Abscence Makes the Heart

Staring out of her window, Alice found herself imaging the thoughts and conversations of the passerby's beneath her window sill. Marching in directions that intertwined and varied in demeanor and composure, the world below her was a mixture of chaos and order unified by the purpose of direction. Every person seemed determined, focused, driven towards a destination and purpose that necessitated their presence. 

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A New Beginning

She should have been beautiful.

She was a petite brunette of twenty-three of 5'2". Her shoulder length, auburn hair framed a delicate elfin face with green eyes, a button nose and a pair of soft, ruby-red lips. Her figure was slim, yet had all the curves in the right places covered by a short sleeved T-shirt and a knee length denim skirt.

She should have been beautiful.

Her left eye was swollen closed and was surrounded by an angry purple bruise. Her forearms had several small circular scars, about the size and shape of a cigarette end and a slight lump on her right side showed the result of a badly healed broken rib. She walked with a stoop and kept her eyes on the ground as she moved. Her face wore a haunted expression and never smiled. That smile that had, in the past, brightened an entire room.

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The Fall

A short story about being stood up at the altar told from the man's point-of-view.

Seeing the hotel marquis welcoming Mr. & Mrs. Gregory T. Johnson gave me a reason to keep finding analogies. As empty as the first class seat next to me on the plane. As empty as the limo ride from the airport. Did "as empty as the heart-shaped hot tub" work as an analogy? I suck at coming up with a simile, metaphor, or analogy. I popped the top of the champagne bottle and began turning it into my next analogy. Before this evening was over, I would be able to say my love life felt as empty as this bottle of champagne.

"To my best man," I said, making my first toast of the night. Bubbly wasn't meant to be chugged. I released a long burp before pouring a second glass. "To HER best man!" I said, amending the toast and knocking back half the glass before the first tear started. Catching that tear in my tapered glass of sparkling wine made me laugh. "Crying into your champagne? How's that for a first world problem?" I should write that down. It would make a great gag for The Wilson Show, Tonight!

I couldn't blame her. Hell, why not? Michael Wilson's star was on the rise. He was gorgeous in that slick, dipped in plastic, Hollywood kind of way. He was funny, too. At least when he was reading the lines people like me wrote for him. We owed everything we had to his show. It was where we met. Where we fell in love. Hell, it was where I proposed. 

You probably saw it. We did it as a Youtube gag and Michael featured it on his show as "The World's Worst Proposal." It was a great bit, shot in the park near the studio. Personally, I loved watching her ring falling through that storm drain. Bill did a wonderful job filming that so it looked spontaneous and accidental. Of course, the funny part was the effort I put into fishing it back out. Such a simple gag made so much more endearing because of its context.

Beth's star began rising while it was still on Youtube. Everyone wanted to know who was the cute girl with the dimples. She had offers stacking up, offers she couldn't take until we aired the one-two punch of the reveal. Here's the behind-the-scenes story you didn't know: remember when I proposed to her on-air? Yes, it was a real proposal. No, it wasn't a surprise for her. Neither was fumbling the ring and having it fall beneath Michael's desk. Of course, Beth chasing after the ring was made all the funnier after establishing that Michael was doing the show without pants. 

You want more behind-the-scenes dirt? Michael really wasn't wearing pants that night. He was supposed to wear a merkin. (A merkin is a modesty covering actors often wear during nude scenes to maintain their privacy while still appearing nude. Think of it as a pubic wig.) His merkin fell off while he was undressing and the eyeful Beth received when she crawled beneath the desk was all Michael.

I don't know if Michael did it purposely. Of course, that was the rumor among the staff, a rumor that took on new significance after, well, after I was left standing at the altar. There really isn't an easy way to put that, is there? Michael was supposed to walk Beth down the aisle, not out the door of the church and into the limo waiting for Beth and I. Fucking prick. 

So yeah, I went on the honeymoon by myself. Why not? Michael had prepaid for the cliche Niagara Falls honeymoon suite. He made sure it included all the honeymoon suite cliches with a heart-shaped hot tub and a round bed. I was drinking champagne bought and paid for by the man who had stolen my bride. The least I could do was run up as big of a room service tab as possible. This trip was as close to a severance package as I would get before I quit or got fired.

I broke both champagne glasses in the fireplace. Wasn't that what you were supposed to do after making a toast? You threw the glass in a fireplace to seal the deal, right? I purposely overfilled the hot tub with bubbles. And yes, I jerked off on the red negligee laying on the bed while giggling like a drunken madman. By the time morning arrived, the room looked like the set of "The Hangover" without the tiger in the bathroom.

A gentle rapping on the door was followed by a tiny voice, "Housekeeping." I was sprawled naked on the big round bed with an empty champagne bottle. I made the mistake of opening my eyes to a ray of sun. The vampires were right, sunlight does kill. 

"Hold on," I groaned, rolling from the sunbeam and off the bed. Staggering into the bathroom, I pulled on one of the two robes hanging there. It read "Hers" across the breast. I didn't care. I stumbled to the front door, pulling it open to a very petite, blonde haired girl wearing a shy smile. She wore a maid uniform. She stood slightly behind her cart of supplies.

