Chapter 8 Seven

Lauren was watching Emily and Sienna flirting with each other when she realized that something was definitely going on between them. Lauren knew there was something about Emily but couldn't figure it out. Finally it dawned on her as she watched her with Sienna. Her friend was what one would consider a bisexual.

While Lauren stood, the two women didn't seem to notice her. "Excuse me," she said. Seeing another man in the cabin caused Lauren to pause as she entered the living room. The guitarist from the band, Ethan, and Nik looked absorbed in whatever was in the notepad. Continuing toward her bedroom, Lauren overheard Ethan say, "I can think of some great music to go with this one song."

"Yeah," Nik replied.

The door behind Lauren was closed when she went to the window and stared out at the ocean. Suddenly, the once blue skies appeared to be getting darker and cloudier, as if there was a storm approaching. The soft breeze began to grow stronger. Also, a storm that is about to hit the coast was clearly causing the birds to behave as if they are getting ready for it. The wind and lightning flashes soon intensified and Lauren continued to watch the horizon. She inhaled sharply when she saw flashes of lightning miles from the shoreline.

As Lauren entered the living room, Emily and Sienna who were sitting on the deck rushed into the cabin. Nik and Ethan were still sitting on the couch looking over the notepad and didn't pay then any mind.

As Emily closed the glass door behind her, she gushed, "There's a storm coming." Emily peered over Lauren's shoulder to see that it was raining out side. Lauren turned around, looking at the sky, and saw it was pouring. "That is one bitch of a storm," Lauren said. Taking a look outside, she walked over. With the wind, the furniture on the deck began to move. Nik had stopped talking and stood. He closed the gap between the two of them. She could feel the heat of his body behind her and his breathing along her ear. She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again.

As Nik looked over at Ethan and then at Emily and Sienna, he said, "That is one major storm." The house was surrounded by lightning and thunder. Lauren stepped around Nik and crossed the living room. The thunder rumbled throughout the house, and Emily slipped an arm around Sienna's shoulders as she jumped. Apparently, Nik saw it as well. Nik looked at Lauren and he knew something was going on between the two women as well.

As a result of the storm, the whole house went dark. Something started to bang the side of the house. Lauren quickly turned back to the back window The wind roared and rain poured that she couldn't even see the ocean. She looked up at the ceiling as she heard the rain pounding the roof. At least it was still light enough to see without the power being on.

Sienna and Emily made their way to the couch before the storm and resumed whatever conversation they were having outside.

"Bugger." Ethan said as he stood in the middle of the living room. "That is one bad storm." The guitar was still in his hand.

Lauren knew everything would be alright. She hoped that since it was only a storm and they were far enough from the shoreline, they wouldn't have to worry about a storm surge.

After it began to wind down, the storm picked up again. This one was stronger than the first.

"It doesn't seem to be slowing down at all, does it?" It was getting darker as it turned to evening.

The power was still out and Lauren and Nik went around the house gathering candles and light sources they could find even using their cell phones. Ethan walked over to the window to peer outside. Since the skies were too dark, he couldn't tell much. "Probably a few more hours at the most," he told them.

Nik and Lauren stood in the kitchen. "I guess your sister has a crush on my friend?" She said.

Nik glanced into the living room then back at Lauren. "That seems to be the case."

"Emily seems interested in your sister," Lauren remarked as she watched them.

Nik stepped closer to Lauren. "You don't mind?"

Lauren crossed her arms and said, "No, I don't want your sister to get hurt if Emily has to leave New Zealand when The Air Force orders it."

It was unclear to Nik whether those words were meant to benefit him more than his sister. "I am sure she would be hurt and it will be something they would have to deal with it."

Lauren knew this to be true. "This is her last year in the service, and she has to decide whether to reenlist or not." After watching these two women for a while, Lauren shifted her stance. It appeared that Ethan was the third wheel in the conversation between the two women who weren't paying attention to him. He started playing a few notes to one of the songs while looking at his notepad. Lauren was relieved to learn that it was not her song. Lauren felt Nik's heat on her back a moment later. Over her shoulder, she glanced up at him. "Le's make some sandwiches since we all didn't have lunch."

As Nik nodded, he stepped back so she could pass him. As she walked away, he groaned inwardly. He closed his eyes, wanting to pull her back into his arms. Although Ethan played this song, it wasn't one from the dreams he'd been having about Lauren. Ethan's pause in the middle of the song prompted Nik to glance into the living room as the other man gazed at the notepad, he frowned.

Sienna was watching Ethan while Emily was talking. Nik stepped out of the kitchen.

"Something wrong?" Nik asked Ethan.

"The riff combination you wrote down, is it even possible to do?" He handed the notepad to Nik when he asked.

As Nik took the notepad from Ethan, he glanced down at the point that the other man had pointed to. Nik grabbed his other guitar and began playing. "I did it a few months ago." he said. The part was easy for Nik to play. After watching him, Ethan tried playing it, but was unsuccessful. He let out a long groan when he couldn't do it.

