"For love?" I repeated after Kevin.
He simply nods, "If you don't know love, you perhaps don't know Nick well enough... he's crazy for love and is willing to do anything, he's almost lost when he's in love."
That part of Kevin and my conversation kept replaying in my mind. While I walked home, those words replayed like a broken radio. Now retracing everying, it seems to make sense. Leaving for that vacation, telling me about that abortion story earlier when he was younger, it all clicks now.
I raced home urging to get in the house.
But now thinking again, these passed few days, things have finally eased. Nick's mom calmed down, him and I were talking like usual, except we'd avoid the conversation about Samantha.
I don't want to screw things up...
I unlocked the door, about to go in. I took out my key, figuring tonight was better just to crash with Demi. I called her, she was more than happy to welcome me over to her place. She lived in a similar kind of condo like Nick's.
Except maybe a bit smaller, she had a great view of the other buildings in the Big Apple. Her house was downright big. For an apartment in the middle of NYC, it was artsy inside, lot's of painting and photos around. The theme in her house was white and honey brown wooden floor.
Her place was full open concept, no walls hiding anything by her bathroom and bedroom. She invited me into the place as she placed her keys in a bowl by the entrance, then throwing her bag aside.
She moves to the kitchen, "What you wanna drink sis?"
"Water is fine," I sat down on her white sofa enjoying the view of her apartment, it was artsy and cute.
I picked up a photo on a small circular accent table with a lamp on it, I picked up the black and white photo. It was a picture of Demi hugging and kissing her boyfriend, I looked at that familiar face. Although I don't see Joe so often, but I do have a picture of how he looks like.
The studio, photographer boyfriend, family troubles, CLICK.
Today is just too much, maybe going home was all I need.
I hear Demi laugh, passing me the glass of water from above, she sinks into the couch when she jumps on, "That cutie is my boyfriend, Joe."
"Demi, did I tell you I've met Joe? He's Nick's brother," I tell her shocked, Demi drops a gasp.
"Shut up no way!" She giggles, shocked, shoving my shoulder lightly, "You must be kidding."
I shook my head no, "But more importantly, it's something going on with Nick and I can't tell anyone that's why I'm here."
"This is... I'm shocked," She says, still so unbelieving.
After a night spent at Demi's sharing to her about Nick's situation, she understood everything and calmed me down. She was pretty calm herself, while I sniffled and cried out.
We both fell asleep on the couch, through a night of me explaining through frustration and her comforting me like the older sister. We hugged each other to sleep after getting a little tipsy with her red wine.
I woke up on the couch through the smell of a wave of cooking bacon and laughter from the kitchen. It was Joe and Demi's. I sat up then walked over.
"Morning love birds," I greeted them, and pulled out a chair across from the counter they were cooking on.
"Morning sister," Joe teases, as he slides my plate over.
I chuckle, "Thanks Joe, I can't believe you're with my sister."
"Me too," Joe gushes, frying an egg now.
"Are you happy?" Demi asks, leaning on his shoulder with a smile spread across her face.
"Ecstatic," Joe said and pecks her lips quickly.
"Gosh guys, I'm eatting," I giggled complaining and walking away to couch again. I checked my phone to see 12 missed calls, 3 voicemails and 56 text messages. I opened to see they were all from Nick.
I almost forgot I had to go home and see him.
"Hey Joe, by any chance do you know how's your dad doing?" I asked walking over, I know it's probably not the right place to throw such question in, but it was the type that's like now or never.
"I visit him every day, he's actually not in the best condition, drinking everyday and hadn't been to work for a week," Joe tells me, frowning.
"I was thinking of bringing Denise to see him." I had to say.
"I think she will either forgive him at this point or heartlessly divorce him," Joe spills truthfully, Demi held his hand at that moment, symbolizing she'd be there for him.
--
I walked my way home to get change, I found Nick asleep on the couch. He woke up the minute I closed the door, walking over to me.
"Selena, you're home," Nick stumbles over, "You had me worried sick, where were you?"
"I went to Demi's," I told him truthfully, he now knows Demi and even met her when she visited last week. "I was tired and fell asleep at her place."
I felt like I couldn't even look at Nick right now, was I too mad? Angry? Disappointed at him? I don't know, but I just wanted to beg him to not hurt himself that way.
He was confused, "What? You should've called Selena, I was worried."
I took a deep breath, debating whether or not that when I do speak it will be yelling at him for doing what he is for Samantha or ask him to come with me to take Denise to see his father. Because he was a wrecking ball right now.
"You're right, I should've," I couldn't do it, "So I found out Demi is Joe's girlfriend? Can you believe it?"
Nick looked stunned, just like Demi and I last night, "Wow... didn't see that coming."
"I know right," I scoffed, walking into the kitchen for some water, "Well then I saw Joe this morning and... your dad isn't in a good condition right now Nick, he's drinking, torturing himself everyday."
From the corner of my eyes I saw Nick rolling his eyes and impatiently slide his hands into his sweat pants.
"I think if we take Denise there to see, she can see how sincere he is and maybe get him to stop," I ask of Nick. I chose my wors carefully, "Maybe she can even persuade him to stop drinking."
He crosses his arms, "That will be my mom's choice. But I could ask."
"That means a lot, I want to get back together," I sigh in relief pulling Nick in for a hug. He chuckles and circles his arms around my petite waist.
"Me too," he agrees.
Nick had to go into his office for a meeting today, I went with him and waited there for him in his office. Thank God the meeting was a brief one, I was running out of dances... yes I was dancing in his office, curtains closed of course.
Nick came in and picked me up just before we went to Kevin and Danielle's. She'd promised to go, thankfully. She said she had to pick up some clothes there anyways.
Kevin and Danielle were both out of the house that day, they had to go in to work. Therefore Nick and I took his mother. Soon we arrived in front of the one place that probably brought back horrible memories to Denise.
"Come, let's go in," I linked arms with her, to show my support for her.
She smiled and nodded, "Let's go in."