"I'm so sorry," she said, blinking as if she might recognize me from her TV. "I would come back except you're my last room for today."

"Bring it on in," I said, stepping back from the door. "Hell, I'll help." I started by picking up the soiled, red negligee and tossing it into a trash can. 

"You're that TV guy, aren't you?" she asked, keeping the door propped open with her cart. "The funny one."

"In the flesh," I said, giving her a grand flourish with my arms before realizing how my gesture made the short robe carry up past the level of being discrete. She had known me less than sixty seconds and had already seen more of me than most women do on a first date. "Sorry," I said, lowering my arms and realizing pants would be a good idea. 

"It's okay," she said, ignoring the flash I had inadvertently provided while heading to the bed. She pulled off the sheets, dragging the empty champagne bottle within reach and throwing it away.

"Sorry about the mess," I mumbled, picking up apples, pears, and oranges from the fruit basket. I had taken a single bite out of each and tossed them across the room. It took me a moment before realizing I was flashing her each time I bent for another piece of fruit. 

"It's not too bad," she giggled, averting her eyes while still stealing glances. I guess she assumed I was flashing her as a joke. "This room can get pretty scary at times." She replaced the sheets and pillowcases with the practiced ease of a professional. I marveled at how quick and precise her tiny motions returned order to chaos. 

She visited the bathroom and I was glad I had flushed after every use. The only towel used had been a hand towel. The only toiletry had been the bottle of hand lotion. Returning to her cart, she picked up two bottles of lotion. "Will two be enough?" she asked with sly smile that told me she understood why that was the only toiletry she was replacing.

"Better make it three, I'm flying solo," I joked without a smile.

"For whatever it's worth, I think Beth is a bitch," she offered, leaving a third bottle of lotion. 

"It was all joke," I lied. "Including her leaving me at the altar."

She smiled before shaking her head with a sad look in her eyes. "I can tell it wasn't." She pulled a new bottle of champagne from her cart. From an onboard ice chest, she refilled the bucket for it before plunging it inside. 

"How?" I asked, intrigued by her insightfulness. I sank into a chair in the sitting area, forgetting all I wore was a robe. 

"You can tell a lot of about the guests by how they leave their rooms."

"And when they don't leave their rooms?" I asked, reasonably sure we were breaking some kind of hotel policy.

"They're either hiding something, don't trust housekeepers, or . . ." she shrugged. I prompted her to go on. "Sometimes they're just lonely or hoping to get lucky."

"Which am I?"

"From the way you're sitting?" she asked, with that same little smile. I quickly crossed my legs, embarrassed. "It's okay, I know you don't mean it. You're just lonely. I'm sorry Beth did that to you."

"Maybe I meant it," I said, realizing I looked like a hot mess, in need of a shave and a shower. 

"Then do it again," she dared, strategically positioned between her cart and the door. 

"You mean this?" I said, hanging an ankle over one knee while stretching out my arms on the back of the chair. I tried to look as casual as possible. 

A faint blush rose to her cheeks as she giggled. "Okay, you win. You're lonely and horny and my work is done here." Before leaving, she left two mints on my pillows. She dragged her cart outside the room and closed the door behind her.

Like a shot, I darted to the door and threw it open. "Tell me you'll have dinner with me tonight."

"You'll have dinner with me tonight," she repeated, perfectly rendering the joke.

"Say, in my room?" I pressed.

"In my room?" she repeated, still going for the joke.

"Mine's probably nicer. How does seven o'clock sound?"

"Bong, bong, bong . . ." she said seven times while pushing her cart down the hallway. That's when a funny thing happened to me. I realized I was smiling.

I'm a comedy writer and bit performer on "The Wilson Show, Tonight!" I show up when they need an Average Joe to play the buffoon. I fit the bill too perfectly with my average build and usually unkempt cheeks and hair. Assuming she was a fan was the only way I could explain how things had gone late this morning. Still, I spent the day doing my best to look good for her. I pre-ordered room service and kept the champagne on ice.

She knocked softly on my door a few minutes before seven. Could she guess how much of a relief it was when she arrived early? "Housekeeping," she called. I swung open the door with a big grin and invited Lindsey inside. She wore jeans and a nice top that accentuated the gentle curves of her petite body. Makeup was kept light and simple, more a suggestion of color than painted on with a trowel. Her straight blonde hair hung straight and flat while moving like a curtain. I liked her bangs. "I'm not really supposed to visit guest rooms when I'm not clocked in."

"Then go punch in," I suggested. 

That earned me a tiny smile. "I'm glad you see you dressed."

"Don't worry, I used my own towels so you won't have to work so hard tomorrow."

She tilted her head, trying to work out if I was serious or kidding. "That would make a good bit."

"I was just thinking that!" I said, darting for a piece of paper and scribbling down the kernel of comedy about a guy who uses his own towels and packs his own toilet paper. "Would people get it if the towels were the same as hotel towels?"

