Chapter Nineteen

AJ turned to Kevin, wondering he would want to talk about. "What's up?

"Oh, well, um. Who's Scott?"

AJ's mouth began to drop as he tried to decide first how Kevin heard of Scott. Second, why he cared, and third how much should he tell Kevin? He asked what Kevin knew of him. "Her mother mentioned him. Is she seeing him?"

"I don't know. Well, I don't think so. Why?"

"She just seemed real bothered by her mom mentioning it. What do you know about it?"

"I don't know a whole lot too much about this Scott. Just that they used to date."

"How long ago?"

"Um, well they broke up shortly after she came here to work."

"How long were they together?"

AJ thought for a few moments wondering why he was asking so much. He began to think; maybe it was because Kevin really was interested in Nicole. "Just over a year."

"So it's been about half a year since then?"

"Yeah, I'd suppose. Why are you asking all these questions?"

"Just curious."

"Why are you suddenly so curious about Nicole and her past relationships?"

"What does that mean?"

"Well, you two have spent a whole lotta time together lately. What's your interest?"

Kevin answered with a slight force in his comment; "I'm with Kristin."

"Kev, I didn't ask if you were with Kristin. I'm asking if you want to be with someone other than Kristin?"

"Now what is that supposed to mean?" Kevin was getting more upset as the conversation continued.

"Why are you still with Kristin?" AJ's voice was beginning to be fierce. "Is it that comfortable with her that you can't admit any feelings for Nicole? I don’t see how that girl that is glued to your side all day long, making us all cringe, can be any better than Nicole. I mean that girl is pure bitch and Nicole is a sweetheart. I don't see how making a decision is so hard."

Kevin's first reaction was taking a swing. AJ flinched, but the fist still met his upper cheek. As he bent over in pain Nicole came rushing over. "Oh my God!" She leaned over AJ to see if his face was ok. She looked back at Kevin, "What the hell is with you?!" Her voice was loud and seemed to echo over the silent crowd of the lobby. People were staring at the three. Kevin felt regret for punching AJ and turned, without a word, leaving the room.

AJ stood up, holding a hand to his face. "I'm ok."

She swiped at the red mark on his upper cheek as he winced from slight pain. "No, you're not."

"Yeah, it's fine. This is good."

Nicole was shocked that AJ saw this altercation as good. "Oh, and how is that good?"

"I'll tell ya later. Let's walk." The two left the lobby and ventured outside as Nicole helped AJ into his jacket. "Nicole. I got hit in the face, not the arm. I think I can put on my own jacket."

"Fine, fine. Just trying to help your wounded ass." She smacked his arm, and he asked what was for. "Well, you got hit in the face, not the arm. Anyway, we gonna talk or what here?" They began to walk down the street.

"You aren't going to swing at me, too, are you?"

She laughed, "Just don't say anything stupid."

He laughed back with her. "So, whatcha wanna talk about?"

She sighed, "Scott."

He chuckled under his breath thinking about Kevin wanting to talk about Scott. "The love of your life?" He was just poking fun from when Maggie said Nicole never admits to it.

She sighed again, breathing in the crisp, dry air deeply. She spoke after a few moments of silence, "Yes."

He whipped his head to face her, "WHAT?!" You're admitting this?"

Her voice remained soft, "Yeah, I guess I am."

"Wow, Nicole." She asked what, and he responded, "Nothing. I'm just surprised you're sharing something non-Kevin with me."

"Well, there's more here. And, it's not entirely non-Kevin."

"What's up?" He could tell she was bothered.

"Well, Scott called last night."

"Yeah, I know. What happened on the phone?" She asked how he knew; "Um, Maggie told me."

"Oh, ok. Well, anyway. We went downstairs to have dinner and we talked, a lot. He told me he wanted to spend more time in the states. More time, meaning more time with me."

"Oh," AJ was somewhat surprised. "So, what are you going to do?"

"I don't know. That's the thing. I really miss him, and I miss the relationship."

He watched her face as if he was really counting on the answer. "But?"

"But," she paused. "The whole time we were eating, I was thinking about Kevin. When I was back upstairs and Kevin was in the room, he just kept asking what was wrong. I couldn't tell him."

"Why were you upset?"

"First of all, he’s being extremely serious. Talking about wanting to settle down when he knows that scares me. I’m only 22 for God’s sake. And on the other side, I've been dying to see him again. He calls me asking me to dinner, expresses these feelings for me, and all I can think about is, 'What is Kevin doing now?' I guess it would be different if he weren't with Kristin. Sometimes I feel like he has feelings for me, but if he did, why would he still be with her? Or why doesn't he express those feelings to me?"

"Well," he stopped for a moment. "That's the funny thing." She asked what he meant. He spent a few moments anticipating his answer.

She realized he was thinking out his answer. She knew he knew something. "What do you know?"

"Well, let's just say I don't think his feelings here are purely platonic."

With a slight hope in her eyes, "How do you know?"

"Well-"

She cut him off, "J! Stop with the wells! Just spill it!"

"Let's just say Kevin didn't punch me because I was talking about his mother." She asked him what happened. "I simply asked if he was so comfortable with Kristin that he couldn't admit to other feelings and how he thought someone like her was better than you. He then swung at me. I didn't even see it coming."

"So what am I supposed to do now?"

"I'd say, you should go talk to him. But he may hit you, too."

She responded with a strained and tire voice, "J."

"Kidding, kidding. Seriously, talk to him."

"What if he doesn't want to discuss this? If he's this content on Kristin? And how do I bring it up?"

"I don't know. What are you going to do about Scott?" AJ was trying to remind Nicole that she had to deal with someone other than Kevin with all of this.

"I don't know. He was downstairs when I was having dessert with my parents. They love him. I think my mom was excited in seeing him." Halfway through the conversation, they were making their way back towards the hotel.

With his comment, they were in front of the Hyatt; "You need to explain your deal about Scott with Kevin. He's wondering about it himself. He asked me who Scott was. Just go talk to him as if you were confiding in him about your problem of considering a long-distance relationship."

"But it's not a long-distance thing. He wants me to quit and live here to have more time with him. That's my problem. I don't want to leave this job, but I want him, but I want Kevin."

"Either way, confide in him. He'll appreciate that and watch his reactions to any comments you have about it. And then you’ve got to tell me what’s really going on inside your head," he smiled crookedly, tapping his hand to her head.

She nodded. "Thanks J." She kissed him on the cheek and ran off into the hotel.

He called after her when she was already at the elevators, "Hey, Nic!" She turned to him with anticipation on her face. "Just don't forget to tell Maggie about all this tomorrow morning." She smiled and entered the elevator when it opened.