Later in the night, Brian pulled me to a small area on the island.

“Missa, um, listen, I don’t want what I said to mess anything up with us…. I just can’t help it.” Brian said softly.

“What?”

“I’m talking about the note….”

“Note?”

Brian frowned. “You didn’t read the birthday card I gave you?”

I groaned. “Oh man, I’m sorry. I forgot. I left it in my other purse…..”

“Oh, um….okay. That’s actually good news. I thought…. well, um…. this was really embarrassing.” Brian got up quickly.

I got up with him. “Wait. What did you write?”

“Um, you can read it later.”

“No, wait, Brian!”

“What?”

“Please, what’d you write?

“Nothing. I mean…. I don’t want to talk about it right now.”

“Is this about that you have a crush on me?”

Brian’s ears turned completely red. Bingo.

“Brian?”

“Is it that noticeable?” He laughed weakly.

“No, someone told me.”

“Nick said it??”

“No…. Nick knew?”

“Uh, yeah…..”

“Oh.” I was running out of words to say.

“Um, do you want to date?” Brian asked uncertainly. “I like you, Missa. A lot. For a long while now….”

“So, why didn’t you say anything?”

“Um. I don’t know. I had another best friend back in Kenutcky. I also had the hugest crush on her, y’know? And, um, I asked her out. She turned me down, and we weren’t really best friends anymore. So, she’s like, what do I have to lose now? So she dates me. Then I saw her, in a boyfriend’s perceptive, and…. I didn’t like her anymore…. ” He paused, then continued. “I guess…… I was just worried cos dating changes everything in a friendship. I still want to be friends….but…..”

He looked so cute, all stressed with sweat. I gave him a small kiss. “Pretty deep for a guy who does voices like Donald Duck.”

“So, are we….. what are we now?”

“A couple, if you want.”

Brian’s face spread into a relaxed smiled. “Of course!” He gave a short kiss.

I gave him a long kiss back.

When we pulled away, Brian smiled jokingly. “I’m going to get use to this.”

I laughed. I pulled him towards where Kevin and AJ were standing. “C’mon, let’s get back before they wonder what happen to you.”

“Aw, c’mon. You’re in safe hands with me.”

“Uh-huh.” I said sarcastically.

The guys had got a fire going and they were all around it trying to stay warm.

I snuggled closer to Brian. “I’m cold.” I pouted.

“That’s what you get for wearing a bikini.” Kevin said.

The guys laughed.

I ignored them and closed my eyes, glad to have a fire going.

As something touched me, I opened one eye.

Brian placed his t-shirt over me, which left his chest bare.

“Aren’t you going to be cold?” I asked.

“You’re the one I should be worrying about.” He gave me a small trail of kisses.

I giggled.

“Oh, puh-lease, you’re going to make me gag.” AJ said.

Kevin turned to AJ. “Right, who’s worse? One month couple, Howie and Charisima or new lovebirds, Brian and Melissa?”

“I dunno, they’re both making me gag right now…” AJ said thoughtfully.

Charisima rolled her eyes. “Shut up, AJ.”

AJ was going to say another wisecrack again but I quickly changed the topic. “Don’t you guys have a new cd coming up?”

Nick answered. “Nope. We do have a new single coming up though.” He took another piece of cake. “Um, what’s the title? Um, it was, no wait, I know the answer….”

“As Long As You Love Me.” Howie said.

“I was going to say that!”

“Uh-huh, sure….” Howie said.

“I was! Anyways, it’s not out until January.”

“Could you sing it?” Charisima requested.

I smiled. “Yeah! Please?”

Nick shook his head. “Nah. I don’t want to.”

Brian smiled. “Same here.”

I pouted. “Why not? Please? For the birthday girl?”

Charisima added, “You guys should be use to singing in public by now.”

“I’ll sing.” AJ volunteered.

The rest of the guys finally gave in.

“Do you guys need to warm up or anything?”

“Not tonight.”

Nick groaned and patted his stomach sheepishly. “I think I ate too much.”

“There’s a first.” Brian said sarcastically.

“Shut up and sing.” AJ said.