Chapter Thirty-four

“We’re heading over to the arena, you coming along?” AJ asked, splashing on some cologne.

Megan stood beside him at the bathroom mirror, braiding her hair.

“Nope, gotta go get Casey and Myra, remember?”

“Oh yeah, sorry, forgot. Hey, how about you bring them to our rehearsal instead of the hotel? I’m sure Casey would get a kick out of it.”

“I’m sure she would, but she might distract you too.”

“We can use a little distraction. Bring ‘em over.”

“All right.”

They left the bathroom and gathered up their things before leaving the hotel room. Nick was just hurrying past when they stepped into the hallway.

“Whoa, where’s the fire?” AJ asked, reaching out a hand to stop Nick.

“The fire is in Kevin and Dana’s room. They’ve been yelling for the past twenty minutes. I don’t know about you guys, but I’m getting the hell outta here now!” Nick said, pointing to the elevator.

Megan’s eyes darted to the door a few yards to her right, yelping out loud when it suddenly opened and out strode Kevin, his expression dark. He avoided eye contact with everyone, and Nick stepped back to let him pass. Without a word, he disappeared into the stairwell.

“Shit,” AJ muttered.

“Not the word I was going to say,” Megan said, “but close.”

“I wonder what happened,” Nick said lightly, looking at Megan.

Megan chewed on her lower lip nervously. “I’ll see you guys later, all right? Have a good practice.”

“You gonna be okay?” AJ asked, kissing her nose.

“I’ll be fine. It’s Dana I’m worried about.”

She waited until Nick and AJ were gone before finally going over to knock on the door to Dana and Kevin’s room. She didn’t know what she was going to say, but she knew she had to make sure Dana was all right. Dana answered the door and Megan felt like scum of the earth at the sight of her best friend in tears.

“Oh, Megs,” she wailed.

Megan stepped inside and wrapped her arms around Dana in a protective hug, letting the door shut on its own.

“What happened?” she whispered, afraid of the answer.

Dana sniffled and stepped away, heading for the bedroom. Megan had no choice but to follow.

The scene in the bedroom wasn’t at all what Megan had expected. Sitting on the bed were Dana’s suitcases, half-packed. Clothes were strewn all over the place, along with various other items.

“I’m leaving,” Dana said simply, wiping at her eyes with a soggy tissue.

“Leaving? Why?!” Megan exclaimed.

“Kevin thinks it’s best for us. He doesn’t think it’s working out, me being with him all the time.” Dana’s voice trembled and soon she was crying again, sagging down onto the carpet and shaking.

Megan sat beside her and held her.

“What went wrong?” Dana asked. “I thought we were doing so well!”

Megan wracked her brain for something to say, but nothing came to mind. Dana paused and sat up, looking Megan square in the eye.

“Are you sleeping with him?” she asked point blank.

“What?!”

“Are you sleeping with him?” Dana repeated, her voice much clearer now and rising with each word. “Is that why he doesn’t want me around anymore? Because he’s fucking you?”

“Dana!” Megan cried, jumping to her feet.

Dana blinked several times, as if realizing what she’d just said.

“I-I’m sorry, I just, I mean. Dammit!”

“I’m not sleeping with him, Dana, I swear I’m not,” Megan said calmly, relieved only a tiny bit that she could say this with honesty.

“I know you’re not. I’m sorry for accusing you like that. I just...” She turned away and pounded her fist on the top of the dresser. “I just need someone to blame, other than myself for being a failure.”

“You’re not a failure, Dana. Just because one relationship doesn’t work out doesn’t mean anything bad about you. For all we know, he’s got some serious mental problems and is screwed up in the head!”

Dana let out a small giggle. “I doubt that, but thanks anyway.” She sighed heavily and picked up a t-shirt from the floor.

“You’re really leaving then, huh?” Megan asked. “What the hell am I going to do here all by myself? Maybe I should go home too.”

“Don’t you dare! You’ve got AJ, and things are going so well with you. Don’t mess it up because of me. I’ll be fine.”

Megan stooped to pick up an armload of socks. “When do you leave?”

“As soon as I get packed. I can’t stay knowing Kevin doesn’t want me here.”

“But, do you have a flight booked?”

“Nope. I’ll just hang out at the airport or something. I was hoping you’d give me a ride, since you’re going there anyway.”

“Of course I will, Dana, but are you sure you don’t want to stick around just one more night? Kevin may change his mind.”

