“So.  Whadya think?”  Nick asked.

 Paetyn rolled over on her side to face him.  “Honestly?”

 “Yes honestly.”

 “Stupider than the first three.”

 “PAETYN!”

 “Well!  You said you wanted an honest answer!”  Paetyn smiled.

 “Oh I’ve got your honest answer right here!”  Nick pulled the pillow out from behind his head and smacked Paetyn with it.

 Paetyn screamed and picked up a pillow to retaliate.  Before she knew it, Nick had her flat on her back with her arms pinned above her head.  She knew that look on his face.  She’d seen it more times than she would have liked since they’d been kids.  Her eyes widened as Nick’s face close in on hers and his mouth moved closer.  He leaned down until their faces were millimeters apart and then spoke.

 “Who’s afraid of the tickle monster?”

 Paetyn tried to wrench free of Nick’s grasp, but it was no use. 

 *   *   *  

 After their impromptu tickle fight, Nick and Paetyn fell asleep in each other’s arms.  They’d always been best friends.  Their moms had pictures of them snuggled up together sleeping in various places.  The one that sat in a frame by Nick’s bed wherever it happened to be for the night was one of him and Paetyn curled up in a laundry basket, sound asleep.  When Nick stirred awake the next morning, he glanced over his shoulder at the clock and spied that very picture next to it.  Guilt assaulted his senses.  He hadn’t been sleeping in his own bed nearly as much as he probably should have lately.  It was like the president had said in his book when asked why he’d had an affair with an intern: because he could.  Nick didn’t think his fame went to his head; he just enjoyed the perks.  Real perks though, were few and far between.  Real perks like this, the girl he loved more than anything in the world curled up in his arms sound asleep.  Nick swept a hand over her forehead, smoothing back her brown hair.  She stirred and looked up at him through sleep-clouded brown eyes.

 “G’mornin’,” she greeted him.

 “Hi darlin’.  Sleep good?”

 “Mhm, always do when I’m with you, Nick.”

 Nick smiled.  “Me too, babe.  Me too.”