Chapter 18

I woke up at 7:30, and pulled myself out of the comfort of my bed. In my suitcase I found a suitable outfit for church. After I was finally dressed in my khaki shirt and white three-quarter sleeve white button down I wrote a note explaining to Nicole where I was in case she forgot.

When I stepped off the elevator and immediately noticed the long dark-brown curly hair that could only be Howie’s sitting in the corner farthest from everyone. I grabbed a glazed donut and bagel, walked over and sat down.

“Good morning,” I said as cheerfully as I could for that early in the morning.

“Good morning. Did you really enjoy dinner last night?”

“Great! Dinner was so awesome! I loved it there.”

“By the way, is Nicole mad at Nick? He thinks she is beyond ticked at him.”

“Not a bit. In fact last night if I hadn’t fallen asleep she would have talked my ear off about him.”

“That’s good she isn’t mad. Why are you up this early? I have been told about your sleeping habits.”

“I promised Brian I’d go to church with him.”

“Really? I didn’t realize you and Brian were the same religion.”

“Yeah. Lots of us people around here are Baptist.”

“Hey guys!” Brian said as he sat down. “Ready for church? Howie, you going to church with your family?”

“Yep. In fact they are here,” he said getting up. “See ya later.”

“Bye,” Brian called as Howie walked out the glass double doors.

“You wanna leave too?” I asked.

“Sure. Uh oh!”

“What?”

“I promised Nick he could have our car today. I can’t drive us to church,” Brian said sheepishly.

“I have a car too you know,” I teased.

“Duh! I completely forgot! Will you drive?”

“Sure.”

I dug around in my purse for my car keys. We made our way to my car, and hopped in. Instinctively I turned on the radio. It was “Tearin’ up My Heart” and Brian just gave an exasperated sigh and changed the channel.

At the church we sat in the back so Brian wouldn’t be recognized. He sang very quietly on the hymns because of his distinctive voice. That is until we sang the closing hymn… The song was “Amazing Grace” and I guess Brian couldn’t help himself. He launched into a beautiful, but loud rendition and was so wrapped up in his singing he didn’t realize that he was the only person singing by the end. When he finished everyone gave him a standing ovation. He blushed, but received the praise.

On our way out the pastor stopped us and asked if Brian would sing on a tape for the congregation to listen to at a later date. Brian explained that even though he was supposed to ask the record company if his voice could be recorded he would do it just this once.

“Your record company?” the confused preacher asked.

“Yeah, I am kinda in a singing group,” Brian said, realizing that he had just blown his cover.

“Yeah, Daddy, he’s one of the Backstreet Boys. Aren’t you?” a cute little girl asked looking up at Brian with big blue eyes.

“Yes I am,” Brian said picking up the girl and tickling her.

“Ah yes the illustrious Backstreet Boys,” the pastor sighed looking at his giggling daughter. “Your CD is never turned off at our house.”

Brian blushed but didn’t know what to say.

“Well come on, I’ll get the organist to play the song again, and then I’ll leave you alone.”

Brian followed into a room filled with music equipment. After giving a heartfelt rendition of the song, he started to leave.


Chapter 19

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