*Kissable And Quiet* Nick Jonas

*Chapter Twenty Three*

Joe

            We were back on the boat and Ashley had kidnapped Emma. I wanted her back. I wanted to hear the sweet sound of her voice, her melodic laugh. I just wanted her near me.

"Joe." Kevin said, snapping his fingers in my face. He had been talking and I hadn't heard a single word. I had been thinking about Emma and he knew it.

"Sorry."

"Just ask her out already. Before someone else does and you lose her forever." My heart stopped at the thought of her with someone else.

"She wouldn't." I said, trying to convince myself.

"Probably not-but sooner or later-she's going to get sick of waiting for you and move on. Are you willing to risk it?" He asked and I stared at my hands. "Just think about it." He said. He patted my knee and walked away. I sat for a few seconds before lying back in the chair. I closed my eyes and I felt someone lay next to me, draping an arm across my torso and gently placing their head on my shoulder. I opened my eyes to see Emma. I smiled.

"Hi." I whispered. I saw her smiled.

"Hi." She whispered back, looking at me.

"I missed you." I said and she looked surprised, but happy.

"I missed you, too." She said softly. We were quiet. I could feel her heart beat against my arm and her breath softly on my neck.

"Emma-" I began and she looked up at me.

"Joe." She said back, laughing a little.

"I have something to tell you, but I don't know if I'm totally crossing a line, or if you feel the same way-but I-" I started but her lips met mine and she put her hand on my face gently. I kissed her back, pulling her closer. She pulled back and looked me in the eyes.

"Me, too." She said, kissing me again. I smiled to myself. Nick came up the steps looking sad.

"What's up?" I asked as he sat next to us.

"Abby's with that Tony guy." He said, sighing.

"Are you jealous?" Emma asked, confused.

"No-I just miss her." He said. I felt bad.

"Aww, baby." Emma said sadly, reaching over and taking his hand.

"I'm ok." He said unconvincingly.

"Sure you are." I said and he chuckled.

"Ok-maybe not. But we're gonna have to be apart sometimes, right?" We nodded. "Do you guys know what time she normally gets done?" He asked.

"It's usually a different time every night. The past couple of nights she's barely been in the room." He nodded.

"Ok." He looked at us and I guess something clicked. "Hey!" He said loudly. I laughed and Emma blushed. "Finally." He said, clapping. Emma buried her head into my shoulder, laughing.

"Wanna get something to eat?" I asked her. I didn't know if she had eaten yet.

"Yeah. Nick, you coming?" She asked.

"Nah-you two go." He said.

"C'mon. You're not just gonna sit in the room until Abby gets done." I said. He smiled.

"I don't wanna intrude." He said.

"You're not." Emma assured him. We stood up and went to the dining hall. We ordered dinner and Nick ordered dessert.

"Abby and I already ate before she left." He explained.

"Oh-good." I said.

"Yeah-Brittany showed up." I choked on my water.

"She what?"

"She showed up, rudely asked Abby to leave, I said no and she said I was making the biggest mistake of my life." He said, chuckling.

"Wow-ego much?" Emma laughed. He nodded.

"What'd you say?" I asked.

"I said that the biggest mistake of my life was ever letting her get between Abby and I."

"Wow, Nick. Nicely done." I said and he smiled.

"Thank you." We finished eating and we went upstairs. We sat in the remaining sun and as it started to set, Nick said goodbye.

After a while the house band came out and started to play. A slow song came on and Emma took my hand.

"I wanna dance." She smiled and I caved instantly.

"Ok." I smiled, standing up. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her closer as she wrapped her arms around my neck and we rested out foreheads together.

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