Even When (Ricky + Nini)

chapter 4 - no there's nothing that i wouldn't do

[a/n : title is from Billy Joel's song 'To Make You Feel My Love']

"What's going on in Rini land ?" Red asked his best friend, who'd just shown up at Red's Superb Subs in the middle of the morning. "It's kind of early to be moping in a closed sandwich shop."

"I just dropped Joel off at school, and I had a lot on my mind, so I thought I'd hang out with you." Nini said setting down her bag on the counter. "I can help you open up shop."

"Here." Red said throwing her an apron. "Help me prep the veg. Garlic is to be minced, the tomatoes and onions sliced."

Nini obliged and started with the garlic.

"Have you talked to Ricky recently?" Nini asked. "Do you think something's off with him ?"

"What do you mean?" Red tasted the sauce he was cooking on the stove top. "Perfect."

"I don't know. Maybe he's just tired from work and the whole time difference is making it difficult... but yesterday, he forgot it was Joel's first day of school, and I couldn't reach him all day. In his defense, he did leave his phone at home by accident. But that's not all... he was being weird about the fact that I had to take Joel with me to a meeting."

"Let me guess... a meeting with Greyson?"

"Yeah. How'd you know?"

"He might have indicated that he felt insecure about Greyson working with you." Red said. "You know he sometimes still feels like he got lucky with you, right? like you could do better. It's not about Joel... I think it's more about  you working with Greyson."

"We're just co-workers.." Nini sighed. "He didn't say anything about me and Greyson... I'm worried about him. He's not getting eating or sleeping enough."

"You miss him?"

"Like crazy.."

"How crazy?"

"It's mostly the little things." Nini trailed away, "I miss hearing him talk to Bob like he's not a dog.. watching him sing lullabies to Joel at night.. the sound of his footsteps in the morning when he wakes up earlier just to make me coffee the way I like it... the way his soft curls brush against my cheek when he would hold me.. when he sings in the shower like it's nobody's business..."

"But you don't tell him." Red smiled at her knowingly.

"I do tell him."

"You tell him you miss him like crazy? All the stuff you just said to me?"

"No. Of course not. I don't want him to feel guilty or think that he has to come home.."

Red smiled again like he knew something that she didn't, and it was frustrating to say the least.

"What?!" Nini stopped prepping her veggies to look at Red.

"You two are a hallmark movie." Red said, "You guys go through this rough patch every few years, and the key is communication. Each time, you're both afraid of saying what you actually feel or think, because you're afraid of hurting the other person. But what if by not saying it you're hurting them already?"

"What do you mean?"

"The last time Ricky broke up with you... he didn't say what he really felt right? and you both ended up hurt."

Nini nodded.

"Ok so... Ricky's got his own homework, but let's talk about your side of things.. here's a theory : what if by not telling Ricky you miss him, you're making him feel like you don't need him, and that's one of the reasons he doesn't like you spending so much time with Greyson.. maybe he feels replaceable ?"