CHAPTER SEVEN

"I don't know, but he had a hell of a hangover when I saw him today," Laurie said to her friend Kori over the phone. She'd been worried about Nick. He must have gotten himself drunk after they separated last night, because he wasn't when they were in the pool. It had been on her mind because Nick wasn't the kind of guy to get drunk in the early hours of the morning. It scared her, in a way.

"I still can't believe you stayed in the pool with him, much less the hot tub," her friend said.

Laurie sighed. "Kor, I'm serious. I, I'm worried about him," she admitted.

"Laur, if he wants to throw his life away in a bottle, I say let him. You aren't tied to him anymore. Besides, I'm sure the guys won't let him get too dangerous," Kori assured her.

"I know, I know. Just, still, there's always that feeling I have for him. I can't help but worry," she said.

"We need to get you a boyfriend," Kori said, giggling. "Actually, I say you go for Kevin!"

"He's married. Happily, mind you," Laurie said.

"We can always dream, can't we? Kori said. Laurie laughed.

"Thanks Kor. I'll talk to you later," she said, hanging the phone up. Kori had made her feel better, but there was still something that she sensed that wasn't right with Nick.

         
"Nick?" Brian asked. He could barely understand his friend. Lately calls like these were happening more and more. "Nick, listen, you need to stop this. This isn't what she'd want and you know it."

"Bullshit it isn't!" Nick shouted.  "It's her fault that I'm this way!"

"Who is it honey?" Leighanne asked, awakened by her husband's worried voice.

"Nick," Brian mouthed to his concerned wife. She must have been getting fed up with Nick's drunken midnight calls.

"Listen, it's been three years Nick. If she were coming back, she'd have done it by now. I'm sorry, you just have to accept it," Brian told him. It hurt to him to see his little brother this way. It was bad enough that A.J. had gone through this, but he and Nick were closest of all the guys. He hated to see Nick's life messed up the way it was.

"She wanted to Rok! She was going to, too!" Nick hollered into the mouthpiece.

"Nick, get some rest. Please. You need it," Brian pleaded.

"Yea, whatever," Nick said, slamming the phone down.

"Is he ok Bri?" Leigh asked.

Brian shook his head.  "I don't know. I'm worried about him," he told her. He wrapped his arms around her, and instantly felt relieved a little. His wife always made him feel better about Nick's situation, even if no one else could.

Nick walked over to his stairs. He attempted to walk up them, but fell on his way. "Shit," he said. He struggled to get up, and, grabbing the railing, finally made his way to his bed.

He passed out as soon as he hit the pillows.