Chapter Twenty - Three - Insecurities

“Can’t believe we did our last concert tonight.” Melinda said as her and Nick sat in the living room of their hotel suite in downtown Beverly Hills. They had already had a hotel room booked and Melinda didn’t feel like going home since her father’s new fiancée was there.

“I know.” Nick said as he looked over at her, “Tomorrow is the premiere.”

“I know.” Melinda said as she swallowed and looked down at her hands and looked back over at Nick, “I’m gonna go in my room and change.”

“Okay.” Nick said as he watched Melinda stand up and walk into her room. He stood there a minute, taking a deep breath, and then stood up himself. He walked over to Melinda’s room, and opened the door, seeing her standing there in her bra and panties.

“Nick what -”

Nick leaned over and kissed her passionately, making her forget what she was going to say. Their lips never left each other as they both started to unbutton the shirt he had on, when finally Melinda reached the last button and slipped it off, tossing it onto the floor beside her t-shirt and skirt.

They broke away from the kiss, looking at each other as Nick reached his hand up, pushing her bra strap over her shoulder, making it fall and then did the same thing with the other one while Melinda watched him. Then she reached down and started to undo his pants, making them fall to the ground as he stepped out of them.

Nick backed up onto the bed, pulling Melinda to lie on top of him. They stayed like that for a few minutes, kissing deeply, hands roaming each other’s bodies. Then Nick wrapped his arm around Melinda’s waist, turning them over in the bed so he was laying on top of her. Settling himself between her legs, he pulled his lips back from hers, looking at her.

Nick brought his hand up to her face, brushing the hair back out of her eyes. “This is our last real time together,” Nick said, staring down at her. Melinda smiled in return.

“I know.” Melinda said as she smiled, “I want you so bad.”

“I want you too.” Nick whispered, inching closer.

“Every damn piece of you,” Melinda replied, as Nick’s lips found hers again.

Nick lifted up her leg a little, and she wrapped it around his waist, letting him enter her. Melinda closed her eyes, feeling him inside of her, moving slowly. Melinda opened her eyes, watching Nick as he moved in and out of her, picking up her hand and running her fingers through his hair. She pulled slightly, wanting him to kiss her again. She could never get enough kisses from Nick.

Nick’s lips moved away from Melinda’s, as he began to kiss on her neck and then down her chest a little, moving back and forth across her body. Melinda’s eyes shut again, a warm feeling washing all over her. “I wanna make love to you all night baby,” Nick said, as he was planting kisses all along her collarbone. “I missed you, I wanna show you.”

Melinda’s only response was a moan, and Nick began to move faster, thrusting deeper into her. Melinda’s arms wrapped around Nick’s shoulders, holding him close as his lips made their way back up to hers again. They kissed passionately, tongues licking and tasting each other. Then Melinda started to rock back against him, and within a few seconds, they found their rhythm.

It wasn’t too long before they were both panting and moaning lowly into each other’s mouths as they kissed. Nick moved his hands across her breasts, massaging them, causing her to moan a little louder. When he felt Melinda’s legs tighten around his body, he knew she was getting close to her climax, so in turn he thrust harder and deeper into her. Melinda held onto him as they came together a few minutes later, but when Nick slowed down he realized Melinda was shaking.

“You okay?” Nick asked, looking down at her as Melinda wrapped her arms around him tighter, resting her chin in the crook of his neck and started to cry lightly, “Mindy? You okay?”

“I’m fine.” Melinda said as she tried to fight back tears and Nick moved his head, looking at her.

“Why are you crying?” Nick asked as Melinda laid her head back down on the pillow, and looked the other way, “What’s wrong?”

“Just a little emotional, that’s all.” Melinda said as she smiled, leaning up to kiss him.

“You sure?” Nick asked, looking at her, “You can tell me.”

“I’m fine.” Melinda said as she ran her fingers through his hair, pushing it off of his forehead, “Just gonna miss that.”

“Me too.” Nick said as Melinda smiled, “Maybe relive it at Christmas?” he asked as Melinda started to laugh and leaned back up to hug him.

“Definitely.” Melinda whispered in his ear as Nick kissed her gently on the neck and hugged her back, “I’m gonna miss it.”

“Me too babe. Me too.” Nick whispered back as they continued to hug.

“I’m nervous to go to this premiere.” Melinda said the next day as she stood there, talking to herself in the mirror, “I don’t think I can take leaving Nick for good tonight, I don’t think I’m gonna be able to do it.”

She sighed, looking down at her pink dress with spaghetti straps and then looked back up in the mirror at her hair, curled in loose curls. She shook her head, thinking to herself how she looked like a whipped girl in love.

Melinda, you ready?!?

Melinda just turned her head, looking over at the door and back at herself in the mirror.

“I can’t go through with it.” Melinda thought, as she started to cough and feel a little queasy, putting her hand over mouth.

“Melinda -” Nick said a he walked through the door in his silver buttoned up shirt and black jacket with matching pants, “Wow.”

“Huh?” Melinda asked as she turned around and looked at him. Nick just stood there in shock, looking at her, “What?”

“You look beautiful.” Nick said as he shook his head a little, “Matt came to the door a minute ago and said it was time to go.”

“Okay, coming.” Melinda said as she smiled, looking back at him. Nick continued to just stare at her, “You gonna leave so I can finish?”

“Oh, right.” Nick said as he pointed his finger up in the air and turned around, shutting the door behind him.

“God.” Melinda said as she leaned her head up against the mirror, banging it lightly, “You can do it Melinda. It’s not right, just go to this premiere, perform your song, and go home and go back to your life.”

Mindy!!

“Coming!” Melinda yelled as she reached over for her little handbag and walked out of her room to see Nick standing there, with his elbow stuck out, waiting for her to put her arm around it, “Ready.”

