Chapter 11
**AJ Gets a Poke**
We drove back to my place quickly. After all, the guys and I still
had to pack for the trip. En route, Kevin informed me that he had gotten
Richie and me cleared through management. Apparently, they were aware of
Howie's sexuality and were happy that he'd found someone. Kev also said
that I would have to fill out some paperwork when we got to SF (where the
bus and 'entourage' would be waiting to kick off the rest of this little
tour. I told him that it would be no problem and that I was just happy to
get to tag along. Once we got to my place, everyone ran to their rooms and
started to get their stuff together. Howie, of course, didn't take long
because he kept eveything in the suitcase anyway. My son was sitting on
the bed in a state of barely controlled excitement. Hey, he's only 5. A
trip to the grocery store can do the same thing!
"Doug, I'm gonna take Richie and go do the dishes. Ok?" Howie
asked as he gave me a soft kiss.
"Yeah, that'd be great babe, but if the little bugger gets out of
hand you have my permission to stuff him in the freezer," I responded with
a quick smile for Richie, who giggled and grabbed Howie's hand as they
exited the bedroom.
"Now," I quietly asked myself, "what do I need to pack?"
**Meanwhile, in the kitchen**
Howie and Richie quickly grabbed all of the plates off the table
and put them in the sudsy sink. My baby washed, while my little baby
dried. Howie decided that now was as good a time as any to get to know his
little counterpart.
"So, Richie, are you going to school yet?"
"Yeah, I'm in kindergarten! I have a lot of friends and it's fun!
My teacher, Ms. Stevinson, is really cool!" Howie smiled at the joy that
crossed my boy's face as he talked about school. He also tried to remember
a time when school was fun for him, too.
"That's good. Do you have a girlfriend?" That came with a smirk
because he knew what the answer was likely to be. That smirk became more
pronounced as he watched my son's mouth twist in distaste.
"Ewwwww! No! Girls have cooties!" Ahhh, the dreaded 'cootie'
epidemic. Who the hell first thought up those damn things anyway? I swear
they've polluted the youth of America for decades!
"Oh, that's too bad. They're probably really nice. Maybe you
should get to know some of them. They can't all be bad!"
"But you and Daddy don't like girls, so why do I have to?" Richie
asked in confusion.
At that, Howie became serious. "Listen buddy, you don't have to
like anyone that you don't want to, but you can't know if you like them
until you get to know them a bit. And as for your Daddy and me not liking
girls, that's not true. We have many friends who are girls and your mommy
is a girl. I love your daddy because of who he is, not because he's a
boy." He finished with a gentle smile, hoping Richie understood. However,
not only did he understand, but he caught something in what was said.
"You love my daddy?" he asked my boyfriend in excitement.
"Weeeeelllll, yeah I do, but you can't tell him! I want to wait
'til the perfect time to tell him. Can you keep this secret for me little
man?"
My son suddenly got shy and nodded his head 'yes'. His next
question, though, brought tears to my man's eyes. Looking out from under
his long lashes, Richie quietly asked, "Do you love me too?"
Amidst his tears, Howie couldn't help but hug my son and tell him
that he and all the guys loved him a lot. Richie sniffled a bit and hugged
on to Howie tightly, feeling a connection that he had only experienced with
me and Angela. Sure, the rest of the family loved him to death, but they
weren't his parents. It appeared that Howie had managed to endear himself
in the same way. He hadn't run away because I had a child and that made
Richie feel good. He loved that Howie made me happy, but the fact that he
was going to stay after meeting him meant so much. Howie was the only one
of my boyfriends who had ever made him feel loved and wanted. This small
thing made him indescribably happy.
I had walked into the kitchen when Richie asked if Howie loved him
and all I could do was cry happily over how well they got along and the
rapport that they had formed in so short a time. Quietly, I walked over to
them and wrapped them in my arms, wondering how in the hell I had been so
lucky to have these two in my life. After a few minutes, we broke the
embrace and stood. I smiled at my son and boyfriend as we quickly put the
dishes away and then went into the living room where all of the guys and
Michelle were gathering to wait for the limo.
After not too long, we heard the limo honk and everyone piled out.
I quickly wrote a note to my roommates in case they got back early and told
them that I'd be out of town for a week. I finished and locked the place
up. When I got to the limo, I was pleased to find that they had left me a
place between Howie and Richie, which I happily took. We all settled in
for the trip and then we drove off.
The drive took about an hour and we finally found ourselves parked
in the back of a very nice hotel in the heart of SF. Nearby, I saw a
gargantuan thing with wheels that could only have been the guys' tour bus.
Damn, it was big! Quickly, the driver opened the door and we were
surrounded by five big men who were obviously bodyguards. They rushed us
inside and then, at a more leisurely pace, escorted us through the hotel to
a private conference room. Before we walked in, I thought of a question
that I had neglected to put forth. Leaning over to Howie, who was holding
Richie's other hand, I asked.
