“Why’s that?” Kevin watched AJ saunter into the room.
“Because Nick told me you were persona non grata from now on. He thought you’d try and crash the party tonight so you could talk some more sense into him… and he was right.” AJ said, his voice terse. “Don’t tell me you went through the kitchen window? I was watching the back entrance and I never saw you.”
“I did. I spotted you on the patio and I didn’t know what else to do.”
“Dude, that’s scre.wed up.”
Kevin shrugged, “One has to do what one has to do in life.”
“Oh God,” AJ groaned. “Not another one of your mantras.”
Emma grinned at the conversation taking place right in front of her. This was classic! She saw Kevin trying really hard not to roll his eyes but the effort was too much.
In the end, he sighed, “Okay, J, so what do you think I should do? I need to make sure Nick is okay. You know that.”
“You’re not his dad, Kev. You never were.”
“I might as well be. He didn’t even get her to sign a pre-nup! I mean, what the hell?”

AJ stared at him for a few silent moments. “He’s in love, Kevin. Maybe for the first time in his life. Do you really think he’d think of something so… so realistic while he was going through these emotions?”
Emma blinked. Man, that was deep. Who knew? Maybe AJ had a hidden side.
Kevin growled, “He still should have known better! Who’s to say she didn’t marry him for his money?”
Okay, that was enough. “Kevin, I think you should leave.”
He turned towards Emma, “I thought you were on my side!”
She felt her eyes widen. “I’m not on anybody’s side! But you’ve gotta start listening to yourself! This is my friend you’re talking about!”
“So what? Don’t you see the potential repercussions?”
“I do. But I also know her and she wouldn’t do that. She doesn’t care about money. She’s been in love with him for years so no, I don’t see what’s the problem. Come to think of it… why do you think she doesn’t have any? Maybe she should have gotten him to sign a pre-nup to protect her assets? Have you ever thought about that?”
Kevin stared at her as if she was mad while AJ chuckled. An arm looped around her shoulders and squeezed, “I like your style, kiddo.”

***

Sue’s eyes were wide open as she stared at the ceiling.
This was it. She was here, in Nick’s house. Their house. She felt the need to scream at the thought but she, thankfully, managed to hold onto her control.
Nick mumbled something in his sleep as he rolled over and tugged her closer to his side.
His beard tickled her cheek but she didn’t move away. It felt too good to be there.

Sighing, she closed her eyes and tried to forget Kevin’s words or the censure she’d spotted in his eyes. She’d known it’d be difficult, that he was very protective of his ‘little brother’ but that had been even worse than what she’d imagined.
He’d said she was a ‘thing’! What the hell did that mean?
She knew she didn’t look like Nick’s usual conquests but he’d married her. There was a good reason for that! Couldn’t Kevin see behind the façade? Wasn’t he supposed to be the most mature one of the group after all?

***

“Why don’t you go home, Kevin, and we’ll finish this conversation in the morning?” Emma suggested as she felt a yawn bubbling up in her throat. “I need rest.”
“Good idea!” AJ used his hold on her shoulders to make her turn and walk towards the door. “Don’t let the door hit you on your way out, Kev!”
“AJ!” She hissed as she tried to move away from him. “Let me go!”
“Are you together too? Is that what’s going on? Now I understand why you’re ganging up on me.” Kevin’s voice rang behind them. Too close behind them.
Em stopped. "Kevin, I really suggest that you leave. Before you say something even more ludicrous than what you just did." She shrugged AJ's arm off her shoulder, "and you, can you stop antagonizing him?"
"I'm not going anywhere until I get to the bottom of this."

"I think my husband made it perfectly clear that you weren't welcome here." The three of them looked at the new figure joining them in the hallway. "You phone 911 for the police here, right?" Sue lifted the phone and dialed the three digits. "Hello police please. Hi, we are having a party here and have just caught an intruder crawling in through the window. He was most certainly not invited. You'll be here in ten minutes? Look forward to seeing you then."
"Sunny! I can't believe you just did that."
Sue ignored her friend and looked at the taller of the two men. "I suggest you leave now, before the police get here."
"Fine, I'm going. This isn't the end of this, you know."
"Whatever. Just leave through the front door please. Night."

Kevin left and Em turned on her friend. "Phone the police back and say it was a false alarm or something! They are going to arrest him or worse!"
"Don’t need to. I wasn't talking to anyone."
"Sunny. That was just evil."
Sue sighed, "It figures you would defend him. Don't worry about what he called me or his reaction to our news or anything like that, just as long as he's ok." she sighed again. "Listen, I'm tired and I'm going back to bed. We'll talk about this situation in the morning." Sue hugged her friend before returning to her room.
"You two have a weird friendship." AJ commented before going back to the party.