Chapter Seventeen

The meeting ended later than usual, with the guys making plans for Saturday. Brian mentioned that Leighanne was coming to town and asked if he could bring her along.

“Hey, why don’t we all bring the girls?” Nick suggested. “That way, she can meet them, and she’ll see that it is possible to maintain relationships in this business.”

Howie reluctantly agreed. They all split up and went their separate ways, except for AJ. He followed Howie out of the building and right to his car, even though AJ was parked at the other end of the lot.

“Are you waiting for something?” Howie asked, slightly irritated.

“Yeah, I’m waiting for you to tell me just what the hell you were thinking!”

Howie leaned against the door of his car and crossed his arms, allowing AJ to rant.

“I mean, you went up to the cabin to think! To find some direction for your life and instead, you meet up with Lori and lie to her! I don’t get it!”

“Are you finished?” Howie asked.

AJ huffed a little and reached into his jacket pocket for his cigarettes. He pulled out a pack only to find it empty.

“Trying to quit again, eh?”

AJ nodded. “Trying.”

“You know, you should try hypnosis. I’ve heard great things about it.”

“Really? Maybe I’ll look into it - Hey! Don’t try and change the subject!”

Howie sighed. “Look, I don’t know what possessed me to lie to her in the first place all those years ago. But something inside me did, and that same thing made me do it again. I intend to fix it this Saturday, and you all better be praying she doesn’t kill me on the spot.”

“D, you’ve never had to lie to get women before,” AJ pointed out.

“Duh. That’s because they all want to be with Howie Backstreet, not Howie Dorough.”

“Aha! True, but Lori doesn’t want to be with Howie Dorough either. She wants to be with Tony Donetti,” AJ countered. At Howie’s lack of response, AJ grinned, quite proud of himself. “Gotcha!”

Howie smacked AJ in the shoulder. “Oh shut up and go away,” he grumbled.

“All right, I will. Call me later, kay?”

“Yeah, yeah, sure.”

AJ skipped off to his truck, and the unopened pack of cigarettes he knew was hidden in the glove compartment. Howie got into his car and headed for the real estate office, suddenly eager to speak with his brother.

John was on the phone when he arrived, so Howie sat down in one of the plush office chairs to wait for him to finish. John hung up and folded his hands, placing them on his desk.

“Hey, how was the cabin?” he asked.

“It was great. A bit dusty, but otherwise in good shape.”

“Get any thinking done?”

“Actually, yes.”

John narrowed his eyes and stared at his younger brother.

“All right, what’s up?” he asked. “Something’s up with you, I can tell by the way you keep tapping your knee.”

Howie leaned forward in his chair and said, “Tell me more about this woman you’ve been trying to set me up with.”

John blinked in surprise. “Oh, so now you’re interested? Why the sudden change of mind?”

“I’m curious, that’s all.”

“Bullshit. Come on, what’s going on?”

“I’m just curious.”

John didn’t believe him for a second, but decided to play along.

“Well, her name is Lori Haberlan, she’s rented a condo from us, about two blocks away from yours actually, and she wanted to get in touch with you. I guess she knew you a few years ago. She told me your name was Tony Donetti, which I found strange. . . “

“Go on,” Howie urged.

“Howie, what’s going on? Why do I get the impression that you already know this? Have you met up with her?”

“Yeah, I did. I just need to make sure you didn’t tell her anything about my real name, or the fact that you’re my brother, or anything about the Backstreet Boys-”

“Why?”

“Erm. . . “

John glared at him from across the desk. “You’re playing some game with her, aren’t you? Howie, I swear, if you are, I’ll kick your ass so hard, don’t think I can’t do it!”

“John! I’m not playing a game with her, I care about her.”

“But you didn’t tell her the truth?”

“No, not yet.”

“Well, when are you going to?”

“Saturday, the guys talked me into it. I just don’t know how. This is where you come in.”

“What do I have to do with this?”

Howie smiled sweetly. “I need advice, big brother.”

“What makes you think I can advise you on this?”

“Because you have experience.”

“I do not!” John exclaimed.

“You’re such a liar! Don’t you remember how you used to tell girls you were related to Ricky Martin? Back when Menudo was big?”

John’s face flushed and he groaned.

“Shit, that was ages ago,” he said.

“But you still lied to girls, and you got busted too. So, what did you do to get out of it with your hide still attached?”

“If Mama ever found out about that-”

“She’d take you over her knee, I know. Anyway, what did you do?”

John shook his head sadly. “Bro, I never got out of those situations fully intact. Those women would be so pissed. . . “ He shivered at the memories. “I’m sorry, How, you’re on your own.”

Howie blanched and slumped back in his chair, muttering, “She’s gonna kill me.”