"Maybe," she said, sitting on the couch and watching as I scribbled at the desk. "Especially if it was a full set: big towel, hand towel, and then a wash cloth folded into a fan."

"He should bring his own toiletries, too, shouldn't he?" I suggested, capturing as much of the idea as I could. Good ideas are too precious to waste. 

"Including a really oversized bottle of hand lotion," Lindsey quipped. "Like jumbo sized, but everything else should be hotel room sized. A tiny shampoo, tiny conditioner . . ."

"And the giant sized bottle of lotion!" I said, instantly picking up on the humor. "Genius!"

"He should start by throwing away all of the hotel supplies, including the towels. That would make every housekeeper in the audience groan because we hate when people throw away towels." 

"Why?"

"Because we have to fish them out of the trash and give them to laundry services."

"Ew, really?" I asked, suddenly wishing I had brought my own towels.

Lindsey laughed. "No. If it's in the trash, we don't touch it. That's gross as hell and I don't want to know what made a towel so nasty you felt like throwing it away."

More importantly, though, she had gotten me. That wasn't easy to do. I laughed and opened the door for room service. With Michael paying, I went all out. I ordered full dinner service that included setting up a table with two chairs and a waiter who stood discretely to the side. Not knowing what she might want, I ordered one of everything. 

"So wasteful," she giggled, enjoying the trays of choices.

"So was what I did to that negligee last night," I quipped.

"Please tell me you didn't try it one first."

"Did you want to see the pictures?"

Lindsey laughed, instantly recognizing my throwaway line as the joke it was. Biting back her laughter, she gave me a serious look, "Actually, I really would." She was able to hold the serious look long enough to make me flinch before we both laughed.

We laughed. So much magic in such a tiny sentence. Two words. Nine letters. Noun followed by verb. Nothing else needed. We laughed. Before the champagne. Hell, before dessert. We laughed and I healed as joy poured back into my oh-so-recently discarded heart. The champagne began with the orgasmic popping of the cork and two friends shared that bubbling broth. Midway through the bottle, we laughed and I wept with happy tears.

"Watch this," I howled as I felt a tear rolling down my face. "I wrote this joke last night: The ultimate first world problem." I caught it in my glass. I held the glass in front of my face, staring at the bubbles, unable to see the tear. My smile faded. "It was funnier last night."

"No, it wasn't," Lindsey said, taking the glass from me. She placed it top of the fireplace, either out of reach or on display, I wasn't sure which. Coming back to our private table, she passed her glass to me. "Drink from mine, but please, only sip from here." She pointed to the faint impression her lipstick had made on the glass. As I reached for the glass, she pulled it back. "I'm serious. Promise me you shall only drink from here." She again indicated that slight stain. 

"I promise," I said. She moved to give me the glass once more before pulling it back. Was this a game? I couldn't be sure as she topped off the glass with more champagne. A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I anticipated her pulling the glass away once more. Instead, she didn't offer it. Instead, she gave me a solemn look.

"Would you like to know why you must drink from only here, where my lips have been?" she asked and I felt it building. There would be a sage-like bit of advice. A moment of sincerity like dessert to the meal of our mirth. I nodded, waiting for it. "Because otherwise it's messy," she said, planting her lips on the far side of the glass, tipping it and pouring champagne down her front. 

I should have seen it coming. It was an old joke well played and ended with laughter. I pointed to the stain on her pretty blouse, "Keep your glass, it looks as if someone has a drinking problem!" I picked up the bottle, tossed it back, when she tapped the bottom of it, pouring more champagne into my mouth than I was ready to handle. And again, we laughed. 

It had taken three food carts to bring one of each entree to my room. We had long since dismissed our waiter, but he left behind the cart filled with desserts. We attacked that cart, filling our dining table with every sweet delicacy offered by the kitchen. Lindsey started it. She built a sundae from slightly melted ice cream, whipped cream, and a cherry on top. When I wasn't looking, she flinged a dollop of whipped cream at me. "Oops," she giggled. I immediately returned fire with a bit of meringue from a cream pie. That earned a splattering of pudding on my cheek but before I creamed her with a handful of Jello, I hesitated.

"Wait, you work here," I said, concerned about destroying the room.

"I'm off tomorrow," she giggled and expertly tipped my handful of Jello into my face before a food fight broke out that would make all three of the stooges proud. Somewhere in the middle of that food fight, there was a kiss, followed by a second and a third. And soon dessert topping became body paint and tongues became eager paint brushes. "You know, I saw everything this afternoon when I was cleaning your room."

"And you still came back," I said, kissing her messy face.

"Like I said, you know I saw everything," she said as her hand slipped between my legs. "We should shower first." She led me towards the shower by "my everything." 

"Was this why you came back for dinner?" I asked, ever hopeful that my manhood could inspire such sluttish behavior.

"Partly," she said, stepping into the big, glass shower and pulling me along. "Mostly because I'm a sucker for a sob story."

"Interesting choice of words," I grinned as the smeared food left her face and her natural beauty re-emerged. 

