When Angels Fall (Fallen Angels) (35 page)

“There’s a heart with my initial on it and a crystal amethyst, a rosebud, and a lady bug.”

Chloe swallowed heavily as she looked at the charms.

“A snowflake for our first Christmas, and a wolf,” Nick added and wondered if she got that little joke.

“Why the hell would you get her a charm of a wolf?” Kevin asked.

“Our first kiss.” Chloe laughed, thinking about it. She could feel her cheeks getting red.

Nick just winked at her.

“Wait a minute. We watched that movie the night before Gabbie’s party. And you said you asked her out that afternoon.” Kevin seemed to try to figure it out. “The movie about werewolves?”

“Yeah, I did. I didn’t say I kissed her then. While you two were so focused on the movie, I kissed her. See, Kevin, you think you’re so smart about things, and you’re not,” Nick pointed out.

“That’s why you sounded so weird when Kev asked if we saw that. Slick, little Bro,” Mark mused and grinned, then went back to texting Claire.

“If you want, I can keep getting them for you, for like special occasions and all. So it is kinda like a gift that keeps on giving,” Nick suggested as he watched her looking at the charms.

Chloe smiled softly at him. “I’m so going to hold you to that.”

Max got up and handed Nick a gift. “Here, Nick, this is for you. I forgot to put it over here.” He sat in Chloe’s lap.

“Thanks, Bud.” Nick opened it to find a picture of a silver and black Mustang GT.

“Max, this is so cool. Thanks, Dude. I love it. It’s my favorite car!” he exclaimed and high-fived his little brother.

“Wow, if you liked his, you’re going to love mine. Merry Christmas, Man!” Mark handed him a box. It was a glue together model of the same car.

“Ahh, funny, I haven’t put together a model since I was like ten.
 
But thanks, Bro,” Nick replied, trying to figure out what was going on.

“Here, Merry Xmas and all that jazz,” Kevin yawned and threw a small, strange-shaped box at him.

Nick opened it. “Okay, now you’re just being mean. A matchbox car? Seriously?”He shook his head.

“Hey, I got you a car. Be happy. It’s the thought that counts,” Kevin retorted.

Nick smirked and threw the car onto his pile. “I’ll remember that when your birthday comes around and I get you the same thing.”

“Oh, Nick, here, I forgot to put this under the tree,” Mr. Allen said and handed him a small box.

“What is it, a Mustang key chain? You know, you guys are killing me with this. When I asked if I could have a car for Christmas, I didn’t mean this,” Nick said and laughed.

“Oh, Honey, we really wanted to get you a car by now,” his mother added with a sad expression on her face.

Nick opened the box and found a key chain, but with a set of keys on it. “No way! You’re kidding?” He was starting to get really excited. Jumping up, he ran to the front window. “That’s the car from Max’s picture!” he exclaimed opening the front door and rushing out.

Parked in the driveway was a silver and Black 2003 Mustang GT with a red bow on its roof.

“Nicholas, shoes!” his mother called to him as she pulled her robe closer around her.

“Honey, he’s way past that. Nick, go get your license, and then you can try it out,” his father called, putting his arm around his wife.

“Oh, sweet. If he’s going, I’m going, too. He’s not going to believe how smooth it drives.” Mark laughed as he put on his sneakers.

“Hey, I get shotgun!” Kevin called as he went out, too.

“Wait for me!” shouted Max as he pushed past his parents.

Chloe stood on the porch with Nick’s parents and watched the boys drool over the car.

Mr. Allen walked out to them and started talking about the car.

“He’s going with them, watch. They will race back up here any minute, and then tell me they’re all going. The same thing happened when Kevin and Mark got their first cars,” Gina said as she put her arm around Chloe.

“Look how happy he is.” Chloe watched Nick’s face as he got behind the wheel for the first time. She couldn’t remember if she’d ever seen him so happy.

“So, while they’re out joyriding, you can help me with breakfast,” Gina suggested.

“I would love to. I can help with dinner, too, if you want,” Chloe said hopefully. It had been so long and it was one of the things she missed.

“So, this is what it’s like to have a daughter?” Gina threw her arms around her and laughed.

Nick came walking up with his brothers and was beaming. “Babe, go get dressed and come with us.”

“There’s no room for me. I’m going to stay and help your mom. Maybe later, we can go for one by ourselves.”

“Yeah, that’s sounds good. Like how much later? Cause, I want to really just go drive around with you for a while.”

“After dinner. Go, have fun.” Chloe laughed, knowing how much he was dying to get behind the wheel and on the road.

Nick started to head up the steps then ran back to her. “You’re the best,” he said and kissed her playfully.

 
“For what?”

“For letting me have fun. Later, you and me. Promise!” He replied, kissed her, and then went to get changed.

