georgian style mansion.
“It’s just that I can’t stand this guy and the thought of spending an evening with him makes me want to vomit,” Nick reached out and rang the doorbell, “Just wait until you actually meet him.”
Almost immediately the door swung open by a maid and the sounds of a string orchestra poured out of the house. A.J.’s eyes widened immediately at the sight of the elaborate foyer. Under his breath he whispered, “Damn! That boy’s got the money.” Nick elbowed him sharply in the side as they stepped into the house. Nick did have to agree though. Preston’s family certainly was wealthy. Nick’s whole house could probably fit in their dining room. A.J.’s attire immediately caught the attention of the guests. Nick suddenly wanted to turn and flee from the room. He ducked his head and was about to make his escape when Ashley had turned to see what the others were staring at and immediately recognized A.J. Her face lit up in a smile as she first saw A.J. and then Nick. A.J.’s unique apparel didn’t faze her at all and she swung her arms around him in a tight hug, “A.J., I didn’t know Nick was bringing you! I haven’t seen you in forever!”
A.J pulled back and held her hands in his own, bringing each to his lips, “I wouldn’t miss this for the world. Nicky-Nick here tells me that you ran off and got engaged on us.”
Ashley’s smile dimmed for a moment, but then returned as bright as before, “He was telling the truth.” She held up her hand for A.J. to see the ring.
“Damn, girl. That’s some ring. Did you set a date?”
Ashley nodded, “May 13th.”
“Then May 13th will be the day that my heart breaks,” A.J. put his hand over his heart, “I always thought you were gonna marry me.”
“I just couldn’t wait around on you anymore, A.J. Besides, do you know how many girls would have sent me death threats?”
A.J. flashed her a grin, “I am a sexy bitch, aren’t I?”
She swatted his arm playfully.
Nick finally spoke, interrupting the banter between his two friends, “May 13th, Brown Eyes? Did you forget that thirteen’s an unlucky number?”
Ashley rolled her eyes, “Nick is finding anything and everything that could possibly be wrong with this wedding, A.J. If he keeps it up I’ll make it so he can’t have children.”
“Whoa! You don’t want to touch Nicky down there. You’d be scarred sexually for the rest of your life. It wouldn’t be worth the therapy bills you’d have to pay later on,” A.J. laughed at his own joke.
Now it was Nick’s turn to roll his eyes.
“You’re probably right,” Ashley smiled and took A.J.’s hand, “Come over here. I want you to meet my fiancé.”
Nick rolled his eyes again and Ashley sent him a warning glance.
They walked into a room filled with mahogany bookshelves and cigar smoke. A group of men clad in expensive sports coats stood talking to one another, but obviously concerned with only themselves. Ashley tapped one of them on the shoulder and he turned around to face them.
Preston smiled and kissed Ashley’s hand. He glanced at Nick and A.J., “I didn’t know that we were going to have a Backstreet Boy and a circus clown here tonight.” He turned to laugh with his friends.
Ashley pretended to ignore his comment and pulled him back around to face her friends, “Preston, you’ve already met Nick, but I’d like to introduce you to A.J. McLean, one of Nick’s best friends and band mates.”
Preston extended his hand, “So you sing to thirteen year old girls also?”
A.J. nodded and smiled sardonically, “Guilty as charged. I see that you’re into younger girls though. You’ve probably dated some of our fans.”
Preston’s smile never left his face, “I see you have a sense of humor.”
A.J. started to retort, but Ashley cut in, “Nick, A.J., Bradley is looking all over the place for you. Will you come with me to find him?”
“Sure, I haven’t seen the little squirt in months,” Nick said talking about Ashley’s only brother who was eight years old. Bradley, like Ashley, had been an ‘accident’. Ashley’s parents hadn’t planned on having either of their children, and Bradley had come along eleven years after their first surprise had arrived. They had become each other’s refuge in their loveless family and Nick had become the wall that had protected them.
Ashley led them around the mansion until she spotted Bradley at the buffet table, loading up a plate with food, “Bradley, look who’s here.”
The little boy glanced at them and his face instantly lit up, “Nick!” The little boy put his forgotten plate of food on the buffet and raced across the room to wrap his arms around Nick’s waist.
“Hey, little man!” Nick gripped Ashley’s younger brother in a huge bear hug, then stepped back to look at him, “You’re almost as tall as me now.”
