*six months later*
It was a perfect Florida night, balmy breezes rustling through the branches of the palm trees. The first leg of the tour was complete and we were all gathered at the home of one of the producers. Tonight would be the first night we had all been together since ...
It wasn't that I had been avoiding anyone, I just hadn't found the right time to talk to Kevin alone. Backstage or at the post-show parties just wasn't the place for the kind of discussion we needed to have and before I knew it they were gone, on to the next venue. I heard the raised voices by the entryway and turned just in time to see Kevin make his entrance. As if drawn by magnets, he turned, his eyes meeting mine. He smiled at me, his eyes lighting up and I knew then that everything was fine.
I had been so afraid that what we shared would ultimately keep us apart.
*six months earlier*
The concert the next night was nothing short of phenomenal. Opening nights were almost always fraught with disasters, but except for a few technical glitches, this one was near perfect. I was so worried that the events of the previous night would have a detrimental effect on Nick and Kevin, but they were consummate professionals.
No one suspected a thing, and I watched from the third row as they played to each other, having the time of their lives. Nick played his part well, to the delight of the female fans and to the horror of their fathers.
The time flew by quickly and it was almost over. The boys were gone, and AJ was alone on stage thanking the fans for their time and their dedication. The ring of a cell phone cut the night and my stomach did flips.
"The Call".
The crowd went wild. The video had just been released and this was the moment they'd all been waiting for, as had *I*. It was gritty, it was sexual, it was so fucking hot. I stood along with the other two thousand people in attendance and sang along at the top of my lungs. They sang of lust and infidelity and I blushed furiously as Nicky thrust his hips in my direction. All too soon I heard them sing "gotta go" and heard the collective gasp from the audience as they disappeared through the stage floor. The drums beat relentlessly, building the crowd expectations to a fever pitch and just as suddenly ceased. The spotlights focused back on the stage as they rose slowly into the spotlight in those damn blue robes. I sighed, clasping a hand over my heart and I just know the guards thought I was going to do something stupid, like swoon.
As I stood mesmerized, I saw both Kevin and Nick lock their eyes to mine. Damn, it was intense. Just as quickly, they looked at each other, nodded and ripped the robes from their bodies. As the crowd shrieked, I laughed, sinking back into my seat. They smirked at each other, clasping hands in a handshake of solidarity as they passed onstage. All too soon it was over. A final bow and they were gone.
Nick spent that night with me, and assured me that Kevin was 'cool', to use his term. I wasn't too sure. They were leaving first thing the next morning with no assurances of when they'd return. I hate things left unresolved and I knew I'd have no peace until I saw him with my own eyes.
And now here he was, and he was even better looking than before, damn him. He smiled at me and I flew into his arms.
"Miss me much?" he drawled lazily, wrapping me tightly against his chest.
"Hell no, man, not when she had *me* to think about." I heard Nick come up behind me, and Kevin laughed softly.
"Get lost, dork." Kevin swatted at him, still holding me close with his one free hand.
"Five minutes, bro, then she's mine." Nick sauntered off to torture Howie and I felt Kevin's sigh against my hair.
"How've you been?" he asked softly.
"Fine."
"Really?"
"Yes. No ..." It was my turn to sigh. "Kev-"
"Rebecca Dawn, you stop that. Right now." He held me at arms' length and I couldn't help it. I giggled. "What?" he asked.
"You sound like my mother, Kevin."
"Baby, I know things about you your mother will NEVER know."
God, could I blush any more than I was right now?
He continued. "Look, Nick and I have been over this a hundred times. I'm ok. Really." He could see I didn't believe him. "C'mon, Bec," he pleaded. "It was great, but we all know it was a one time thing. You don't have to worry that I'll get pissy and throw this back at you ten years down the road."
"Promise?" I would not cry, I would not cry ...
"Cross my heart. And please don't cry, you know what that does to me."
"Besides, we have a present for you," Nick said, handing me a glass of champagne.
"A present? Really?!" I was like a kid, I LOVE presents. I wiped my eyes and sniffled.
"Yeah, we noticed you have a kind of *gallery* at the cathedral. A bunch of photos of people you've worked with, so we got you a new one." Kevin winked at Nick.
"You didn't..." I shuddered.
"Here ya go." Nick pulled out a large package from behind the potted fern.
Hastily unwrapping it, I had to laugh. In a sedate frame was an 11 x 14 print of both men, center stage in their blue robes. It was signed, "To our favorite church lady, from her choir boys."
"You guys are insane, but I love you both." I pulled them into a hug. As I held them close, I whispered, "Choir practice is tomorrow at 7. Don't be late."
6-5-01
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