"And, because you're famous," she added, throwing me into a tailspin as I realized she was a groupie. 

"Really?"

"Plu-eeze," she chortled. "Have you ever seen that show?"

"Right answer," I laughed before she slipped down my body and demonstrated just how much of a sucker she could be. I pulled her to her feet before I reached the punchline. Fluffy towels waited for us before we began rolling around on a circular bed. Every bit of her tasted divine, from the cherry-like red of her stiff nipples to the sweetness between her legs. Laughter was replaced with appreciative sighs and soft moans as body parts merged with the same amount of joy.

We did all the things that should happen in a bed designed for honeymoons. We took turns on top with our kisses and our bodies. We gave each other a reason to need a second shower in the morning. And when that sunbeam found our naked bodies entwined, I knew the vampire curse had been lifted. 

After another shower, I wanted to tidy up the room before we left. "I know the maid and she's a bitch," Lindsey insisted with a rakish grin that suggested a score to settle. We ordered clothes brought up to her from the hotel gift shop and shopped wearing matching robes. Too bad they didn't sell underwear at the gift shop since we had a date on the Maid of Mist and heard it can wet on that boat. 

Before leaving the room, Lindsey carefully poured the champagne from my glass back into the bottle. She put the cork in it and carried it with her. That tear would have the chance for last fall.

This is the first time I've tried the Romance. As I studied the category list for where to place this little story, Romance felt most right. I'm hoping that was a good choice and my story didn't disappoint too much. Comments are always appreciated and thank you for reading!

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Matters of the Heart

Kaitlyn huffed a sigh as she sat at the bar of an airport lounge bar drinking a brandy as her green eyes watch the news. Her two-tone color hair was pull back into a sporty ponytail (Top tone is blonde and bottom tone is dark brown.) She notice out of the corner of her eye that there was a guy eyeing her up and down. 'Oh great here comes another guy trying to hit on me,' she thought to herself taking another slip.

Finally when the guy gets up the courage to go over. "Hi I couldn't help but notice you look a lot like my next girlfriend."

'Wow that was awful' Kaitlyn thought to herself then said, "Listen, I understand the courage it takes to walk across a room and try to generate a relationship out of thin air. So don't take this personally-"

"-You have fantastic eyes."

"Thanks try to listen. This is no reflection on you. I'm just not interested. But thank you for the compliment of coming over."

"You welcome. So do you like Cuban food?"

"Really, that was not code for, 'please try harder.'"

"Are you always so shut-down and afraid that the right man might make you--"

"Feel like a natural woman?" a second male voice said as a hand fell on the guy's shoulder. They both turn to see a well muscle built guy standing at near six foot tall , wearing a Navy camo uniform and a green duffle bag in his other hand, He walk over next to Kaitlyn and tapped a SOS in Morse code on her shoulder, "Sorry I'm late, honey, traffic was terrible. Who's your friend?"

"I don't know he hasn't said his name yet." She said not missing beat.

"I have to go," he said then walk off.

"Thanks for that," she said with a smile after the guy had left.

"You're welcome," he smiled back, he had blue-violet color eyes that were full of life and his dirty blonde hair was cut short "I could tell that you just wanted to be alone. So see you lat--"

"Wait," She grab his arm, "since you're already here, would you mind keeping me company for a while." 'What am I saying, I mean I don't even know this guy' she thinks to herself.

"Okay sure," he says as he drop his duffle bag down by the bar stool "The name's Thorson by the way Nick Thorson." he extended his hand to her which she shook.

"Hi Nick, nice to meet you, I'm Kaitlyn. So you are in the Navy?"

"No, I just brought this off ebay for 13 bucks," he pauses to take slip of his drink. "Just kidding, yep I'm a Navy Medical Officer."

She laugh, "Good one, so does that mean you a doctor or something."

"Yeah," He says smiles.

They talk about everything and anything. Their hearts start to stir with feelings they have not felt since they kids and still believe in the magic of true love. Then after what seemed like hours, Nick heard his name being call over the PA system. "Well, that's me, so I better get going."

"Wait, isn't this where the guy is suppose to ask the girl for her number?" She asks as she reach into her bag to get a pen.

"Nope."

"What? Why...wait please tell me that you're not gay because that would just ruin this month if you are gay."

"Not to worry I'm not gay. I just saying if we are meant to be together then fate will make it so that we meet again. Our two hearts are not ready yet, you have to come to terms with whatever you're running from, and I have my own things that I have to work out." Nick says as he takes her hand in his and kisses the back of her hand, and then continues, "Until we meet again my lady,"

As he turns to leave she holds on to his hand pull him back to her as she brings her lips to his. She caught him off guard but he soon recovers kissing her back. Soon as their lips touch both began to see fireworks and all the things people say they see when they kiss "the one" for the first time, moving their lips in perfect harmony. Her hands grab holds of the front of his uniform as his right hand place at her waist and his left hand caresses her neck and cheek. They finally broke the kiss when the need for air became too great. They both panted as they stood there looking into each others eyes, "Wow," They said together.