“Sweet.” Nick said with a cheesy grin as Melinda put her arm around his and they walked out the door.

“Are you two dating?” Nick said, mocking the press after walking down the red carpet, “God that’s annoying.”

“Always dating any girl in a 20 mile radius of you.” Melinda said as Nick paused and she looked back at him, “What?”

“Shakira is here.” Nick said as he wiggled his eyebrows and Melinda rolled her eyes, “So, you going home tonight after the party?”

“Yep.” Melinda said as they walked down the isle, taking their seats in the theatre, “Gonna be weird.”

“Yeah serious. I go back home tomorrow for two days before I have to come back to record with the guys.” Nick said, “That’s gonna suck.”

“What? Having to leave home again?” Melinda asked as Nick nodded his head, “Well you can always stay at the house.”

“Really?” Nick asked, as he looked over at her, pressing his tongue against the inside of his mouth and looked away, “I dunno though, I mean. Maybe we need our space away from each other so we can get used to our non-agreeing ways and go back to our old selves.”

“Yeah you have a point.” Melinda said as she looked in the opposite direction, and started to feel sick again. She started coughing and began to gag a little.

“You okay?” Nick asked, putting his arm around her, “Sick?”

“Nerves I think.” Melinda said as she smiled fakely at him, “Just nervous or maybe it’s some stomach virus going around.”

“Sick tonight already?”

“Threw up a bunch this morning and once tonight, right before I got dressed.”

“Probably so man, going around these different places.” Nick said as he moved his arm and looked over at her, “You’re really beautiful tonight.’

“Thank you.” Melinda said as she looked down at what he had on, and then looked back up, meeting with his eyes, “You look pretty good too.”

“Really?” Nick asked as Melinda smiled, nodding her head yes as the lights dimmed and the movie began to play.

“The performance was GREAT!” Matt said as Melinda and Nick walked off of the little stage, still hearing everybody clap for them, “That was the best performance that I’ve seen you two do of that song.”

“Thanks man.” Nick said as they did some weird handshake, “I guess it’s all over now huh?”

“Yeah.” Melinda said as she started to walk away from them, and go up to one of the bars, wondering what to order. She looked over her shoulder at Nick who was standing there talking to Matt and then looked away, seeing Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck standing across the room.

“Mindy, you okay?” Nick asked as Melinda looked back over to her right, to see Nick standing there.

“I’m fine.” Melinda said as she smiled as “Damn” came over the speakers in the room, “Guess they’re playing the soundtrack huh?”

“Yep.” Nick said as he reached over, taking her right hand in his, “Let’s dance one last time.”

“I dunno Nick, I don’t feel too good -”

“I won’t take no for a answer.” Nick said, smiling as he started to walk off, pulling her out onto the dance floor. He turned around, and pulled her up to him as she wrapped her arms around his neck while he put his on her hips, “Having a good time tonight?”

“Yeah, a pretty good time.” Melinda said as she looked to her left to see Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson talking to some guy, “I feel weird being in this atmosphere. I’m used to music events.”

“Same here.” Nick said as he looked away, taking a deep breath and then pressing his lips together, “So you’re gonna relax tomorrow? Watch Young & The Restless?”

“Basically. Just stay in bed I think all day long.” Melinda said as Nick started to laugh a little, “Gonna go home and worry Aaron?”

“Yep, or well, he’ll worry the hell out of me of course.” Nick said as Melinda smiled, “But you know what?”

“What?” Melinda asked as she moved her head so she was looking in his eyes.

“I think doing this duet together and everything has taught us a lesson.” Nick said as Melinda tilted her head a little, looking at him.

“What’s that?” Melinda asked as Nick smiled out of the corner of his mouth.

“That even though we’ve fought for most of our lives together, that deep down, we really do get along and have a lot in common. We have the same goals, same wants, same desires, and the same insecurities.”

“That’s a big word.”

“Thank you.” Nick said as Melinda smiled at him.

“You know, there’s something I wanna tell you.” Melinda said as Nick smiled, looking so deeply into her eyes that it was like he was looking at the best thing that God had ever created, and then she paused, moving her arms from around his neck and stepped away.

“What is it?” Nick asked as Melinda started to feel sick again, and put her hand over her mouth, running away, “Mindy?!?!”

“What’s wrong with her?” Matt asked as he walked up to Nick who shrugged his shoulders.

“I don’t know man. She said she had something to tell me and then she started to get sick. I think she’s coming down with the flu.” Nick said as he looked over at Matt, and crossed his arms across his chest.

“Well atleast the tour is over.” Matt said as he walked back over to the bar, leaving Nick on the dance floor.

“Ugh,” Melinda moaned as she reached over, flushing the toilet and wiped her hand across her mouth.

Are you okay in there?, Melinda heard someone asked as she reached over, grabbing her matching purse off of the hanger in the bathroom and stepped out of it, to see an older lady standing there.

“I think so.” Melinda said as she leaned up against the wall, putting her hand over her stomach, “Just feel sick. I think I have a virus.”

“Well I’m a doctor if you need anything.”, she said, “My husband was the Assistant Producer on the movie. How long have you been feeling this way?”

“Past few days”, Melinda said, “Mostly in the morning or late at night. Or when I get really really nervous.”

“No other symptoms besides that?”

“Like what?”

“Missed period or swollen breast?”, she asked as Melinda gave her a weird look.

“Well I’m supposed to start tomorrow and well I did notice the other night that my breast were feeling weird when I put my bra on.” Melinda said as she looked at her, “Why?”

“Sounds like you’re pregnant sweetie. Congratulations.” She said as she smiled, walking out of the ladies room.