Dana shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

They finished packing the rest of Dana’s things and then asked Marcus to help them lug it all down to the car. The ride to the airport was quiet, with each woman lost in her own thoughts.

Megan couldn’t stop the intense feelings of guilt that had decided to make their home in the bottom of her stomach. She was sure that telling Dana the truth about her and Kevin would only make things worse, and yet the nagging of her conscience was getting to her. But she still couldn’t bring herself to say anything.

Marcus parked the car and went with them inside the airport, following them from a few yards behind, making sure to keep them in his sight. A flight for Orlando was leaving in an hour, and Dana was able to purchase a ticket. Her luggage was checked in and they wandered over to a coffee shop to wait.

“What time are Casey and Myra getting in?” Dana asked, stirring cream into her coffee.

“About a half hour after you’re supposed to leave.”

“Ah well, say hi to them for me.”

“Will do.”

“And say goodbye to the others for me, too. Tell Leigh I’ll give her a call.”

Megan nodded and sipped her cappuccino.

“Want me to check on your house?” Dana asked.

“If you want. It should be okay, though. Hey, feel free to crash there, I don’t care.”

“Thanks, maybe I will. There’s a lot of Kevin’s stuff at my place that I need to get rid of.”

Megan tapped the side of her cup nervously. “Um, were you guys, like, um, really serious? I mean, were wedding bells and kids in your immediate future?”

Dana laughed. “Kids, no. Wedding bells. . . I would have liked to think so. He’s a beautiful man, not just on the outside, but inside as well. He’s got this charm about him I can’t describe.”

“Oh yeah, charm,” Megan teased.

“You just haven’t seen the best side of him, that’s all,” Dana said, shrugging. “He really is a good man.”

Megan silently agreed. They finished their drinks and then browsed through airport giftshops, rode the moving sidewalks and escalators, and watched a few planes land. When Dana’s flight number was called to begin boarding, they hugged and cried as they said their goodbyes.

“I’ll call you later tonight,” Megan said.

“You don’t have to. Casey and Myra will be here and I’m sure they’ll want to spend time with you. Just give me a buzz tomorrow or something, okay?”

“Yeah, okay. Bye, babe, gonna miss you.”

“Gonna miss you, too.”

They hugged again before Dana really had to leave. Megan wiped tears from her eyes, annoyed that she hadn’t brought any tissues with her. She jumped when one appeared in front of her face.

“Wow, thanks, Marc,” she said.

He nodded and patted her back. They took their time walking over to the gate where Casey and Myra would be coming. The flight was late, so Megan decided to give Leighanne a call at the arena on her cell phone.

“Hello?”

“Hey, it’s Megan.”

“Oh, hey. I heard about Dana,” Leighanne said sympathetically. “Is she okay?”

“She seemed all right when she boarded the plane. We’ll see though. How’s rehearsal going?”

“Shitty. Kevin’s off like I’ve never seen him.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. He’s missing steps and cues and acting like he doesn’t care. I think AJ’s ready to smack him.”

Megan rubbed tiredly at her eyes.

“Oh wait,” Leighanne said. “They’re taking a break. Wanna talk to AJ?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

A minute later Megan listened to the phone exchange hands.

“Hey there,” AJ said, panting a little. “Kevin’s being a dick.”

“So I’ve heard. Has he said anything about Dana?”

“Just that we not ask him about her. Did she say anything?”

“Not really. He feels they need space.”

“That’s such bullshit.”

“I know.”

Marcus waved at her, motioning that Casey and Myra’s plane was landing.

“Oh, gotta go,” she said. “They’re here.”

“You still gonna stop by before going to the hotel?”

“Is it safe?”

“Should be. Kevin won’t be a grump around the kid.”

“True. Okay, see you soon!”

She hung up and tucked the phone in her pocket.

“I’ll bring the car around by the baggage terminal,” Marcus informed her. “Will you be all right alone?”

“You don’t think I can fend off crazed teenyboppers by myself?”

Marcus just smiled and walked away. Megan stood off to the side of the door and waited patiently for the passengers to exit the plane. While she waited, she wondered if Kevin meant to do anything drastic, now that he’d sent Dana home.

He wouldn’t try to come between AJ and me, would he? she thought. And would I let him?

She shook that last thought from her head and began to watch for her friends.

“Casey! Myra! Over here!” Megan yelled, finally spotting them as they entered the airport. She began jumping up and waving her hands in the air to get their attention.