Kaitlyn was the first to recover, "I sure hope you are right about this fate thing."

"Yeah I hope so too. Since we both like each other a lot, how about this idea. We meet back there in two years, and if neither of us are with anyone then we will pursue this further."

"So you gonna stick to this fate business huh?"

"Yeah I guess."

"Okay then, make it one year."

"Okay one year."

She leans in and whisper into his ear, "But know this, the next I see you, I will jump your bones," her lust hanging on each word and so was Nick.

'Oh dear gods, I'm totally falling for this girl' he thinks to himself as he says his goodbyes by he kissing her again. It was hard for him to break this kiss.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Two months later in Kaitlyn's hometown of Valleymount, which is an upper class community. Kaitlyn was sitting in her new studio loft apartment, wearing her pajamas, flipping through the tv channels. Her cellphone starts to ring, she see it her friend Trish from school. "Hey Trish."

"What is this I hear about you being in town for weeks and why haven't you came by to see me?"

"Sorry I've been getting settled into my new apartment."

"Well, you can make it up to me. Nat is in town and her, Barbie, and I are about to go to brunch. You are coming too."

"Okay see ya in a few," she hung up and went to her closet find something to wear. She picks a gray t-shirt, and denim jacket. A pair of dark-wash blue jeans and white tennis shoes.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Nick walks out of the Valleymount bus station, in his navy camo uniform, and looking for his old friend John Centos who was waiting by his car, a blue 2012 Camaro ZL 1 with sliver racing stripes. John and Nick had grown up and attended school together until John's family moved to Valleymount just before the start of their Seventh grade year. John soon shrugged off his smart kid appearance and took on the mantle of the Jock. John yell out Nick's name and waved.

Nick smile as he walked over to John and embrace him in a hug. "What's up buddy? You no longer look the little nerd I met in kindergarden." Nick says as he pulls away.

"Easy with that info, I everyone in this town knows me as the muscle head jock, it would below their minds if they found that I'm smart too" John says in a joking manner.

"So what is this I hear about you getting married?" Nick said as he got into the car after putting his things into the back seat.

"Wait how did you know about that, I never put that any of my letters."

"Oh you know, your mom told my mom, my mom told me. Man what's wrong with you, not sending me an invite." Nick teased, "So where are we going."

"Brunch with some friends of mine from high school."

"Brunch? Really, are we british or something."

"No, a friend of mine is back in town after going through a bit of rough time. So some of my friends are all getting together in an attempt to make her feel better."

"So you are pimping me out, because I don't roll like that man,"

"Whatever man, just be nice to her"

"Okay I'll be on my best behavior. That reminds me I met the most amazing girl the other day."

"Really? Why is this the first time I am hearing about this?"

"Well, I guess we're even now." Nick smirks

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Kaitlyn walk into the restaurant quickly finds her friends sitting at a round table on the patio. Trish Strides, the hazel-eyed brunette former prom-queen, wore a green tank-top and a denim skirt, and a pair of brown ankle boots with 3 inch heels. On Trish's right sat Barbie Banks, the blue-eyed blonde is now a brunette magazine model, was wearing a plink halter dress that went to her mid thigh and matching sandal heels. Next her was Natalya Neidhert in her light gray skirt suit, the responsible one of their little group. The green-eyed businesswoman had her blonde hair up in a neat bun. They squeal with joy when they saw Kaitlyn walking over to them, all stood up and gave her hugs. They quietly went to girl talk mode as Kaitlyn sat down in the empty seat on Trish's left. "Kaitlyn how are you doing?" Trish first to ask as Barbie and Nat watch on.

"I'm good really. I met a guy recently."

"What! So that's the cause of this glow you got going on. Who is he?"

"His name is Nick Thorson. And..." She notices two more empty chairs. "Is any one else coming?" Kaitlyn ask.

"Yeah John and a friend of his that just got into town are coming." Trish looks over the door and sees John and a guy in a navy camo uniform, "And there they are now."

Kaitlyn turns to the guys but when she locks eyes with the friend, her breath catches. "Oh my god, its Nick." Kaitlyn got up and ran to Nick, flying hug tackling him, being caught off guard he fell back to the floor with her landing top of him, her giggling all the way down and saying, 'it's you' repeatedly. The two lovers were lost in their own little world that they had fallen into, they did not notice that their friends had gathered off to the side. "Nick what are you doing here?"

"What do you mean? Didn't I say fate will see us together again?" He says as he brushes a strand of her hair behind her ear. Kaitlyn smiling the biggest smile her friends had seen on her face.

They hear John clear his throat, they look up to see everyone looking at them "uhmm how do you two know each other?"

"We'd also like to know the same thing." Barbie asks as Nick and Kaitlyn got to their feet.

"Let's go sit down and we'll explain." Nick says as he intertwine his fingers with Kaitlyn's. Nick sat down with Kaitlyn on his right and Trish on the left. Barbie sat on the other side of Trish, and Natalya on the other side of Kaitlyn. John sat between Natalya and Barbie and across the table from Nick.