"Howie, umm, who are you guys touring with?"
"Just wait until we get inside, I think you'll know who they are
once you see them."
"Okay, but don't expect a show like the one Angela gave when she
saw you guys." All three of us chuckled at the memory as we entered the
conference room. Once everyone was in and I could take a second to look
around, I was only mildly surprised to see who was touring with the Boys.
Reaching out to shake the first guy's hand, I was brought up short by my
son's next comment.
"Mommy's gonna die when I tell her about this!" he said and
everyone busted up laughing. Me, the Boys...and the guys of N*sync.
After the laughter subsided, I again extended my hand to the man in
front of me and introduced myself.
"Hey, I'm Doug and this little troublemaker is my son Richie," I
stated with a wink for my boy.
"Nice to meet you both. I'm Lance and this is Justin, Joey, Chris,
and JC," he told me, pointing to each guy in turn. "So, how do you know
the BSB, if you don't mind me asking?"
I was about to answer him, but before I could get a word out, Howie
walked up behind me and grabbed me around the waist. He spun me to face
him and then pushed his lips to mine in a very heated kiss. The guys of
N*sync looked on in shock as Richie giggled and the BSB 'leftovers' started
whistling and giving cat calls. Howie had to hold me up when his lips
released mine because my legs had suddenly gone all weak. Damn, this boy
could kiss! We smiled at each other for a few seconds before turning aound
to his tour mates.
The first one to speak was Joey. "You mean you two are together?"
At our nods he continued, "Man D, why didn't you tell us before that you
were gay? I'm kinda hurt that you didn't confide in us, but I can
understand anyway. We're happy for you man! It's about time you found
someone who could turn your head!" All of the others were nodding their
heads with smiles on their faces. All except for Chris. Though he was
nodding, his expression was a bit sad and I couldn't help but wonder why.
Maybe he was lonely or something. Anyway, after our introductions were
through, I introduced them to Michelle. I explained that she was my
younger sister and that she was just here to see us and the guys off. The
other 5 all said hello, and Justin (I think that's his name) even went so
far as to kiss her hand and my sister, MY sister blushed. 'Uh oh,' I
thought, ' Looks like someone is smitten!'
Deciding to be a bastard, I leaned over to Justin and whispered,
"Be afraid, be very afraid!" which earned me laughter from the men in the
room and a fist from my 'dainty' sibling. And then I dropped the bomb,
"I'm warning you, just ask Nick!" When I said that, all of the Boys burst
into giggles, except for Nick who blushed a painful crimson. We would have
kept up the playful banter, but the tour manager walked in then and it
appeared that we had to get down to business.
After greeting everyone, she turned to me and began explaining the
paperwork that needed to be filled out before they discussed anything. She
had me fill out some insurance forms and then Michelle and I had to sign
the obligatory non-disclosure contracts, which we were more than happy to
do. Once the papers were finished, she thanked me and the meeting
commenced. It was fairly short, obviously just some last minute reminders
and small changes, and then we were all told that it was time to head out
to the bus to prepare to leave. Richie was bouncing around in excitement
and everyone was smiling at his antics. I was getting a good 'I like kids'
vibe from all of the guys and that put me at ease. Once we got outside, I
walked Michelle back over to the limo and gave her a hug. She hugged back
and told me to enjoy myself and to keep Nick in line for her. Laughing, I
promised that I would, and all to soon she was gone. Once I couldn't see
the limo anymore, I ran back and was about to get on the bus when I saw AJ
talking with Chris.
"So AJ, wanna go clubbing with me tonight. Joey and the others say
that they're gonna be too tired and I really wanna go. Pleeeaaasse?!
We'll have fun!" Chris was practically begging, but AJ was silent. I
noticed that he was just staring at his friend and moved in to help.
Coming up behind him, I poked him in the side and he jumped. After looking
at me, he blushed as he told Chris that he'd go. Chris danced around
yelling 'Woohoo!" and then thanked him before running onto the bus.
Shaking my head and smiling, I said in a sing-song voice, "Someone's
got a crush on a certain Mr. Kirkpatrick." I then smirked as I finished half seriously, "Ho-ly shit...I feel like I'm in high school allover again!"
Neither of us could keep a straight face and were soon laughing our asses off. As we got on the rolling behemoth, I was happy to see that everything had started so well. 'Who would have thought that these guys would be so entertaining outside of a concert venue?' I mused to myself while shaking
my head in amazement.
The first thing that greeted my ears as I got on was Justin talking
to Nick. "So, what happened between you and Michelle...?" the youngest
member of N*sync asked in a conspiratorial whisper as Nick just kept
getting redder and redder.
Chapter 12
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