Dog Tags

Chapter 40

Quinn's POV

I pull into the parking lot of the Tranquil Point Garden and get out looking around for Nick, but I don't see anyone. I start walking around the garden while my mind gets side tracked by the smell of all the different flowers that bloom here even in the winter,but my ears suddenly pick up on the noise of what sounds like a trash can being hurled, and as I follow the noise I find Nick who is sitting on the picnic table. I sigh taking in a deep breath and walk over to Nick who is shirtless,covered in sweat, and only wearing a pair of running pants and workout shoes, 

"Don't you ever scare me like this again." I scowl him while walking over to him and hitting him on his arm, but when Nick looks at me I can see his eyes filling up with tears and I react the only way I know how which is to wrap my arms around his neck and give him a huge hug, "I don't know what I am going to do Quinn?"Nick says burying his face in my shoulder letting a few tears slip from his eyes, "Just breath Nick, and tell me what is going on?" Nick takes a few deep breaths before pulling away from me jumping off the table and starts pacing around, "I feel like my life is spinning out of control, I am not ready for this kind of responsibility." Nick runs his fingers through his hair letting out an angry and frustrated growl while I sit on the table baffled on what Nick is talking about.

"Nick,I can't help unless you tell me what has you this high strung and upset." Nick's dark blue eyes that are filled with tears lock on mine, "DON'T YOU GET IT! MY LIFE IS OVER, MY DREAMS ARE OVER, AND EVERYTHING I EVER WANTED IN LIFE DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE!" He roars losing control again and hurling the recycle bin across the lawn, "Why do you feel like that?" I ask wanting to know what could have set him off like this, "I feel like this because as of two hours ago my life was flipped upside down, and now I am trapped like a tiger in a cage."Nick chest moves up and down heavily and I can't help but notice how his tattoos move along with his body,

"Can you please just tell what is going on?" I ask and when Nick opens his mouth again 3 world crushing words leave his lips, "Nikki is pregnant." I sit there speechless thinking that I can't imagine what Nick must be going through. "At least that is what she is telling me, I went over to her apartment when her roommate Alexa answered the door, and when I went into Nikki's room she was sitting on her bed with red eyes holding the test in her hand." I just nod my head still stunned but I know that I must get myself together and cover up how heartbroken I am hearing this news,

"Wait,are you telling me that Nikki's roommate is Alexa, as in Alexa Harmon?" Nick nods his head with a confused look on his face, "Yeah, but what does that have anything to do with Nikki and I?" I just shrug my shoulders not wanting to get in the middle of something that has nothing to do with me. "I really messed up this time Quinn, and the worst part of it is that honestly I don't think I really love Nikki, I was only with her for the fun of it and to make sure that I wasn't alone." Hearing Nick say this I can't help but fall back on my original assumption of Nick,

"You used her for sex and companionship, Nikki is a human with feelings and I think somewhere down the road she developed feelings for you." I get off the table and walk up to him, "Didn't you take health class in high school?" I scowled him and Nick just gives me a look telling to back off but I ignore it, "If you sleep with a girl it is possible that she could pregnant, and from all the girls I heard you slept with I can't believe that this didn't happen sooner."Nick looks at me with hurt in his eyes, "That was the old me, I have tried to change but it would seem the more I try the more people just want to stay the same." Nick snaps at me, I want to yell and scream at him but I know personally just how much he has been trying, and I know that I stepped over the line but I am also dealing with my emotions right now,

"I'm sorry Nick, I know that you are going through a lot right now." I take a deep breath agreeing that right now is not the time or the place to deal with my feelings when I have friend that desperately needs me, "Why did this have to happen, my life was going just fine and in a split second my whole future vanished like a puff of smoke." Nick punt a potted plant sending it flying. "I guess the big question is what are you going to do?" Nick lets out a breath putting his hands in the pockets and looking up at the night sky, "I am going to do the honorable thing and be there for Nikki and my kid." This comment makes the Nick that I have gotten to know shine, 

"Are you positive that she is pregnant? Because you wouldn't believe the kind of stories that I heard while in my nursing classes." Nick lets out a chuckle but from the look on his face anyone could tell that he knows his life has changed forever. "The test in her hand was positive, but we made an appointment at the hospital just to make sure it wasn't a false positive." I can't help but feel a little proud of Nick even though he thinks his life is over he is already stepping up as a man. "You already sound more mature than half of the guys that find out this kind of news." As Nick looks at me I can see that a storm is raging inside him. "What are you doing tomorrow?" Nick thinks about for a moment then answers me,

"Nothing really." I smile as I walk up to him, "Come by my house in the morning, we can hang out and get your mind off everything." Nick nods his head with a smile on his face as he rubs his neck, "Alright, I could use a day of fun and relaxation." I stand on his feet and try to give him a kiss on his cheek but he moves his head and our lips connect. The kiss starts the fire inside of me but I quickly remind myself of events that took place tonight and pull away from him, "I really need to get going, Chris is at my house tonight and he kind of knows about us, which means he is going to keep up all night asking all sorts of questions."

Nick grips my hand tight in his and I can see the worry shining his eyes, "Don't worry Nick, I won't tell anyone about Nikki, that will stay between you and me." I give him one last smile and I can't help but worry about him and what he might do if he is left alone, and it is like Nick can read my mind because the next thing he says to me, "Stop worrying about me, I will be just fine and if I need someone to talk me off the ledge again I will call." I incline my head before walking away heading back to my car and heading back home where I know that Chris is waiting for me.