"Okay what just happen back there Kaitlyn." Natalya asks.

"First I think should intro myself, I'm Nick Thorson. I was Medical Officer in the Navy. I was discharged last week, which is why I'm in Valleymount. There this open position at the St. Morrison Medical Center. I have an interview tomorrow. I have known John since the first day of kindergarden. How Kaitlyn and I know each other is..." Nick look to Kaitlyn, "Do you want to tell them or should I?"

Kaitlyn smiles, "No I wanna tell them. Well, I was at the airport waiting for my flight in a lounge bar. When this guy come up to me and starts hitting on me. I try to tell him I was not interested but he was not hearing it. So then out of nowhere Nick here comes finishes one of the guy's lines and pretends to be my boyfriend, scarring the guy away. He tells me that he could tell that I just wanted to be left alone. Then I tell him since he was already there I then asks him if he would mind keeping me company. So we sat there just talking for like fours hours. Then he had to go, he does that kissing the hand thing, I was so turned on, that I pulled him back to me gave him a big kiss on the lips." Wolf whistles come over the group as Nick tries to hide his blush, from Kaitlyn's open telling, with his hand.

''Still the gentleman as ever huh Nick?" John laughs remember many stories their childhood.

"Why mess with something that works, It lead me to the goddess next to me here, did it not."

Kaitlyn smile brightly at the compliment and kisses him on the cheek. The group soon lapse into conversations about their daily lives. After an hour, everyone had finish eating. Nick checks his watch, "Well I have to be off, I a lot of things to do. I have to go get my ride and find a place to live." He says as he puts down his part of the bill and kisses Kaitlyn on the cheek.

Nick stood from the table and walk out of the restaurant, when John says, "I don't know where he's going, he came here with me." Kaitlyn thought for a moment then follow suit and ran after Nick. She caught up with him outside leaning against a lamp post.

"I was wondering if you caught my signal" Nick says smirking.

"So where are we going?"

"First to this storage garage that has all of my stuff and my ride."

Kaitlyn drove across town to an old car garage with an apartment on the second story. Nick found the hidden key and open the door. Kaitlyn came in behind Nick as he looked for the light switch. When the lights came on, the first thing Kaitlyn notices is a car with a car cover. "What's under the cover?"

"I see you have notice HER, I found her overseas almost dead, abandon on the side of a street, so track down her owner, and gave him an offer that he could not refuse. I found company to ship her state-side. John found a place to keep her 'til I got reassigned back state-side. I then spent the next two years rebuilding her, breathing life back into her. None of her parts are stock, most are handmade recreations, but all are just right for me."

"Does SHE have a name?"

"Jessica after my mom who, before you ask, she died when I was six."

"Oh I so sorry, What happen?...wait don't answer that, I shouldn't have asked."

"No, this okay," Nick held her hands in his after taking a breath, "she were killed by a drunk-driver driving home from a friend's party one night. The guy was three times over the legal limit."

Kaitlyn pull him into a sweet tender hug and whispers into his ear, "I would have loved to have met her. I'm sure she would have been proud of the man you have become."

"Yeah she would have loved to you too. So you want to see her?" Nick lightening the mood. He pulled the cover off the reveal a navy blue 67 Shelby GT500 with a yellow cartoon lightning bolt in front of the rear wheel well. The interior was a creamy white leather. "She drew those little lightning bolts on everything as our little inside joke. Kinda her way of saying 'I love you' without embarrassing me"

"She is a beautiful car" Kaitlyn commented as she ran her hand along the cool surface.

"Thanks, it took me six months to get her running with a new custom engine I build myself. Another year and a half to get her to how she looks now."

Nick found the key and got into the drivers seat turn the ignition and the monster motor roared to life. Nick sat back as the motor became to purr. He motioned Kaitlyn to sit the passenger seat. Nick check the gauges and pop the hood. With engine still running Nick lifts the hood and checks everything. After everything checks out, Nick slams the hood shut. "There is this nice studio apartment that's on the market that I want to go see, do you want to come with me?"

"Yeah sure I mean I have nothing else to do today."

"Great, we'll take my car." He opens the garage door and drives out onto the street.

After driving a couple miles Kaitlyn finally worked up the courage to ask, "Nick there is something I want to ask you."

"Cool what do you want to ask me."

"Uhmm You know Christmas is coming up. I was wondering what were you planning on doing for Christmas Dinner?"

"I don't have anything. My family has not done a traditional Christmas since before my mother died. My sisters and I do send each other gifts, but that's all."

"Well, my family is having this big Christmas dinner party. And I was hoping if you would be my date."

"Wait your family has a dinner party for Christmas?"

"Yeah they have a dinner party for every major holiday Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Easter, 4th of July, and Halloween."

"What happen to the traditional Christmas dinner?"

Kaitlyn just shrug "So will you be my date?"

"I would love to be your date."

Nick pulls up to a newly build condominium. "I thought you said we were going to see a studio apartment, this is the new luxury condos they build two months ago."

