Chapter 11
"A penny for your thoughts?" Leah asked.
"Sorry I was just in my own little world." Nicole answered.
"What's his name?" Leah asked.
"Who said I was thinking about someone?" Nicole answered.
"Just the look on your face makes me think that you are thinking about someone special to you." Leah answered.
"Oh. Um.. I wasn't thinking about anyone." Nicole responded trying not to give away that she was thinking about someone.
"Well, if you want someone to talk to about it, I'm here for you." Leah stated as she moved into the living room.
Why is she being so nice to me after the way I treated her? I know that she is now my sister-in-law, but can I really confide in her about Shannon? Or will she run and tell Matt? I know that I can't really talk to Krista as she tells Jeff everything. I guess I will just have to give it a try. Nicole thought as she walked into the living room.
Matt and Jeff soon returned with several jars of pickles and several jars of peanut butter. Leah darted into the kitchen so that she could satisfy her cravings. Everyone followed her into the kitchen and just watched as she dipped the pickles into the peanut butter and ate it.
"How is it possible for that to taste good?" Jeff asked.
"I have no idea how she can stand the taste of those two foods combined. I'm getting sick just thinking about it." Krista answered as she continued to watch Leah.
"It's not as bad as you think it is." Leah stated once her craving was satisfied. "You actually get used to the taste after a while."
"I don't think that I could ever get used to pickles and peanut butter together." Jeff stated.
"Aww you're just a wimp. And I thought you were the king of extreme?" Leah teased.
"In the ring yes, but eating weird food combinations, no thanks." Jeff responded. "Matt should try it. After all he was on Fear Factor and had to swallow some interesting things."
"I did that to win the money for charity, Mr. fall-of-the-ladder-into-the -icy-waters." Matt shot back.
"Ok! I get it. You are both extreme at some things but wimps when it comes to mixing 2 foods together. It's ok. You don't have to try it." Leah stated.
"You know what. If Leah can eat it and the baby likes it, then I am willing to try it." Matt stated.
"Are you sure?" Leah asked.
"Yeah. Give me a pickle with peanut butter on it, please. It cant be all that bad." Matt answered as she prepared a pickle for him.
Leah handed Matt the pickle and as everyone watched, he took a bite. Jeff and Krista watched his face for a negative reaction. Matt continued to munch on the pickle as Leah put the pickles and peanut butter away.
"Well?" Jeff asked.
"It's not that bad. It takes a little time to get used to the taste, but over all its not that bad." Matt answered.
"Told you." Leah responded.
After Jeff and Krista had left, Matt started playing a video game and Leah was in the kitchen. Nicole decided to give Leah a chance and went into the kitchen to talk to her.
"Leah. Can I talk to you?" Nicole asked.
"Sure." Leah answered. "What would you like to talk about?"
"There is this guy and I like him, but I don't know if he likes me the same way. And I don't know how to tell him that I like him like that." Nicole responded.
"Oh. Um. Well, you could try giving him subtle hints or spend a little more time with him. Then there is always the straight forward route of just coming out and telling him." Leah responded.
"I want to, but there is just two problems." Nicole stated.
"What is it?" Leah asked.
"Not what, who. Jeff and Matt." Nicole answered,
"Why are Jeff and Matt problems as far as telling this guy you like him?" Leah asked confused.
"Because the guy I like is, well, it's Shannon." Nicole confessed.
"Oh. I don't see why they would have a problem with that. After all they know him pretty well. Plus he owns his own business and is a good guy." Leah responded.
"Yeah but Matt and Jeff have this rule that none of their friends are allowed to date me. And I don't get a say in it." Nicole stated.
"Well there are always exceptions to every rule and I'm sure that if you talk to your brothers, they just might make that exception for you and Shannon. But for right now, why don't you go talk to Shannon and tell him how you feel and see if he feels the same about you." Leah suggested.
"Ok. Thanks, Leah!" Nicole responded as she left to go find Shannon.
Shannon was standing out on the front porch talking to someone at work. Nicole waited until he was done with his phone call before saying anything to him. Shannon noticed that Nicole was standing on the porch and he quickly wrapped up the phone call.
"Hey Nicole. What's up?" Shannon asked.
"I wanted to talk to you alone for a moment." Nicole answered.
"Ok. Well no one else is out here, so I guess we are alone." Shannon responded. "What's on your mind?"
"Honestly… you." Nicole stated.
"Me? Wh.. Why am I on your mind?" Shannon asked shocked by her answer.