 
After dinner and dishes, Chloe was sitting on the floor with Max, doodling with the art set he’d gotten her.

Nick walked over and stood above her, his key in his hand. He stood looking at her.

“What?” She laughed, noticing his impatient look.

“Wanna go for a ride?” he asked her as he jingled his keys.

“No, I’m busy
drawling
with Max,” she replied teasingly and went back to the picture.

“Seriously, you’re blowing me off to color with my little brother?”

“Nick, the car isn’t going anywhere.” She laughed.

He started to tap his foot impatiently.

“Max, I have to stop coloring with you because your big brother is going to have a meltdown, if I don’t go see his car.”

Max looked at his older brother and shook his head. “It’s just a car.”

Chloe tried to keep from laughing as she got up.

“And someday, when you’re my age and have waited as long as I have for a car, you will feel the same way.” Nick took Chloe’s hand.

“And someday, your girlfriend will laugh at you for acting like a little kid with a new toy who has to be in it every minute.” She took his keys.

“You can’t drive it,” he told her, trying to get them back.

“Wow, and he won’t even share his new toy. I don’t think I want to go now.” She threw the keys back at him.

With that, he picked her up and carried her out to the car.

She had to admit the car was pretty sweet. The interior was black and gray from the leather bucket seats, to the gray rug and floor mats. It had a CD stereo system that blasted music when he put the key in the ignition.

“Kevin wanted to see how loud it got,” Nick explained, turning it down.

“So where are you taking me?” She had the feeling they were just going to ride around.

“To our place,” he replied with a smile and pulled out.

She watched him as he shifted the gears and took off. He did look kind of sexy behind the wheel. It was exciting seeing this side of him. Whether it was the way he shifted the gears or held the steering wheel, something about this was making her hot.

“This is going to be so much better for us now, Chlo,” he stated, taking her hand.

“Why is that?” She knew but wanted to hear his thoughts.

“I can pick up you from work now. We can go to more places. Do more things.”

“What other places are we going to? I mean, we’ve been doing pretty well so far.”

“The shore this summer. I mean, I was thinking about that at dinner. You’re sitting here with your hair blowing in the breeze as we drive to the beach. Tank top on, with the straps of your bikini showing. Yeah, this is going to be sweet.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “You’re crazy. First, what makes you think I have a bikini?”

“Hey, it’s my fantasy, let me have it.”

“And second, you were thinking about this at dinner with Father Paul sitting across from you. Really good, Nicholas. You’re going to hell for your impure thoughts.” She laughed at him.

“If he had a Mustang and a hot girlfriend like I do, he would, too. And if I am going to hell, then you, baby, are going to be right there with me. Because I wasn’t the one in mass last week who was writing notes about what happened the night of the snowstorm and passing them to me,” he informed her. He pulled into the lot at the park and turned off the car. “I know it’s cold, but you wanna go?”

She opened the door and headed to the gazebo.

There was a full moon that night, which reflected off the half-frozen lake. Nick held Chloe in his arms as they stared out at the water.

“So, what happened with you and my mom today?”

“Nothing, just a girl thing like she told your dad,” Chloe answered, trying to blow him off.

“I find that a little hard to believe because you two were acting different and you started calling her Gina. Now you’re going shopping with her tomorrow, and you helped her with cooking today. So, what gives?”

“Are you jealous that your mom likes me now? She just asked me some questions about Christmas and I told her she is the closest person who has acted like a mom to me since my own died. Can we not talk about this?” She threw her arms in the air, wanting to change the subject. It had been such a great day and she didn’t want to dwell on it

“What about Christmas? You told me you were alone last year, right?” He started playing with her hair.

“I was, and the year before that also. I haven’t really had a real Christmas since before my mom died. Nick, really, I don’t want to talk about this again. Today was so great. For the first time in years, I felt like I was part of a real family. I don’t want to think about the past right now.” She pulled away from him.

He pulled her back and kissed her. “I wish I could erase it for you. The only thing I can do is make the future better. I’m really going to try.”

“Just don’t leave me.” She held on to him and spoke it in almost a whisper. She was happy now and didn’t want to lose this feeling.

“Never,” he answered and kissed her again, laying his hand on her face and rubbing her cheek with his thumb He kissed her now with a hunger. Picking her up, he put her on the ledge of the gazebo.

“Nick, don’t do this,” she said breathlessly, feeling his need for her.

“Let’s go to your house,” he suggested as he kissed her again.

She pushed him away. “No.”

“Chloe,” he said breathlessly.

“Can’t we just enjoy this night and each other without making it sound like we have to go to my place and fool around?” she asked him, hoping it would be okay just to stay here and be close.

“I’m sorry. I just thought we could go there, get warm and mess around.” He reached for her hand, trying to make her see his point.