“Megs!” Casey screamed, dropping her backpack and launching herself into Megan’s arms. “How are you? I can’t believe we’re finally here! The food on the plane was crappy. Are we really going to a show tonight? Where are the guys?”

Megan laughed as Myra joined them.

“She’s a bit wired,” Myra explained, passing her daughter’s bag back to her. “She’s been talking nonstop the entire flight. I thought for sure we’d get kicked off the plane.”

“Oh, Mom,” Casey said, rolling her eyes. “I wasn’t that bad, really.”

“Well, let’s see if I can answer all those questions,” Megan said, smiling. "I’m fine, I can’t believe you’re here either. If you’re hungry we can stop somewhere. Yes, we’re really going to a show tonight, and the guys are all at the arena rehearsing.”

Casey’s face fell. “So Kevin’s not here with you?”

“Sorry, kiddo. But we’re heading over there now.”

Myra ruffled Casey’s hair. “Her crush on him has only intensified since she met him. I think she’s already planning the wedding.”

Myra and Megan giggled at the blush that was slowly creeping up Casey’s neck.

“Can we get our luggage and get going?” she asked, trying to change the subject.

“Let’s go!” Megan said, leading the way to the baggage claim.

“So how are things going for you?” Myra asked as they walked. “Anything interesting happen so far?”

Megan declined to tell them about the meeting with Charlene, and her moments with Kevin.

“Not really. Basically it’s just the same thing over and over again everyday. Touring isn’t really all that glamorous.”

“But you get to hang out with the Backstreet Boys, Megs!” Casey exclaimed. “Isn’t that exciting?”

“It has its high points, I guess.”

They were able to get their luggage without any problems.

“Case, you’re only staying one night. What do you need two suitcases for?” Megan asked picking up the handle of one of them.

“I didn’t know what outfit to wear tonight, so I brought a few,” Casey explained sheepishly.

Megan laughed and pointed to the exit. “Marcus is waiting for us outside.”

“Isn’t he AJ’s bodyguard?” Casey asked, lugging her other suitcase behind her.

“Yup. Look, there he is.”

Megan waved and a luxury SUV pulled up to the curb. The driver’s side door opened and out stepped an enormous black man. Casey and Myra froze, taking in his size and cowering beneath his steely stare.

“Don’t be scared of him. He’s all bark and no bite,” Megan said, passing him the suitcase.

Marcus winked at them before taking their luggage and stowing it in the back. He held doors open for them as they eagerly climbed inside.

“Wow. Mom, can we get one of these?” Casey asked, practically drooling over the fine leather interior.

“Yeah, sure. When you marry Kevin,” Myra teased.

Megan asked Marcus to stop at a fast food place before heading to the hotel. He took them to a McDonald’s and they went through the drive-thru. Casey and Myra ate as they continued on their way, chatting with Megan about the tour and the Boys. Myra told her she was still seeing Robbie and things were good between them.

“How’s Dana?” Casey asked, nibbling on a fry.

Megan quieted and bit her lip. “Um, actually, she just left this morning.”

Myra frowned. “Really? Why?”

“Long story, I’ll tell you later,” Megan said softly.

Casey bounced in her seat, nearly sending her Big Mac to the floor.

“Can he drive a little faster?” she asked anxiously, motioning to Marcus.

Megan wasn’t a bit surprised to see the crowd of fans crowding the area when they arrived at the arena. Marcus pulled the SUV as close to the door as he could and assured them their luggage would make it safely to the hotel.

Brett and Jack appeared to guide them inside. Casey clung to Megan’s arm as they were hustled past screaming fans. Music could be heard echoing from the main floor, and suddenly Casey turned shy.

Megan took them towards the stage, waving at Leighanne and Denise. They both stood up to come over and say hi.

“Well, lookie here!” AJ’s voice boomed over his microphone. “The ladies have arrived!”

The music stopped and Kevin hopped down to wrap Casey in a hug.

“Hiya, sweetie. How are you?” he asked, smiling broadly,

Casey blushed a deep red and stuttered, “F-fine. Yeah, good, uh huh.”

Each of the Boys took their turns to hug her and Myra and welcome them. They talked for a little bit before their stage manager called out to them that they needed to continue. Casey dropped into a seat and sat back to take in the huge production. Myra and Denise started talking and Megan asked Leighanne about Kevin.

“Brian tried talking to him earlier, but he brushed him off,” Leighanne said, shaking her head. “We don’t know why he sent Dana home.”

I think I do, Megan thought, glancing up at the stage.