As Nicole and Shannon talked on the front porch, Leah could see them through the window. Leah was so preoccupied with looking out the window that she didn't notice Matt come up behind her.
"What are you doing?" Matt asked.
"Watching Shannon and Nicole talking on the porch." Leah answered.
"Oh ok." Matt responded.
"I think they look kinda cute together. Don't you?" Leah asked.
"I.. um.." Matt started to answer.
"What? They are both mature adults who can make their own decisions, aren't they?" Leah asked.
"They are, but.." Matt stated.
"But what? If they both like each other, then why not let them be together, plus it would keep her out of our hair." Leah responded.
"I know it would, but we've always told our friends that we didn't want them dating her as it would just be too weird if the relationship didn't work out." Matt stated.
"Do you think that you could let them find out on their own and just deal with it if it comes up?" Leah asked.
"I guess I could. After all she is an adult and so is he, even if they don't act like it all the time." Matt stated.
"I'm glad to hear that you are willing to let them do things on their own." Leah responded as she took Matt's arms and wrapped them around her stomach.
Back out on the porch Shannon and Nicole were still talking about why Shannon was on Nicole's mind.
"So why exactly am I on your mind? Did I do something wrong?" Shannon asked.
"No you didn't do anything wrong. It's just that the past few days I can't help but think about you." Nicole answered. "I feel like I am falling for you even though I know I shouldn't."
"Wow! Really? Honestly, I have been thinking about you too. I know that Matt has this crazy rule about not dating you, but I can't stand not being with you." Shannon responded as he took a few steps closer to Nicole.
"You know what? I really don't care what Matt has to say about this. I am old enough to make my own decisions." Nicole stated looking into Shannon's green eyes.
"I don't care either!" Shannon stated before pulling Nicole closer to him and kissed her.
As they kissed, Shannon ran his hands through her long reddish brown hair. After breaking their kiss Shannon put his forehead against hers and kissed her nose. All Nicole could do was smile.
"So where are we on this?" Nicole asked.
"Well, I for one would love to call you my girlfriend. That is if that's what you want." Shannon answered.
"I would really like that." Nicole responded as she kissed him again.
Shannon and Nicole soon headed back into the house. Leah, Matt, Jeff and Krista were in the living room. The guys were playing a video game while Krista and Leah were looking at the baby books. Leah looked up at Nicole who was simply beaming. Leah got up from the couch and motioned for Nicole to follow her.
"So what happened?" Leah asked quietly.
"We both feel the same about each other and have decided that neither one of cares about Matt's rule and we are officially together." Nicole answered.
"That's good. I talked to Matt and he's agreed to let you do what you want as long as he doesn't find out if Shannon has hurt you in any way." Leah responded. "And I would suggest telling him that you two are dating before it gets too serious."
"Thank you Leah! I will tell him tonight." Nicole stated.
"You're welcome! If you're gonna tell him tonight, then you might want to do it soon." Leah responded as Nicole turned to head into the living room.
Matt and Jeff were sitting on the floor playing a video game on the XBOX while Shannon and Krista were watching them and laughing. Leah soon joined everyone in the living room. Nicole waited until the part of the game they were playing was over before saying anything.
"Hey Matt. Can I talk to you for a minute alone?" Nicole asked.
"Uh, sure. No cheating Jeff." Matt stated as he stood up and followed Nicole out to the front porch. "What's up?"
"I wanted to tell you that as much as I love you and respect you as my big brother, I am 24 years old and can make my own decisions. I know you have this rule about how none of your friends are allowed to date me and such, but you can't tell the heart to not want what it wants." Nicole started.
"I love you too. I say that because I don't want it to be weird between everyone if things didn't work out between you and whomever. And you're right you can't tell your heart not to love someone when all you can do is love them." Matt responded.
"Matt, I have never felt like this before and I want to give it a chance and he feels the same way about me. But the only thing stopping us is, well, you and Jeff and that rule." Nicole stated. "I want to be with him, please."
"I'm not going to stop you. You are an adult and you have every right to date whomever you want, even it's one of our friends." Matt responded. "I can't speak for Jeff, but if you want to date him, then go for it. However, if I ever find out that he hurt you in anyway, I will kill him."
"He won't hurt me. So we are ok with this then?" Nicole asked.
"He'd better not. Yeah we are ok. Shannon is a great guy and I know that he will treat you with respect." Matt answered.
"Good. I know he will." Nicole stated as she hugged her brother.