Times Like These

Brian POV

Over the next hour or so, we played our game of mini golf, and of course Matt won. What surprised me was that Nikki was bad. Like really, really bad. But she had fun, and it showed on her face. She would miss the shot completely and just laugh like hell about it. At one point she had Arin so frustrated I thought he was going to throw his putter in the pond. Danielle was definitely right about her talking shit. She, Johnny, and Lacey had decided to go race some go-karts, and Arin, Kim, and Zack tagged along. I was standing with Dani and Matt, watching her drive around the track with a huge smile on her face, trying to crash everyone else into the wall. “That girl is a trip.” Matt laughed. He had his arm wrapped around Dani’s shoulders, and Dani nodded her head in agreement. “Nikki loves having fun. It took her a while to get back to being like this after everything she’s been through. She had some really dark times after she left her ex. I didn’t think I’d ever get her back, to be honest with you.” She said sadly. “I think a part of that has to do with you, Brian.” “What?” I said, turning to look at her, “What’d I do?” “She’s happy again. She has been since the night she met you. Nichole puts on a front. She tries to act like nothing bothers her, and that she’s always happy, but that’s not her at all. I see right through that shit. She was hurting for a long time, sometimes I still think she is. But when she’s with you she’s genuinely happy. It’s so refreshing to see her like that after so long.” I stood there thinking about what she said when she spoke again, “But if you hurt her, I will kick your ass. That’s a promise.” I smiled down at the younger twin. “I don’t plan on hurting her. Ever. She pulled me out of my dark place too.” I continued watching the group drive around on the track, thinking about what Danielle said to me. All of that stuff was basically what I was going through too, but for a completely different reason, and Nikki pulled me through the darkness and made me happy again. I need to make her mine, and one I do, I don’t plan on ever letting her go.

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Nichole POV

After our go-kart race, we decided we were all pretty hungry and decided to go eat lunch before going our separate ways. On the way to the restaurant, I got a text message. ‘I know you’re in California, and I will find you.’ Was all it said. I knew exactly who it was from, it was the third message I had gotten in a week. I sighed and deleted the message. “Hey, you okay over there?” Brian asked, reaching for my hand. “Yep, I’m great.” I grinned at him. I pushed the message to the back of my mind and focused on having fun with my friends.

After lunch we all went back to the apartment, but everyone said their goodbyes except for Matt and Brian, who sweetly asked me to go to the beach with him. Since it was early spring and still a little chilly, I figured we wouldn’t be swimming, so I grabbed a light sweater and a blanket for us to sit on and followed him to my Jeep. Once we made it to the beach, we got out a walked for a while, Brian carrying the blanket and his shoes in one hand, my hand in the other. Finally we stopped and spread the blanket out and sat down, watching the waves with me leaned against his side and his arm around my waist. “Oh, I meant to tell you.” I started, “We’re doing an open mic night at the bakery next Saturday. I hired and bartender and everything.” “That sounds like fun. You gonna perform?” Brian asked me. “Probably not.” I chuckled, “I want it to actually be a success.” I could feel Brian’s chest rumble as he laughed, “I’m sure you’re not that bad. Hell I’ve heard you sing when you’re drunk and you’re pretty decent.” “I don’t know. I might. I haven’t picked up an instrument in a long time.” I sighed, “I’ll have to talk to Dani and see if she’ll sing with me.” “If you ever want to play just let me know and we’ll go to the studio.” Brian offered. “Thanks. I just might take you up on that.” I told him, kissing his cheek. “So, Nick. The reason I brought you out here.” He started, “Issss because I wanted to talk to you.” “Okay, about what?” I asked, sitting up so I could look at him. “Today, while I was watching you race my friends on go-karts and after talking to Dani, I realized a few things. You pulled me out of the darkness I was sinking in. After losing Jimmy I haven’t felt much of anything, other than sadness and anger. You helped me find the light again, I’m happy again. And I really don’t want to let you go. So I’m willing to look like a tool and ask you if you’ll be my girlfriend.” He stopped talking and looked at me, waiting for me to say something. After a few seconds of me not saying anything he spoke again, “Sooooooo are you gonna say anything or are you gonna just keep sitting there smiling at me like a creep?” I laughed loudly and said one word: “Yes.”

Notes