"Yeah I know. See the top floor on that one," Nick pointed to the top of one of the buildings. "The whole top floor is one unit, that is the unit we're here to check out." After the showing, Nick decided to get the condo. Nick and Kaitlyn went to a local food joint, and got lunch, then decided to go for a walk. They walked quietly until Nick asks, "So are you ready to tell me what were running from back in New York?"

"Uhmm well you know I am or was a lawyer for this big firm back there." Nick nodded, "Well one day I get this bouquet of roses from a secret admirer. Few days later get a txt asking if I loved the roses. During the next month and a half, I slowly fell for this secret admirer. They knew a lot about me like my favorite tv shows because they seem like the same as me. Then one day our messages became public. I was so embarrass, I stopped going in to work. It got to the point they said either I came in and did my job or I was fired. So I quit and move back home."

"Oh man that just sucks, did you ever learn who was your secret admirer."

"No, but I think it was my former best friend, and I don't have any proof saying that she did it."

"What makes you think it was your best friend?"

"We both were up for this partner position in the firm but I got it and she stopped talking to me after that.

"Well there is something good that came that whole mess."

"Oh! And what is that again?"

"Well, think about if you had not gone through all of that, you would not have quit your job, and you would not have been at that airport lounge bar at the same day I was, and we would have not met when we did. So you see sometimes certain bad event sets us on a course that leads us to something better. Now I must track down this secret admirer and thanked him for being such a dick. Because if wasn't for him or whoever they are, I wouldn't have never met the most beautiful girl, the most wonderful love of my life."

Kaitlyn was overcome by a wave joy and excitement as she captured his lips with hers. She brings her hands to his neck pulls him closer as she was trying to pull him into her soul. They broke apart when they heard Nick's cell phone ringing. Nick sighed as he fished it out but froze when he saw the caller id, "That's weird."

"Who is it?" Kaitlyn asks

"It's my dad?"

"Why is that weird, don't you talk to each?"

"No not since I told him that I was join the navy and he cut me off." Nick steps away from Kaitlyn and answers the call, "Hello?...Yeah you heard right...No I don't want to talk about Jamie...Well I don't care what she said...Dad she has already had three chances...I don't care who her family is, and besides I have already found someone better than she'll ever be," Nick held the phone away from his ear as his father went into a screaming rant laughing at his father anger, "Okay dad you have somethings you need to work on, bye," Nick finishes as he ends the call. "So where were we?"

"You were about to drive me back to my car so we can go back to my place." Kaitlyn answered back causing Nick to smile

Nick and Kaitlyn went back to the storage garage where Kaitlyn's car then Nick fallow her back to her place. The two push open the door making out with each other and started removing their clothes. Kaitlyn broke the kiss to pull her shirt over her head, Nick did the same. Kaitlyn ran her hands along Nick's abs and chest. Kaitlyn lead him over to her couch, and she push him down before saddling his lap. With her hands at Nick's jaw line, she brought him back into a kiss, and grinding her pelvis into his. Nick reach around and unhooked her lace bra freeing her breast.

Little did they know, Kaitlyn's mother, Mary, was walking up the stairs to Kaitlyn's unit. Mary opens the door and sees her daughter shirtless and sitting in some guy's lap. "Kaitlyn Celeste Stellar! What is going on, who the hell is this!" she bursted out yelling.

"MOM!" Kaitlyn yelled as search for something to cover herself with quietly finding her shirt, after pulling it back over her head and down the curves of her hourglass figure. She flipped her hair and asks, "Mom, what are you doing here?!"

"Well, I came to check on you, but I guess you are okay. So I'll be going."

"Oh my god, I so embarrass." Kaitlyn says as she hid face into the couch, "My whole family will know about this."

"Well, I guess I should go introduce myself." Nick said with mischievous smile, and took after her mother. "Wait, Mrs. Stellar, wait up." Nick yelled down the stairs. Mary stops to hear what he had to say. "Wait please come back up and allow us explain, and allow me make better first impression than that." reluctantly Mary follow Nick back up to Kaitlyn's unit. Mary sat across from now fully clothed Nick and Kaitlyn.

"Okay I came back to hear what he wanted to explain, so start explaining."

"Yeah right, well first off, my name is Nick Thorson. and...."

"And he is my boyfriend. We have been seeing each other for two months now. He is a doctor, just got out of the Navy last week. And he was going to be a surprise for everyone next week at the Christmas dinner party. But I guess thats ruin." Kaitlyn starts to act like she was going start to cry. Turning into Nick embrace hiding the smile she got from the warm fuzzy feeling she had from calling him her boyfriend.

Nick caught on to what Kaitlyn was doing, "No that not true, I'm sure your mom can keep this to herself right Mrs. Stellar?" He said as he began stroking her hair.

But it worked her mother soon caved saying, "Okay I'll keep quiet about this, but I am telling everyone that you're bringing a guy over for Christmas, that should give your sisters enough to talk about even without that scene just now. Honestly I'm just glad you're with someone who make you smile like you are doing right now."

