Chapter 49

"Stacey! Have you seen my blue sweater?" I yelled from my room.

Kevin and I were packing the rest of my clothes.

"I swear that girl. She borrows my clothes and then they become hers," I said.

"Yes, you called," Stacey said as she came into my room.

"Yeah. Have you seen my blue sweater?" I asked.

"I don't remember seeing it recently, but I'll go check my closet," Stacey said.

"Thanks," I said.

I continued to fold my clothes and put them away. Everything in my room was in boxes. All Kevin and I had to do was put them in the truck and we were set.

"So how was your day yesterday with Rick? I never got to ask you," Kevin said.

"It was good. I got to talk to him finally," I said.

"That's good," Kevin said.

"Kevin, you know that Rick and I are just friends, right? You don't have a problem with me and Rick being friends?" I asked.

"No, not all. I know who my baby loves," he said.

I smiled and then he gave me a kiss.

"I love my Boo, I said.

"See, I knew it," he said.

Then Stacey walked in with a pile of my clothes. She threw them on the ground next to me.

"Here you go. These are all your clothes," she said.

I looked through the pile of clothes. I had forgotten that I had even bought some of it.

"I don't remember this shirt," I said as I held up a baby tee.

"Yeah, it's yours. I borrowed it before you could even wear it," she said.

"Oh," I said. "Do you have anything else of mine?"

"No. I think that's it," she said.

"Okay thanks," I said as she walked out.

Then Kevin and I continued to pack.

"Did you tell Rick that you're moving? Or are you going to tell him that tonight?" Kevin asked.

"No, I told him yesterday," I said.

"What did he say?" Kevin asked.

"He was just a little surprised that I was moving in with you so soon. That's all," I said.

"What about your job?" he asked.

"He offered to give me a job or talk to some of his friends, but I told him no thanks. I just want to find a job on my own," I said.

"That was nice of him," Kevin said.

"Yeah, he's a sweetheart. But at first he had a problem with me and you," I said.

"Why?" Kevin asked.

"He told me what his true feelings were for me. He kept telling me that he loved me," I said.

"What? Was he trying to get you to leave me?" Kevin asked.

"He wanted to give us another chance. I told him no because I didn't love him like that. I told him that all we would ever be was good friends and that our time had passed," I said.

"What was his reaction?" Kevin asked.

"He didn't like it, but I told him that I loved you, and only you. I made him understand that we are truly in love with one another," I said.

"So are we going to have a problem tonight?" he asked.

"No, everything's fine now," I said. "He should be his normal self."

"Okay good. I don't want us to be uncomfortable while we're there," he said.

"We won't. We'll have a good time," I said.

Once Kevin and I had finished packing we went shopping. He wanted to buy something special for his mom. I also decided to buy something for my mom.

He walked into every store looking for the perfect gift. He also caused quite a disturbance as he entered the stores so we quickly went through the stores. Finally he had found a beautiful frame. He was going to blow up the picture of the family at Thanksgiving.

"What do you think?" he asked.

"It's beautiful," I said.

"Do you think Mom will like it?" he asked.

"She'll love whatever you give her," I said.

"Okay," he said. He grabbed it and went to pay for it.

"Do you know what you're getting your mom?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said. "We have to go to one of those huge Christmas stores."

"Let's go," he said as he grabbed the bag and my hand.

We walked into the Christmas store and gazed at everything. "Excuse me. Where are the angels?" I asked a store clerk.

"Go down the fourth aisle and they should be there towards the back," she said.

"Thanks," I said.

Kevin and I walked down the aisles until we got to the angels.

"There," I said as I saw a porcelain figure of an angel.

I picked it up and looked at it. The angel had a glow around her. She almost looked real.

"Okay, let's go pay for this," I said.

"Are you sure this is what you want? You don't want to look around some more?" Kevin questioned.

"No. This is it," I said as I walked up to the cash register. "A guardian angel to watch over my mom."

"Okay," Kevin said as he kissed my forehead.

We walked back to the car and drove home. We put our gifts in my room and then left again.

"Where you guys going?" Lauren asked.

"Rick's. He invited us over for dinner," I said as I got into the car.

Lauren walked over to the window.

"Howie, Stacey, A.J., and I'll be out clubbing. So don't except us home any time soon," she said.

"Okay," I said. "Have fun!"

"You too!" she said as Kevin backed out.

We pulled up to Rick's driveway and got out. I took Kevin's hand and we walked up to the door. Then Kevin rang the doorbell.