"Practice. You'll get it soon. I have faith in you," Nik told him as he played it again.

Ethan was an excellent guitarist. Nik knew the man had been playing since he was a teenager. Ethan sat down in the chair and played another song with him. Lauren entered the room a few minutes later with a platter of sandwiches.

Sienna stood up and went to the bathroom.

"What is going on between you and Sienna?" Lauren asked the moment she was alone with Emily. They continued to be surrounded by the storm, but it was not as intense as it had been earlier. And the power was still out and they were still using candles and battery operated torches.

"What makes you so sure there's something wrong?" Emily asked as she took one of the sandwiches.

A smile spread across Lauren's face. "You've never behaved this way when a man pays you the same kind of attention as Sienna is doing to you now."

Lauren glanced away from Emily, looking as if her hand was caught in a cookie jar. "You noticed?"

Lauren bumped the other woman's shoulder. "Yeah, I have noticed. Its okay, Emily. That military code was changed. It's nothing to be ashamed of. I won't say anything if you don't want me to."

Emily smiled as she looked up at her.

"Just be careful though. I really hate to see either one of you hurt if you have to ship out and she can't go with you."

Lauren was right, Emily knew that. "Is that the reason you won't give him a chance?"

Her attention was immediately drawn to Emily's remarks. Many reasons prevented her from giving him a chance. While singing one of the songs in the notepad, Nik was strumming his guitar. "I have my reasons." Lauren did not say why.

As Nik sang one of his songs, he watched her from the corner of his eye. He paused then strummed the last riff one more time. "Does that sound right to you?" He asked Ethan. They paused long enough to eat one of the sandwiches.

"I think this kind of song is a bit off," he told him.

He nodded as he moved the guitar from his lap to his chest and glanced at the lyrics. While he was thinking of a tune, his head bobbed along. Despite being different from his own tune, Ethan hummed a nice tune as well. Nik began playing the tune he was hearing in his head.

Continuing with the melody he was playing, Ethan said, 'that sounds pretty good."

"We can do this tune together, right?" Nik asked. Ethan picked up the beat just as he did. His eye caught a glimpse of Lauren watching them. A warm feeling washed over him that he couldn't point a finger on. A vision of them spending every night together like this entered his mind. The vision disappeared just as quickly.

"I actually think we can do it," Nik said with a smile.

The feeling was also felt by Ethan, who smiled. Continuing to play with Ethan, Nik shifted in his seat. Their song ended then.

When the event was over, Sienna said, "That was great."

Emily took a deep breath, "I agree. That was good."

Nik watched Lauren from the corner of his eye. He could tell she was just as emotional with the song as Sienna and Emily were. It was then, the power came back on. Lauren let out a sigh of relief and stood. She walked around to collect the plates and glasses when Emily stood as well and helped her friend. Sienna also joined them even though there weren't many dishes to gather.

In the kitchen, Sienna told Lauren, "We'll do it."

"Okay," After shoving her hands in her back pockets, Lauren returned to the living room.

"Lleyton says the children's benefit concert is still on," Nik informed Ethan. 'still for it?"

Then he put his hand on the guitar he held in his hand and ran his fingers along his jaw. "I think I'll be up to it. What about the others?"

"I haven't mentioned it to them yet. The concert is six months away and I'm sure we'll be healed by then."

Ethan nodded then glanced down at the notepad. "We also still have this album that we need to get recorded in a few months." He tapped the notepad.

"We all are working on it. Would you like to contribute anything to the album?"

Ethan grinned at the other man. "You mean besides the music?"

When he heard a door close behind him, Nik glanced over his shoulder. Then he looked over into the kitchen and saw his sister and Emily in there doing the kitchen. The two women did appear to be hitting it off.

"Are your parents aware of Sienna?" Ethan asked.

Nik shook his head. "I don't think so. She should be the one to let them know."

In the kitchen, Sienna and Emily were busy doing the dishes and talking. "What do you think about her dating an American?"

Nik shrugged. "It's her choice not mine." He was busy tightening the strings and then strumming them.

Ethan didn't say anything else. Standing in the middle of the room, he peered out the window of the living room. The rain had become more of a drizzle, and the wind had finally stopped.

Nik sat the guitar down beside him and stood. He crossed the room and looked out as well. "Nah, I wouldn't want the ladies driving on the motorway after the storm we just had. I don't think anyone will be going anywhere tonight."

Nik looked over his shoulder at Sienna and Emily; they were done and were quiet. That was a first since they were introduced earlier that day. Instead, they were standing there, staring at each other.

"Where's Lauren?" Ethan asked.

Nik glanced over her shoulder at the bedroom she was using before turning to Ethan. "I think she's in her room, why?"

Ethan replied, "No reason. I thought I saw someone outside." The man pointed in the direction of where he believed he saw a movement outside.

