Thanks to everyone who commented and reviewed the last story. Here's the start of the sequel (obviously)!

Disclaimer: Characters not mine

Chapter 1: How it all began again

They were disgusting. Really. He had tried to be understanding at first because he knew how long they had yearned after one another secretly, but that had been months ago and the honeymoon phase should have been over by quite a span. He didn't need this display of affection in his life every single time the pair saw each other.

It wasn't even that they were doing anything—their affection reserved to a few quick, shy kisses here and there unless they were alone. It was simply the amount of affection they had for each other. It was the way they would stare at each other with wide, loving gazes. It was the way they would hold hands under the table and both look up at the same time to exchange tiny smiles from the corners of their mouths.

"Could you guys not do that here, please."

"Do what?"

"That," Nick said, waving a pencil in Kevin and Macy's direction.

"We aren't doing anything."

"You are. You're... exuding love. You're exuding so much love that I'm suffocating on it. I'm trying to write here."

Macy raised an eyebrow. "I'm guessing it's not a love song."

Nick narrowed his eyes at her, but didn't say anything. So what if it was a love song? That didn't mean they had to distract him with their love while he was trying to pen down one that didn't exist.

"Moody," Macy mumbled under her breath.

"He's just upset because his date with Layton didn't go well."

"Who's Layton?" Macy asked.

Kevin shrugged. "Some girl in his science class that Nick asked out. Apparently, Layton doesn't like baseball or discussing anything that isn't pink or involve her hair."

"Sounds like a great date."

"If you're going to talk about me like I'm not in the room, could you do it somewhere else, please? Like in a room I'm actually not in."

"It's a free room, man."

This is what he got for not insisting on his own bedroom when they moved to the firehouse.

"You know what your problem is, Nick?"

"You two?"

Macy smiled despite her friend's grumpiness. "No. I've told you before what your problem is."

"Not this again."

"You just haven't found love."

"I've found love, thank you very much. It's just kicked me in the ass every time I've found it. I'm taking a love break."

"And we should really do something about you not finding love," Macy continued as though he had never spoken.

"Weren't we supposed to do that already?" Kevin asked.

"Huh?"

"Weren't we going to make a bet or something? Remember, after the Brooke thing. I'm sure we said something about it."

"No you didn't," Nick quickly answered.

"Oh, we so did." Macy turned so her smile was pointed in Kevin's direction instead of Nick's. "So what are our terms?"

"Whoever can find the love of Nick's life wins."

"Um, no."

"Right," Macy agreed, once again ignoring Nick. "And the winner?"

"Remember that thing we were talking about the other day?"

Macy's brow furrowed as she watched Kevin for a moment. Suddenly, her eyes widened and her jaw dropped.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously," Kevin nodded.

"We are definitely on." She thrust out her hand which Kevin was quick to shake.

Though he was more curious than he would ever admit to being, Nick didn't dare ask any questions about the bet that was being established in front of him. Sure, he wanted to know what had gotten Macy so excited, but asking would almost be like condoning what they were doing, and the last thing he wanted to do was give off even a hint that he approved of the pair meddling in his love life.

"Call off the bet now. I wouldn't trust either of you to find me the love of a day, never mind the love of my life. I'm fine without your help, so just stay out."

Nick gathered his notebook and pens and left the room in a loud huff. Unfortunately, he was still able to hear Macy when she whispered to Kevin that "they better hurry because their help was needed as quickly as possible."

***

Kevin swung Macy's arm back and forth as they walked toward her house. The simple fact that she would let him hold her hand still thrilled him, and the movement of their arms together only helped remind him of the contact.

"So, who do you have in mind?"

"You," Kevin answered automatically.

Macy laughed as she pulled his hand so they would be walking closer together.

"I meant who did you have in mind for Nick?"

"We're really going to bet on this?"

"We already have, haven't we?"

Kevin shook his head. "You know he's going to want to kill us."

"Oh, he'll forget all about it when I find him the girl of his dreams."

"You? No way! I'm totally the one who's going to find the girl for him."

"How can you if I'm the only girl on your mind. Unless of course you're suggesting that I change brothers."

"I am definitely not suggesting that," Kevin told her as he untangled his fingers from hers and looped his arm around Macy's shoulders to pull her against him.

"Just checking..."

"Why? Who do you have in mind for Nick?"

"I have a few ideas," she told him with a shrug.

"And you aren't going to tell me?"

"Nope." Macy shook her head and hopped up the steps of the front porch to her house. "I'm not letting you steal my idea just so you can win."

"You're no fun." Kevin pouted.

"Sure."

"I have ways of making you talk, you know."

"Do you?" Macy asked, even as Kevin was leaning toward her, both her hands held captive in his.

"Hmm."

Both bodies sprang back at the sound.

"Hi, daddy."

"Mr. Misa." Kevin took another step back from Macy. "How are you today?"

"Late for a golf game," the man said as he pushed his way between the couple and dropped a kiss on Macy's forehead. "I'll see you later, sweetie."

"Bye, daddy."

The couple waved as they watched the man drive away.

"He hates me," Kevin told Macy with a shake of the head.

"He doesn't hate you. He just doesn't know you yet."

"He doesn't want to know me. He wants you to dump your rockstar boyfriend and go out with a jock boy who he knows will have their parents and coach riding to be perfect and will therefore barely have any time for you and won't be a threat."

Macy scoffed and shook her head. "No. Of course not."

"You are a worse liar than I am."

"No, really. I think he's warming up to you. The other day he asked if you were coming over for supper this weekend."

"He asked so that you would invite me or he asked so he could schedule some kind of sports event in order to be out of the house in case I was going to be over?"

Macy paused as she thought about her answer.

"I really do think he's warming up to you."

"I really don't."

Macy smiled and stood on her toes so she could press her lips against Kevin's.

"Well, either way, I like you."

"That's good."

"I better get in. My mom's probably watching from the window or something. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah," Kevin nodded as he reluctantly loosened his grip on Macy's hands.

"And I'm totally going to win, by the way."

He offered her a crooked smile as she disappeared behind the door. He waited until she was gone before he let out a loud sigh. One girl for Nick and one anxious father to win over. Piece of cake, right?