Rick quickly opened the door. "Hi Janel," he said as he hugged me.

"Hi Rick," I said.

"Kevin," he said as he shook his hand. "Good to see you again."

"You too," Kevin said as he walked in.

"Please, come in. Have a seat," he said as he led us to the front room Kevin and I sat across from him on his couch. "Dinner will be ready in about 10 minutes."

"It smells wonderful in here," I said.

"Thanks," he said.

Kevin looked around at his house noticing his collection of rare sports mementos.

"I see you've noticed my collection," Rick said.

"Yeah," Kevin said as he got up. "Do you mind if I take a closer look?"

"No, go ahead," Rick said as he walked over to Kevin.

The two of them walked around looking at everything, while Rick gave Kevin facts on each one of them. I smiled at how much they were enjoying talking about sports. I loved sports also, but I didn't need to know every little detail.

Then the timer in Rick's kitchen went off. He didn't hear it, so I got up. I walked over to the oven and pulled out the lasagna. Rick had plates already set out so I served the lasagna. Then I placed them on the table. I walked back out to the front room, where the guys were arguing over the score of a championship game.

"Excuse me boys. Dinner is ready," I said as I walked up to them.

"Oh my god! Did it burn?" Rick asked worriedly.

"No, I took it out. Everything is ready," I said. "You two were over here chatting away about god knows what, when the timer went off."

"Thanks," Rick said. "Let's go eat."

We walked into the dining room and sat down. Rick got the drinks and then we began to eat.

The guys continued to talk about sports. Then Kevin started to talk about Rick's car he had parked out front. It was a BMW and Kevin had fallen in love with it. I just sat there listening to their conversation. I chuckled at how excited they got when they talked about cars.

After we finished dinner Rick got dessert out. He had an ice cream cake.

"Wow, Rick. You really went all out," I said.

"Well, actually a friend of mine made the cake. But I made the lasagna," he said.

"I knew it," I said.

"Hey, at least I made the lasagna," he said.

"Yeah. That's a lot of work," Kevin said. "And by the way it was delicious."

"Thanks Kevin," Rick said.

"Yes Rick, it was very good," I said.

"I'm glad you guys enjoyed it," he said. "But now you have to taste this."

He served us each a plate.

"Rick, first I want to give you something," I said. "It's out in the car. I'll be right back."

I quickly walked out to the car and grabbed Rick's present. Then I sat down next to Kevin.

"Here you go," I said as I handed him the box.

"Oh Janel. I don't have anything for you," he said.

"No, it's okay. Just open it," I said.

"No, but I feel bad," he said.

"Rick you've already done enough for me. Now open it," I said.

"All right if you insist," he said as she slowly opened it.

"No, man. You got to rip into it," Kevin said.

"Oh," Rick said. Then he began to wildly rip the wrapping paper off. He took the lid off the box and smiled. "Wow! This is great Janel!" he said happily.

"Are you sure? I didn't know what else to get you," I said.

"No. This is perfect. I can add it to my collection," he said as he admired his baseball card. Then he gave me a hug. "Thank you," he said.

"No Rick, thank you. You don't know how much you mean to me," I said.

"To both of us," Kevin said. "I just want to thank you for helping to bring Janel back to me again."

"You're welcome," he said. "I'd do anything for her."

I smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

"I'm going to put this on the shelf above my t.v.," Rick said.

"Good," I said.

Then we ate our dessert. It was one of the best desserts I had had in a long time. Once Kevin and I were finished we decided it was time to leave.

"Well Rick, I've had a wonderful time, but I think it's time for Kevin and I to leave," I said.

"Oh okay," he said. "Let me walk you out."

"Thanks for dinner. It was delicious," Kevin said as we got up.

"My pleasure," Rick said.

"Do you think it'll be okay if I stop by the office tomorrow and pick up my things?" I asked.

"Yeah, that'll be fine," he said. "It's been fun you guys."

"Yeah, thanks for having us over," Kevin said.

"Sure, no problem," he said. "But Kevin can you do me a favor?"

"What?" he asked.

"Take care of this special woman," Rick said.

"Always," Kevin said.

"Hey, and if this guy gives you any trouble you let me know," Rick said.

"I don't think that'll be a problem," I said while smiling at Kevin.

"Bye," Kevin said as he shook Rick's hand. Then he got in the driver's side of the car.

"Bye Rick," I said as I kissed his cheek. "Thanks again."

"Any time," he said as he closed my door as I got into the car.

We waved good bye and then drove off.