We left McDonald's, the three of us, around 5pm. We stood in the parking lot next to my car for quite awhile.
"Torr... you can go with Nick. I'll drive your car home for you." Shanelle told me. I shook my head no.
"No... I'm not leaving you... 'Nelle, I just need another minute with Nick." I told my friend. She nodded, and got into the passenger seat of my car.
"So... we're... kinda screwed eh?" I asked Nick.
"Why?" Nick asked.
"C'mon, Nick, you're leaving Tampa at the end of the week. I don't even know if I want you to see the boys now..." I let my voice trail off.
"What? Why?" Nick practically screamed.
"I know my boys, and I know you... and they'll get attached to you, and you'll get attached to them... and then you'll have to leave and they'll be heart broken, and-" I could've gone on and on.
"Baby I'm never leaving you guys again. I mean, I'll be away for awhile, but I'll call you and we'll talk and it'll be ok." he informed me. I still wasn't sure.
"How do you know that? Your group mates don't seem to like me much... how can this work?" I asked him again. I still had so many questions.
"C'mon, baby, it's me and you, remember? We can make this work. I wanna be with you... and I hope you still wanna be with me?" he asked back.
"Y-yeah, I do. My boys need you, and so do I. I'm just scared." I told him.
"Don't be scared. Please. I want you to believe me... I love you and I won't leave you again." he told me.
For some reason, I believed him. I felt tears in my eyes again. I still loved him too. Without another word, I gave him a huge hug. I knew that if I stayed any longer I wouldn't want to leave at all. And I had to get home to my boys.
"So... why don't you come to the concert tonight? Just come, you can bring the boys, if you want. And Shanelle and her boyfriend, I don't care. Just come." he told me. That was the first time he'd mentioned anything to do with the Backstreet Boys. I could really tell that he did care more about me than that. It scared me a little bit.
"How? We don't have tickets. We just 'just go'." I almost smiled.
"Um... tell them I invited you. We'll get you tickets backstage." he said without thinking.
"They won't let us backstage just because he said you invited us, Nick. Think about it." I laughed at him.
"Fine... um... ok... our bodyguards wear name tags. So if it's Teddy, Ron, Louis or Johnny... um... here, show them this... it's my BSB ring. The five of us bought them together 3 years ago, I never take it off. The bodyguards know that. They'll let you in if you have it. I'll also tell them I'm expecting you, two young boys..." he said hopefully. I smiled again.
"Ok... Nick... if you think this will work." I replied, tucking the ring away into my pocket so I didn't lose it. "I can't believe you're doing all this just to see me again. And my... our boys." I finished. It was very weird saying "our" when I'm talking about the boys. Because they've always been just mine. No one else's. And now they're Nick's too.
"I'd do anything to be with you... the three of you... and I want us to be together... like a family." he blurted out. I was a little shocked.
"We can't be a family, Nick. We haven't seen each other in three years... hell, you've never met my boys." I told him sterly.
"I know, I know, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." he replied. "Uh... you have to go... so... just come to the Arena at like 7:30pm... actually I'll send one of the bodyguards out to look for you, ok? The concert starts at 8pm. Wait in the lobby, I'll get Johnny to find you. Please, baby, come. Let's put the past behind us." he told me. I didn't know what to say. I couldn't very well say no to him like this. So I just nodded.
"Ok, we'll come. And... I forgive you, Nick, for everything. I do want you to see your sons, and be with us." I told him. He looked so happy at that moment.
"I... I love you Torr. Will... will you be my girlfriend again?" he managed to get the words out very slowly.
Still in shock, I just sort of nodded again. I couldn't say no. This was going to be a good thing, for both us and our sons. I could feel it. After another few minutes of us hugging, we pulled away and he looked right in my eyes again.
"Can I kiss you?" he asked me. I was happy that he asked, although he already knew the answer. I put my hand behind his neck and pulled his face toward mine. Our lips met and we both felt the same way we did over three years ago when we kissed. Our feelings toward each other changed. The only thing that had changed was that we shared something special. Our boys.
After we kissed, I just closed my eyes for a moment. I didn't want to say a word.
"So, um... I'm here til Friday night... and today's Wednesday. I'll see you tomorrow and Friday, ok? I don't have to do anything. No shows or anything. My little brother and my mom are staying at my house, but..." he told me.
"Really? Well... I'm sure they won't want to see me either. Everyone probably hates me." I told him sadly.
"No one hates you. Actually Aaron just said like a month ago that he missed you." Nick told me.
"Yeah right, Nick. Your mom thought I got pregnant on purpose so you'd have to stay with me. You mom hates me." I yelled back at him.
"Ok, well, my mom doesn't like you very much." he grinned at me cutely. "But no one else hates you. I swear. Come to the show, my mom will be there, my brother is opening for us... everything will be ok." he insisted.
"Ok, fine, we'll come." I told him again. "But I'm bringing Shanelle... and we'll bring the boys." I said. But I couldn't help but finish, "You better hope this works out."
"It will, baby, it will." he finished.
Then I smiled once more, turned and got into my car. I knew it was time to leave. He just stood there, kind of dazed and confused, as we drove out of his sight.