Bradley grinned at him, then noticed A.J., “A.J.!”
“Hey, Squirt,” A.J. gave him a high five, “You breaking any second grade hearts lately?”
“No, but I did get this new video game and it’s got lots of blood and you would like it, Nick, and Ashley won’t let me play it at her house and we got this new race track at our house and I have a go-cart and…” Bradley rambled on about all of the things that Nick had missed while he’d been away without taking a breath.
“Whoa, Bradley, slow down,” Ashley reasoned, “You’re going to have plenty of time to catch up with Nick.”
Bradley rolled his eyes at his older sister, “Nick, did you know that my sister’s getting married?”
Nick nodded, “Yeah I think I heard something about that.”
“Do you think she should get married?” Bradley inquired.
“It doesn’t really matter what I think, little man. It’s her decision.”
“I always thought you were going to marry my sister,” the little boy commented innocently.
Ashley felt a flush rise in her cheeks. She remembered the night a week and a half ago when they had almost kissed. She started to respond, but Nick beat her to it… kind of.
“Whew, it’s hot in here. Does it feel hot in here to anybody else?” Nick pulled at the collar of his shirt, “I feel really hot all of a sudden.”
“Nope. I’m fine, Nick. It’s actually kind of drafty in here,” A.J. observed.
“I’m cold, Nick. Feel my hand,” Bradley reached out and touched Nick’s hand with his own, “Aren’t you cold, Ashley?”
“What? What did you say?” thoughts were running crazy though Ashley’s head and she had almost missed what her brother had said, “Cold? Yes. I feel cold. Maybe you should go outside for awhile, Nick, by yourself.”
“Yeah. I’m really hot. Maybe I’ll go outside for a little bit. I’m really hot,” Nick flustered.
“I think that you should. You look like you need to cool off. The patio’s right over there,” Ashley pointed to a set of French doors across the room.
A.J. and Bradley stood and gawked at the strange exchange between Nick and Ashley, trying to figure out what had caused them to act this way.
Nick stared at Ashley for a moment before her words registered, “Right. I’ll be outside. I’ll be right over there if you need me. By myself.” He took off towards the patio without another word. Nick shut the French doors after he stepped outside, leaving the sounds of the party behind. He sat down on a chaise lounge chair that faced the house so he could still look in on the party. Nick spotted Ashley, still with A.J. and Bradley, but she was introducing them to a group of people. Her face lit up in a smile and Nick could tell she was laughing at something. Nick’s own mouth turned up in a smile. He could almost hear her laughter inside of his head. His stomach tightened unexplainably as he watched her. Nick didn’t know why Bradley’s words had upset him so much. They’d been innocently said. He had been in Bradley’s life since the day the little boy had been born and had been the only stable male figure Ashley’s brother had ever really known. ‘Stable’ wasn’t even the word to use, because Nick had always been gone so much, but he at least cared for the little boy, which was more than Nick could say for Ashley and Bradley’s father. It was only natural for Bradley to think that Nick would find a permanent position in their lives by marrying Ashley.
The more Nick thought about it the more natural it seemed to him also. He’d been thinking about it since he and Ashley had almost kissed. Nick hadn’t told anyone about it because he knew that it would become too real if he did and he would want it even more.
“Stay away from her, Carter.”
Nick turned around, startled by the voice behind him. He saw Preston standing on the patio with an arrogant look on his face. Nick stood to face him, “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m not blind. I see the way you look at my fiancé. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out how you feel about her,” Preston stated coolly.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Nick lied.
“You know damn well what I’m talking about and I’m telling you that if you know what’s best, you’ll back off now,” Preston warned.
“Or what?” Nick urged.
“Let’s just say that I have the money to keep you away from her, if you know what I mean.”
Anger took over Nick, “Are you threatening me?”
“Just remember what I said.”
With that Preston turned on his heel and walked away from Nick in the
direction that he had come from. Nick stood, in shock, staring after
Ashley’s fiancé. He stood in that same spot for a few moments and then
turned back around to face the party. Nick saw Preston walk up to
Ashley
and wrap an arm around her waist, whispering something in her ear.
Nick
felt rage boil up in him at the sight. There was no way he could let
her
marry Preston and he would do everything in his power to stop it.
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