I think he’s using Nicole all the way. He mentioned something to Stefano about Nicole being part of his plan, knowing that the more Sami sees Nicole with Johnny and Sydney, the more it will destroy her, and that’s exactly what it does every time. Even Nicole said yesterday that she thought E.J. was purposely setting them up to fight, and that he saw it as some sort of "glorified mud wrestling" match (I thought that line was so funny, yet so true). I think he will have everyone believing that he is still in love with Nicole, but deep inside that empty cavity in his chest, its all about Sami, and whether or not he truly falls for Nicole’s sister will always be questionable to me, because all E.J. cares about is getting revenge on Sami, and he remembers only too well all of the atrocities Nicole managed to hide from him as well. So, anything they show me with regard to feelings for Nicole will be the facade that E.J. uses so well when he is acting one way, but planning another. If they do marry, I wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t last too long. Nicole knows him too well — better than Sami, evidently.