CHAPTER 55:

Over the next few days, AJ and John hardly spoke to each other and they've certainly didn't tell their partners of their encounter. It was now March 19th, AJ's birthday to be exact, and Roman along with Nikki had long since returned from their trips.

"Hey there baby" said Roman. "Happy birthday". AJ smiled. "Thanks" she said. "But you've already said that to me 3 times today". "I know but it's not every day that your girlfriend of 6 months turns 27" said Roman. "How did I ever get so lucky?" asked AJ. "You know I ask that same question myself all the time" said Roman as the two kissed. Roman stopped as he noticed something was wrong.

"You're alright baby?" he asked. "Yeah" said AJ. "Trust me I'm fine". "That's good" said Roman as he began to put on AJ's jacket. "That's good because tonight we're going to have a nice and very beautiful dinner". The two resumed their kissing as Bullet jumped off of the couch and ran up towards them.

"What's been with him lately?" asked Roman. "I dunno" said AJ. "He's been all around me for the past few days". "Weird dog" said Roman. AJ chuckled. "No he's just protecting me" she said. "From what it's just us here?" said Roman with a smile. "Well it's like you said, he's a weird dog" said AJ. "Well we better get going. We've still got like less than 30 minutes to make it to our reservations which is all the across town" said Roman.

"Good luck driving in this Tampa traffic" said AJ. "Cute" said Roman as he opened the door for them and they headed their way. After about 20 minutes of driving, the two finally made it to a restaurant called "The Star". "Leati, this is nice" said AJ. "I know" said Roman as he handed his keys to the valet. "Come let's get seated". The coupled were lead over to a private table away from onlookers.

"I still can't believe that you made this happen for me" said AJ. "Yeah I know" said Roman with a smile. "You truly are the best you know that" said AJ. "I love you April" said Roman. "And I love you too" said AJ. A waiter came to their table just as the two were beginning to kiss. "What will the lovely couple be having tonight?" he asked.

"I'll have the usual steak meal" said Roman. "And the lovely lady?" asked the waiter. "Um…let's see" said AJ. "I'll have the shrimp cocktail with the guacamole dip and Texas styled chips". "That is all?" asked the wait. "And a glass of your champagne" said AJ. "Make that two glasses" said Roman. "Certainly" said the waiter as he left.

"AJ you've got quite an appetite tonight" said Roman. "Yeah well I haven't really eaten all that much today" said AJ. "Why not baby?" asked Roman. "I didn't really have all that much of an appetite today" said AJ as she sipped her glass of water. "Oh?" said Roman. "Yeah" said AJ. "So is it one of those 'it's my party and I'll cry if I want to' things?" asked Roman. "Absolutely not" said AJ. "It's just that I'm getting older".

"Baby you are 27, not 77" laughed Roman. "You will always be beautiful to me, no matter what". "No matter what?" AJ asked. "Yeah girl. Where's this coming from anyway?" asked Roman. "Nowhere" said AJ. As she finished her sentenced, the waiter returned with their meals. "For the gentleman his steak and vegetable enclave with a fine glass of wine and for the lovely lady her deluxe primer shrimp cocktail with a side of guacamole and chips" he said.

As the waiter uncovered the trays, AJ suddenly began to feel ill. "Baby are you ok?" asked Roman. "Excuse me" AJ said abruptly as she got up and ran off. Roman stood up and threw his napkin to follow behind his girlfriend while being careful not to make a scene.

AJ made it the bathroom in time to vomit into the toilet. After several minutes she had reemerged from the restroom to find a worried Roman waiting for her outside of it. "Baby are you alright?" he asked. "Yeah" said AJ. "I think that milk we had this morning had expired or something". "Must have" said Roman. "Come on I think we better call it a night" said Roman. "But what about our dinner?" AJ asked.

"We can have it at a later time" said Roman as he kissed AJ's forehead. "But for now I much rather get you on home". With that the couple left the restaurant.

Meanwhile, Nikki had returned back from a nice calm evening of shopping to her and John's Tampa house. "Hey there babe, come see what I've got" she said as she placed four filled to the brim shopping bags down on the floor. John walked from their upstairs bedroom and into the doorway to meet her.

"Damn Nicole did you like buy out the whole store?" he asked as picked up the bags. "No crazy" said Nikki. "I just went out and brought only the necessities". "Such as?" asked John as he sat the bags on their coffee table. "Such as a new traveling bag, shoes to match and two sets of blazers with dress pants" said Nikki as she began opening up the bags. "See?"

"Yes I see" said John as he looked at his fiancée's purchased goods. "Jeez Nicole exactly how much did this cost you?" "$11,400" said Nikki as she began to neatly refold her clothing. "I'm sorry but did you just say $11,400?" asked John. "Yeah John" said Nikki. "Shopping downtown isn't cheap anymore". John looked around at the bags at which Nikki went shopping. "So you're telling me you spent all of this at Banana Republic and Louis Vuitton?" he asked. "Uh huh" said Nikki as she stood up to gather her bags.

"I dunno Nicole" said John. "I feel like you gotta calm down on your spending a bit". "Baby compared this to how I used to shop before I met you and trust me I am calmed down" said Nikki. "Whatever you say Nicole" said John as he stood up.

"John, are you alright?" asked Nikki. "I mean I just wanted to get some outfits for my real estate clients". "I'm fine" said John. "Plus I got you something too. I didn't forget about you" said Nikki. "What did you get me?" asked John. "Nope I'm not gonna tell you until we're in Hawaii next week" said Nikki. "I wanna keep it all a big surprise".

"I really like all them surprises so much" said John. Nikki walked up to John and gently touched his face. "Trust me John, you're gonna love it, after all I do". With that Nikki took her bags upstairs with her leaving John to wonder just exactly what she meant by surprise.

A/N:

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