Kaitlyn came out of the act pretty quick as she runs around the coffee table to give her mother a big "thank you" hug. Nick got up to go get a glass of water, he asked if wanted anything they both said no. Mary then start asking all sorts of questions, Nick answer them all without any hesitation. After a half hour Mary had ran out of question and left the two alone again. Kaitlyn was standing next to Nick as her mom walked out the door, she says, "Race you to my bedroom" then took off running to her bedroom.

He chase after her saying, "That's not fair I don't know where your bedroom's at."

She smile at him. When she got to her bedroom, she hid behind the open door. He ran pass her to the edge of her bed. She came out push him down on to the bed and straddling his hips, lending down she capture his lips with her own. His hands push her shirt up and over head returning her half naked state. She follow suit tossing his shirt to the floor. Pretty soon they were tangle mess of limps and bed sheets. They were deep into a passionate kiss when Nick phone started to thing. Kaitlyn groaned as Nick sighed and fished his phone out.

"Huh" Nick pause, "It's the hospital?...Hello." Nick walk out of the room. Kaitlyn sat there for a moment in her semi-naked. Then she got up and follow Nick to the living room. She found him standing by the window watching the traffic below, he turn around to find her leaning against the counter in a sexy pose for him. She turn her back to him displaying her nice heart-shape bottom she looks over shoulder at him with mischievous smile. "Yeah— yes that is all right, I understand completely Ms. Swan. See you Monday then, okay bye" Nick ended the call and stood there admiring her beauty. "You know if keep doing that I just might have to take you back to your bed and make love to you like there is no tomorrow."

She squealed as he chase her back her bed, pick back up where they were interrupted . Afterwards Kaitlyn was cuddle up into his side, her arm draped across Nick's well muscled chest and her head on his shoulder. Both were sleeping peaceful, bed sheet half way covering them. Nick awoke first, he got out of the bed without waking up Kaitlyn. He made his way to the kitchen to find something to cook for dinner as it was still early in the evening. Shrimp Fra Diavolo came to mind, he check to see if Kaitlyn had everything to making it but she did not. Nick made a list, and left a note telling her where he was. He came back a hour later with everything he needed to make the Shrimp Fra Diavolo and Zabaglione with berries and biscotti. He was glad to find Kaitlyn still sleeping he put a rose he brought on the billow next to her, then started cooking.

He was half way done with the dessert when Kaitlyn came into the kitchen wearing just one of her long t-shirts and pair of booty short. She cuddles up into Nick's back, her arms wrapped around him. "You are not to leave my bed until I wake up. I don't like waking up alone. What are you making anyway?" She asked as she sat on the counter next to the stove.

Nick smiles, "Its Shrimp Fra Diavolo. I pick it up from this nice old Italian lady I meet when was station in Florence, Italy. And for dessert Zabaglione with berries and biscotti, also taught to me by the same old lady. are you allergic to any foods or anything" Kaitlyn shook her head no, "Good because this is one of my best dishes. Where are your plates?" Kaitlyn got up and retrieved two plates, Nick distributes the Fra Diavolo on to the plates.

They sat there in the kitchen eating Kaitlyn kept telling him how great his cooking was. Kaitlyn told him all about her family. When they were finish eating, Nick walk out to Kaitlyn's balcony. He first called John to have him bring by is bags. After he finish with John, contemplated calling his sisters. Kaitlyn came up behind him wrapped her arms around his waist. Her breath on the back of his neck. "What's got you thinking so hard?" she mews contently taking in his warmth, that she was quickly getting addicted to?

"I was thinking about calling my sisters and telling them about you. But then they are going to want meet you, and we are going to have go and visit them and...." She stop him by kissing him. She had turn his face to her.

When they parted, Kaitlyn said, "Nick, I would love to meet them." He just smiles as he picks her in a hug and spins her around.

They walk back in when they hear knocking at Kaitlyn's door. Nick goes to answer the door and finds John holding Nick's duffle bag. John walks in puts the bag on the couch, "Okay dude get your stuff before you go off on your all-day date with Kaitlyn, and don't dumb it with me, everyone in town is talking about you two. Hey wait what's that smell," John sniffs the air, "Did you make Shrimp Fra Diavolo?" Nick's mischievous smile said everything. "Well, that clears up the rumor that you two sleeping together."

Kaitlyn then ask, "What makes you say that John?"

"Well Kaitlyn, Nick's mom always told us when we were little, 'if you really want to impress a girl then you better learn how to cook, but you always save your very best dishes for the truly special girls.' So Kaitlyn, he must think you are the truly special girl, because that is his very best dish."

"Okay John you can stopped giving away of my secrets or I can start giving yours too," Nick said with mischievous smile.

"OH look at the time I better be getting home to the wife and kids. You are coming over to meet them tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah my interview got postpone till monday because of some mix up at the hospital, so I'm free, that's if Kaitlyn lets me out her bed in the morning."

Kaitlyn hit him which cause them to laughs.

"Well see you two tomorrow then," with that John the two lover alone, and what a night was to be too.

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