Chapter thirty nine

Crystal grit her teeth as she looked through the window of the moving car. If it were up to her she's be back home and secure inside the house. She wasn't comfortable with being out especially when she knew that Hines hadn't been caught yet.
But Nick had convinced her to leave. Said he wanted to take her somewhere. And she had been to curious to turn him down.
" Don't tell me that you don't believe in my ability to keep you safe. " he said as he took a turn.
" No that's not it, I just wanted to stay home. "
" You've stayed home long enough. Actually I'm putting my foot down concerning that, "
Chuckling, she leaned on the glass of the window. They were in a residential neighborhood and she wondered exactly what they were doing there. It was a nice neighborhood though, with nice green trees and perfectly mowed yards.
Nick finally pulled in to the driveway of one of the houses and parked the car. Then he reached back and took a nicely wrapped present from the backseat before he got out of the car. Crystal did the same. Her eyes on the item in his hand.
" What's that? And what are we doing here? "
His only response was, " you'll see, " Then he placed his hand on her lower back and led her to the front door, ringing the doorbell afterwards.
They heard footsteps approaching, and soon after Matt opened up the door while in the process of blowing a balloon. He stopped the task when he saw them and pointed an accusing finger at Nick.
" You're late! Do you know how many times I've had to listen to the question ' when's Nick getting here? ' " he asked, then he tried to blow the balloon again but seemed to get tired of the task so he grunted and threw it away.
" Traffic, " Nick curtly stated before he walked past Matt and headed in.
" Oh, Crystal, it's really nice to see you again, "
" You too, " she still remembered him from the first time they'd met. He wasn't really someone you could easily forget.
She walked in as well and stopped right next to Nick, taking the time to look around at her new surrounding. She didn't know where she thought he was taking her, but a birthday party was definitely not it.
There were balloons and ribbons everywhere. And a crazily large banner that boldly said 'Happy birthday Brianna '. Not to mention the uncountable number of kids just running around all over the place.
" You are just full of surprises, aren't you? " she asked him as she looked around. Steadying herself when a little boy almost made her trip.
" Where did you think I was taking you? " he wrapped his arm around her to make sure she didn't fall. Then she gave a half shrug and looked at him with a teasing smile.
" I don't know? A picnic? " he chuckled, and was about to answer when a little girl came running towards him with her arms open wide. Then she basically jumped on him and Nick lifted her up and held her in his arms.
" I was waiting for you! " she stated with profound enthusiasm.
" Were you now? "
The little girl nodded vigorously, then she turned her attention to the present in his hand.
" Did you get it? "
Crystal watched with unhidden shock and fascination as Nick placed the girl down, then he went down on one knee and handed her the present. She was a cute little girl, with long dark and curly hair and such an adorable little face.
" Took me one week and seventeen toy stores but yeah, I finally got your doll. " Nick said and the girl cheered before she gave him a quick peck on the cheek. Nick stood, and stepped back to where Crystal was, and the girl, who she now assumed was Brianna stared at her for a while.
" Hi, " Crystal waved at her and the girl waved back. Then she asked Crystal what her name was and she gave it to her.
" Are you Nick's girlfriend? " she followed to ask. Crystal turned to Nick with wide eyes. But be was too busy looking around, or pretending to be looking around.
" Bri! Take your dog out now or you're gonna have to clean the carpet later! " Matt shouted from the other room and the ran off, saving Crystal the trouble of having to answer her question.
" She seems.... nice. "
" She is, when you get her what she wants. "
Nick then Ned Crystal to the kitchen since it was less crowded. Apart from a group of ladies who were must have been the parents to some of the kids. And she joined just how they looked at Nick from the second they walked in there. She had never really considered herself the jealous type but she wanted to go over there and give them all a piece of her mind.
But she didn't.
Yelling at soccer moms at a seven year old's birthday party would definitely be the last straw.
" Here, " With hands on her waist, Nick lifted her up and settled her on the island. Then he placed his hands on either side of her.