Nik looked in the direction Ethan pointed. He didn't see anything. Even though he was tempted to go see if she was in her room, he decided not to as the door opened and she stepped out. Ethan and Nik stared at her for a moment.

"What?" She asked.

"Nothing," both men said at the same time. Nik looked out the window again, but there was no one in sight.

"Okay," she replied suspiciously. "I was looking at the news app on my phone. She held up her phone. "Some trees have fallen along State Highway 1 to Auckland." She said. Nik looked at it then at Ethan.

Ethan agreed. "As far as I can tell, nobody is leaving tonight."

Nik went into the kitchen to tell Sienna and Emily.

"We heard," Sienna said as Emily stepped past them as she walked toward Lauren in the living room.

After entering the kitchen, Lauren took a good look at Emily. There was a certain glow on Emily's face that told Lauren everything she wanted to know. "Well?"

"I like her. I like her a lot," Emily said. Lauren's hands were tightly grasped by her.

Lauren smiled at her friend. "That is great, Em."

"The service will end in one year, and I want to remain here afterwards. Sienna is going to find out how I can remain here and become a citizen."

"That's great, Em. Are you sure this is what you really want?"

"Yes." Emily's smile grew even wider. "We share so much in common."

It made her really happy to know that her friend was doing well. She reached out to hug Emily. "I am truly happy for you, Emily. However, she lives in Auckland, and we are on the south end of the north island."

"The weekend and when I have time off will work well as time to see each other," Emily said.

There had been so much ease in their long distance relationship that Emily had made it seems so easy. "Thank you," Emily said before stepping back from Lauren. Sienna was talking to her brother in the living room when Emily glanced over at her. The rain had finally stopped now that Ethan was outside and he wanted to see if anything had been damaged. Additionally, he wanted to make a private phone call.

"The house is full tonight, so I need to make some arrangements for everyone to sleep." Lauren said. Emily nodded in agreement. Lauren walked over to the window and peered outside. From what she could tell from the full moon hanging high in the sky, the clouds were going away; the storm was finally over. Ethan was walking around on the deck talking to someone on the phone.

A very serious conversation was going on between Sienna and Nik in their living room. "Because of its pull out bed, the couch should work for you and Sienna," Lauren said to Sienna. "I'm not sure about Ethan though."

"I guess we can create something of a bed for him from the cushions we have on the floor." Emily suggested.

As Lauren nodded, she shook her head, then she had different idea. "He's quite tall. My bed is his to use and I'll take the cushions."

Quite quietly, Emily said, "Lauren, I am willing to give Sienna a chance. Maybe you should do the same for her brother." She turned her head toward Nik. She moved her head in Nik's direction.

Nik had just turned away when Lauren noticed him watching her.

It seemed like a good idea. It appeared that Ethan, Sienna, and Nik were all comfortable with it. By the time everyone went to bed, it was really late. However, Lauren couldn't sleep. As she gazed out over the ocean, she stood on her deck. Reflections of the full moon were seen in the ocean. As a slight breeze flew around her, she pulled her sweater tighter around her. As the glass doors slid open, she heard someone approaching her. Since the other two women were fast asleep, she did not need to turn around to know who it was. "Your sister and my friend seem to make a good couple," She told Nik.

Nik joined her at the rail and stared out. "Yeah, they do. I hope it works out for them."

Lauren nodded. Stars twinkled against the blackness of night as she looked up. She could feel Nik's heat next to her as the night air grew cool.

"Give him a chance," Emily's earlier words entered her mind. As she leaned against the rail, Lauren turned her attention back to the ocean. Watching him from the corner of her eye, she saw him staring at the ocean as well.

Should I give him the chance? Lauren wondered what to do. Why not? What do I have to lose? Besides everything. Something bright entered the sky and she looked up in time to see two shooting stars streaking across the sky then disappeared. She turned to Nik with wide eyes. "Did you see that?"

As he stared up into her upwards pointing face, Nik nodded. He then kissed her. When he touched her lips, heat spread throughout her entire body. She felt his fingertips caressing her face. As she started kissing him back, she let out a deep breath as she opened her lips for his tongue. He held her arms when her legs became weak and she needed someone to hold on to.

As Nik pulled her closer to him, he growled softly. Taking her by the buttocks, he lifted her and set her down on the rail before stepping between her legs. She threaded her fingers through his hair as she kissed him with such passion she didn't know it was inside of her. Inhaling deeply, he out breathed just as harshly as he leant his forehead against hers and tore his lips from hers. Both his and her eyes were still closed.

"Nik," Lauren whispered. She wanted to kiss him again but there was a loud screeching filled the air around them causing them to jump apart. Lauren turned around to search their surroundings. "What the hell was that?" Lauren asked as she stepped back toward the doors.

"I'm not sure. I never heard anything like that before," Nik said as he stepped in front of Lauren. "Let's get inside."