Their Wattpad Love

Chapter 21

*Nick's POV*

When Mrs. Carson called us in for dinner, we got up quickly and joined her in the kitchen. I tried to look as innocent as possible, like I hadn't just been making out with her daughter.

"Food smells good," I said, smiling. It was a lie, but I didn't want to hurt her feelings.

"Oh, aren't you sweet. I'm not much of a cook, but I try to make something every night. Ashton!"

"He's not home, Mom," Briella explained when there was no answer.

"Oh."

Just then, we heard the sound of keys rustling in the door and it opened. "I'm home!"

"That must be him now," Mrs. Carson said, looking delighted. She went into the living room to greet him, leaving Briella and I alone once more.

"I'm warning you, my mom's not a very good cook. So if you don't like the food, don't feel bad," Briella whispered.

"It's fine. My dad never makes anything, so bad cooking would actually be an improvement," I said with a laugh.

Mrs. Carson and Ashton entered the room then, and we all sat down to dinner. "Hello again," said Ashton to me. "Nick, isn't it?"

"Yup." I was glad he'd remembered.

Briella's mom had made lasagna, and though it was almost inedible, we all ate it. There was lots of joking around and laughing, and the whole experience was just warm and inviting. I felt at home with these people, a feeling I hadn't had in a long time.

I had to admit, it was really nice.

- - -

*Briella's POV*

After dinner, Ashton offered to drive Nick home. But before they left, I wanted to talk to Nick alone.

We stood in the hall and talked quietly, even though Ashton was doing dishes and Mom was washing the table. They wouldn't have been able to hear us anyway, but I was still talking in whispers.

"I'm glad you came over today," I said as he took my hands in his.

He kissed the tip of my nose gently. "Me too."

"So...what are we?"

It was a question that had been on my mind all afternoon and evening. Now that we'd shared our feelings-and a few kisses-there was an obvious change in our relationship. But I wanted to make sure he was on board before I told my friends we were dating.

"We're whatever we want to be, I guess," was his answer.

"And what do you want to be?" I asked.

"I'd love to be your boyfriend."

"Well good, because I'd love to be your girlfriend." We shared a quick kiss, and I savored the moment in my head.

"Okay, enough, you two!" Crap, did Ashton see all that?

I quickly let go of Nick's hands and pulled away from him, blushing like crazy.

"Ready to go?" Ashton asked him.

"Yup. Briella, wanna come?"

I knew it would be less awkward that way, but I couldn't. I had a mound of unfinished homework sitting on my desk. "Can't. I'll see you Monday, though."

He stared at me with those gorgeous blue eyes and I knew he wanted to kiss me. But my brother was standing less than five feet away.

Ashton looked from me to Nick and back again. "I'll, uh, give you two some space." He grabbed his keys and I mouthed a "thank you" as he went outside to start up Shakira.

"I don't know if I can wait til Monday to see you again," Nick said as he hugged me.

"It's only two days."

"I know," he said with a wink.

Gosh, the winks always killed me. "I'll see you next week," I said, hugging him back.

We shared one last kiss before he joined Ashton outside. I hoped to God that my brother wouldn't get all weird on him.

Now, to begin that awful amount of homework waiting for me. Gotta love the high school life, right?

- - -

*Nick's POV*

I figured Ashton would lecture me about having boundaries and kissing his sister and all that big-brother stuff, but he didn't. Instead, he asked me about myself.

"Um, I like baseball."

"Oh, cool, I'm the third baseman on the school team. You should come to a game sometime," he offered.

"Maybe I will."

"Do you have any siblings?"

"Nope, just me."

"Briella tells me your dad is a little..."

"Crazy? Drunk? Rude? All of the above?" I offered.

He laughed. "Yeah, maybe."

"Yeah, he's..." I couldn't think of a good enough word to describe him, so I just trailed off.

"It's okay. I didn't mean to bring up a sore subject. Moving on. How was the movie the other day?"

"Oh, The Visit? It was good." I left out the part about holding his sister's hand.

"I'm guessing you like all that horror stuff, then, huh?"

"Yup, always have."

"Briella, too. I could never get into it. Too creepy for my taste."

When we reached my house a few minutes later, he parked the car by the curb instead of pulling into the driveway. As I unbuckled my seatbelt, he said, "Hey Nick?"

"Yeah?"

"Be careful with my sister. She doesn't need another guy turning into a jerk, okay? Look, you're a good guy. I trust you with her. But please don't break her heart."

"I won't."