Two days later, at her hotel room in Nashville, Megan felt herself being shaken away. She blinked her eyes open and found herself face-to-face with Val. "Hi, beautiful", he said. Megan grinned and brushed some hair that had fallen in Val's face away. "Hello to you too, handsome. What happened to my roommate?" Val smiled. "He went to get you breakfast. He decided you should get room service and told me to wake you". Megan pushed herself up in bed. "Well aren't I special", she said, wiggling her eyebrows. Val kissed her and then traced the outline of her face. "You sure are, Megan". They talked for a few more minutes before their door opened. Nick came in with a tray: a bowl of fruit, a buttered bagel, scrambled eggs and two sausages. "Here you go, lady", he said, handing her the tray. "Don't call me lady. Thank you for this. I was feeling a little lazy today", Megan replied. Nick rolled his eyes and Val just smiled. "Since when are you not lazy", Nick teased. Megan glared at him. "Shut up". She started eating her meal, glaring occasionally at Nick, pretending she was still mad at him. "You're scaring me", he said after about the five glare. Megan laughed and popped the last of her meal in her mouth before setting the tray on the table next to her bed. "That was kind-of the point", she said, pulling the covers up around her. Val stifled a laugh at Nick's expression, earning a smack in the head from his teammate. "What? It's not my fault your expressions are funny", he said. Megan smiled in amusement at the two men in the room. "You two are grown-up and yet you still act like children", she said. Nick raised an eyebrow. "Who wants to grow up", he asked. "No one", Val and Megan said at the same time. Val crawled in next to Megan and she buried her face in his chest, her cold body warming up from the heat of his. "Val and Megan sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G", Nick sang. Val rolled his eyes and shook his head at his teammate, while Megan fought back tears. "Meg? Did I say something wrong", Nick asked, his playfulness turning to concern. Megan shook her head and climbed out of bed. "No, you didn't do anything. It's just…" She couldn't finish her sentence before a fresh wave of tears overwhelmed her and she raced out the door. Nick and Val exchanged glances, their faces concerned. "I hope she's okay", Niklas muttered.
Megan gripped the railing hard as the tears started to fall. Memories of her relationship with David were consuming her brain. She was scared: that was the only word to describe the way she felt. She sighed. Poor Nick, he was probably beating himself up over that. "Nicky, it's not your fault. Don't blame yourself", she whispered. She froze when she felt someone's arms around her. "Babe, are you okay", Val's voice asked in her ear. Megan shivered and turned to face her boyfriend. "No, Val, I'm not. I'm scared. I'm scared that this relationship that we have is going to turn bitter. That things aren't going to work out and my heart will be broken… again", she explained. Val rubbed her arms soothingly, trying to calm her down. "Babe, it's okay. We'll take things slow. We don't have to rush it". Megan now met her boyfriend's eyes. "But Val, are you okay with that", she asked. Val traced the outline of her face before giving her a soft kiss on the lips. "Meg, I'm perfectly okay with that. I love you and if you want to take it slow, then that's fine. We'll do that. My goal is to make you feel comfortable and if taking it slow makes that happen, then great. That's the way we'll treat this relationship", he said. Megan's lips twitched into a smile. "And that's why I love you, Val. You're willing to do whatever it takes to make me happy. You're the best", she said. "Thank you, baby. I love you too… so much. Now, what was that all about earlier? You were crying about something". Megan took a deep breath as she reached for Val's hand. "It's never easy for me to tell this story so just bear with me", she said. Val nodded and drew her close to him. "About a year ago, when David and I started dating, we went to a friend's birthday party. He knew about David and I and kept singing that song. I thought he was playing and shrugged it off. He was always doing things like that, being a goofball. Anyway, I took David back to his house later. He was drunk and I had to help him onto the couch. I placed a glass of water and two Advil's on a stool next to him so that in the morning he could take them. Well, as I was about to leave, he grabbed me by the shirt and pulled me back. "Thanks for this, babe", he said before kissing me. I was stunned but I managed to get over it and shoved him away. 'Don't kiss me when you're drunk, David' I said firmly. He scowled at me. 'But I want to' he whined. I shook my head, gently holding his hands. 'No. In the morning, when you're sober, then you can kiss me. But right now, no' I said. He got mad and punched me on the cheek. So ever since then, whenever I hear anyone sing that song, that memory overwhelms me", Megan explained. Val shook his head and wrapped her in a tight hug. He couldn't believe the bad luck she'd had in the last relationship. "I'm sorry", he said. Megan smiled into his chest. "It's okay, Val. It's totally fine. I'm over that now… at least I should be". Val kissed her again and gave her hand a slight squeeze. "You'll get over it. I know you will. I love you". Megan smiled and linked her arms around Val's neck, her hazel eyes shining. "I love you too, Val".
"Finally! I thought that we'd never get off that plane", Megan declared a few days later as they made their way to through the airport. Nick started laughing and Val just gave her hand a tight squeeze. "You're just hyper", Nick teased. Megan smacked his arm. "Don't be mean", she scolded, glaring at him. Nick's eyes widened. "It's true! You're more hyper than Helmer is". Megan rolled her eyes. "Well for one thing, I'm younger than he is. For another thing, I'm just naturally hyper. So don't make fun". Nick sighed and gave her the "puppy-dog" eyes. "I'm sorry". Megan stopped, released Val's hand, and gave her friend a hug. "It's okay, Nicky. You didn't mean anything by it. You're just naturally an idiot". Nick smiled, not minding that she was calling him names. "Val's a bigger idiot than I am". Megan chuckled and looked over at Val, who wrapped his arms tight around her. "Yeah, but he's my idiot", she said. Val smiled and kissed her. "And you're my girl", he said. "Your girl, huh? I knew you'd "roll in the hay" with one of them eventually", a voice said. Megan glared hard at her ex-boyfriend. "We haven't done that yet, dummy. Besides, that's none of your business. I can date whomever I please", she said, tossing her head in a sassy way. David sighed and looked at her. "Megan, come on. What can he offer you that I can't?" Megan gripped Val's hand hard and Nick came and stood behind her, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. "A sweet, gentle boyfriend who'd do anything for me. Someone who wouldn't hurt me like you did. Why are you offering anyway? I'm done with you; I never want to be around you ever again. So why don't you just leave", she asked. David just shook his head. "Megan, you don't understand. I made an awful mistake leaving you that night. I was just angry and seeing you hang out with them more than me just added fuel to the fire. I wasn't thinking when I stomped out the door. Now I realize I not only want you but need you back. Please Megan, don't shut me out". Megan snorted. "You want me back just to break my heart again? Yeah, that'll happen. Besides, you knocked me out at my own house, David! You think I can trust you again after doing that to me?" David shook his head. "That was more to prove a point that they (he pointed at Val and Nick) let that happen. You leave a young defenseless girl at home and this is want happens". Megan's eyes widened and her grip on Val's hand tightened. "My gosh, David, you are so stupid! You think these guys would do that to me?! No, they had no idea that was going to happen. I'm a grown woman, I can handle myself thank you very much. I trust them far more than I ever trusted you. Goodbye, David, and have a good life", she replied. She tugged on Val's hand and together the threesome walked away. "I wouldn't be surprised if he breaks your heart", David called after them. Megan swirled around. "He'll have not only my parents and family, but his teammates to deal with if he does. And I know he wouldn't do it so you're an idiot. See ya", she shot back. Val's hand went to her back and he turned her back around. "Don't respond to what he says. He's not worth replying too", he said into her ear. With one last glare, Megan raced out of the airport, leaving her ex behind her.