She almost didn't believe him when he told her that Matt was Brianna's dad. And that he was actually a single parent. He didn't come off as the responsible parent type. But then Nick told her about how he had devoted himself to taking care of his daughter and she saw him in a whole new light.
The hours passed, and the two of them talked about all kinds of things. It had to be the longest conversation she'd ever had with Nick where he actually talked about himself. It started when she asked him how he and Matt had met. And he wanted to brush it off but somehow he ended up doing just the opposite. She was so easy to talk to. And once he she began, the words automatically just came out.
" So you met in the orphanage? "
" We didn't meet there, we grew up there so we knew each other since before we could talk. "
He said everything in that matter of fact way of his. like he was narrating an old and boring tale. But she was a compassionate and empathetic person so she felt for him even if he didn't feel for himself. She couldn't imagine what he had to have gone through. And she listened to every word he said. Gently running her fingers through his dark hair every now and then.
" You escaped?... but why would you do that? " she asked afterwards. Nick shrugged, never before had he shared so much with anyone. He was telling her things he that he's never even said out loud. And he could see that she genuinely cared to listen.
" Because we were fed up of that place. I guess you could say that we wanted an adventure. " he answered as he pulled over a bowl of chips and tossed one into his mouth. Then he took another and fed it to her.
She asked him whether he'd ever tried finding his birth parents and his answer was a clear and straight forward 'No. ' He said that he wanted nothing to do with them. He didn't hate them, he just really didn't care about them at all. And she was having trouble understanding his reasoning.
" I never had them..... and I never lost them. So in a way, they were nonexistent. And you can't miss something you never had to begin with. " was his explanation. A far away look in his eyes as he said it. Then he told her more things that she was so eager to know. She wanted to find out everything about him. To know him both inside and out.
And the fact that he was so willing to share touched her. He never brushed off her questions but rather answered them fully. But then he realised that she might ask him something and he'd be forced to lie so he thought it wise to change the subject and they started talking about her instead.
" And do you remember what you asked me to do the other day? "
" You mean quit your job? "
She nodded, a smile creeping into her lovely features.
" And? "
She clasped both her hands to her chest and the smile increased. Then she sighed in a breath and closed her eyes.
" I'm gonna do it! " she excitedly declared.
" I'm so proud of you. " Nick said as he wrapped his hand around her nape. Then he looked at her and smile. That rare yet meaningful expression that he wore only for her. She wasn't even as scared as she thought she would be. Because she bad him a d she knew for certain that no matter what happened he would always be with her. And that was all the reason she needed to be strong and to fight for what she truly wanted.
Leaning in, Nick gave her a quick kiss. Then he walked back to the cabinets and took out two glasses along with Matt's cherished wine. Which they drank until it was time for Brianna to blow out her candles and cut the cake.
They stayed back even after everyone else had left since Crystal wanted to help clean up.
" So will you finally tell me what's going on with you two? " Matt asked when Crystal went to clean up the kitchen.
" Not really, " Nick said as he picked up the used glasses and paper plates. Then Matt threw himself down onto the couch and laughed.
" Why not? You're acting like you're in love with her or some shit, " he lightly stated. Then he waited for Nick to say something but the reply never came. Instead, Nick went on with his task acting like Matt wasn't even there.
" Oh my God!! " Matt said as he slowly stood up, his eyes fixed on Nick and a horrified look on his face.
" You ARE in love with her, aren't you? " he covered his mouth with his hand and gasped.
" Holy Christ!... I.. I don't even know what to say! I might just pass out due to shock! " he added with a lot of exaggeration.
" Just let it go, will you? "
That was something Matt wasn't planning on doing. And he pressed Nick for information though he never really got any. And when Crystal said that she was done cleaning the kitchen up, Nick decided it was time to leave.
" I want to beat traffic, " he said and Crystal went to get her purse.
" Hey, " Matt called Nick afterwards. Then he walked over to him and gave him a hug, "I'm really happy for you, really, I am," he said in a low voice as he patted Nick's back. And he laughed when Nick told him to stop acting so sentimental over it .Then afterwards he walked both of them to the door and watched as they drove off.