Chapter Eight

Dana and Megan met up the next day for lunch. While Dana munched on a salad, Megan had a steak dinner.

“God, I wish I could eat like you,” Dana said wistfully.

“You can.”

“No I can’t.”

“Yes you can. You just choose not to.”

“My job, I can’t afford to gain weight.”

Megan rolled her eyes. “Ah yes, the model’s lament.”

“Speaking of that...”

“What about it?”

“I’m leaving tomorrow for New York.”

“I thought you were off for a month.”

“Me too. But they need someone to fill in for a shoot, so I got called, it’s just for the weekend.” Dana sighed.

“So I guess that means time with Kevin...?”

“Is gonna be cut short.” She set her fork down. “I hate this! Either he’s gone, or I’m gone, we never have time to see each other.”

“So this is what I have to look forward too?”

Dana looked her square in the eye. “I guess so.”

“Great.” Megan wiped her mouth with her napkin. “AJ is terrific, did he tell you about the cop incident?”

“Yes! AJ called Kevin and Kevin told me. Megan, you’re crazy, do you know that?”

She smiled. “I think that’s why AJ likes me.”

“How come Kevin doesn’t?”

Megan paused and took a drink of her water. “I don’t know. Maybe he doesn’t like strong women.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean? That I’m a pushover?!”

“Aw, shit. No, that’s not what I mean, Dana.”

“Well, what did you mean then?”

“That...I’m...I don’t know. Face it, he doesn’t like me because I don’t like his music. It’s plain and simple. And because I beat his ass last night in the toy war.”

“He still claims he won. But besides that, why don’t the others dislike you for not liking the music?"

Megan shrugged. “Maybe they’re not as uptight as Kevin is. Obviously, respect is a big thing for him, and if someone doesn’t like the music, then he thinks he’s not getting respect.”

Dana eyed the vase of flowers in the center of the table. “Or maybe you don’t get along with him because you really kind of like him.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Come on, Megs, I’ve seen it before. You piss a guy off and he ends up falling head over heels for you trying to prove himself. It’s the way you operate.”

“It most certainly is not! What is this? You think I’m going to go after Kevin? Well you’re wrong. I don’t want him.”

“You were kind of flirting with him last night at Wal-Mart.”

“News flash for you, Dana, I went home with AJ.”

A deep sigh escaped Dana’s lips. “I know, it’s just that, you seem to get along so much better with the guys than I do. You’ve even bonded with Leighanne. Sometimes I think we should switch places. I should be the vet, and you should be the model.”

“And not get to eat this?” Megan said, pointing to her steak. “No way.”

Dana smiled and laughed. “I’m just being silly.”

“Hey, if you think that I’m going to try to make a move on him while you’re gone, you don’t have to worry.” She patted Dana’s hand and smiled. “I’m busy this weekend, but maybe next weekend I could try...”

Dana threw a napkin at her and they started laughing.

Kevin parked in the driveway and got out. He’d just finished seeing Dana off at the airport. They were both upset that she had to go, but he understood. After her plane took off, he drove to Megan’s house. He figured that she would never attempt to be friendly, so it was up to him. He didn’t want an enemy, especially one so close to his girlfriend.

He walked up to the door and rang the bell. He waited a minute and then rang it again.

“Hold your horses, I’m coming!” he heard from inside. The door was yanked open and there stood Megan.

She was dressed in jeans, a t-shirt and dirty sneakers. Her long dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she carried a basketball. She took one look at him and her lips curled into a snarl.

“Hi,” he said.

She took a step outside, looked at the house number and then back at him. “I think you’re at the wrong place. Dana lives a few blocks thataway.”

“No, I’m at the right place. I came to see you.”

“Um, what the hell for?”

“To see if we could be friends.”

“Dear, I don’t think that’s gonna happen. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m late.” That said, she pulled the door closed and pushed past him, only to find he was parked behind her. “You’re blocking me in.”

“Can we talk first?”

“I have to go, my little sister is waiting for me.”

Kevin frowned. “I thought Dana said you were an only child.”

“You ever heard of the Big Brothers, Big Sisters? Well, I’m a big sister, and I’m late, so please move your car.”

“But I want to talk to you.”

Megan nearly spit in frustration. “We have nothing to say to each other! Now, please, move your car before I move it for you!”

Kevin made a low noise in the back of his throat and went to his car. Megan shook her head as he backed out of the driveway. She got in her car and tossed the basketball in the backseat.

But Kevin didn’t leave. Instead, he parked at the curb and came running back to Megan’s car, yanking open the passenger door and plopping down on the seat.

“Excuse you? Just what do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m not leaving until we talk. So if I have to follow you around all day, then I will.”

“Fine, suit yourself.”

Megan started the car and turned on the radio, full blast. Then she drove like mad to her destination. When she finally removed the keys from the ignition, Kevin let out a shaky breath and muttered, “Thank God I’m still alive.”

“Baby,” she told him. Then she got out of the car.

Kevin followed her to the front door of the house. Megan knocked three times and waited.

“Megs! I didn’t think you were coming today....oh my LORD!” thirteen year old Casey Dawson squealed. “Kevin Richardson! AHHHH!”

“Please don’t tell me you’re a fan,” Megan groaned.

“Are you kidding me? I looove the Backstreet Boys! I’m Casey,” she said, sticking her hand out.

Kevin shook it and said hello.

“What’s he doing here?” Casey asked, hopping from foot to foot.

“He’s like a virus, he won’t go away,” Megan said simply. “Actually, I’m not sure why he’s here, he just sort of followed me.”

“Are you guys, um, dating?”

“NO!” they cried in unison.

“Oh, okay.”

“Megan and I need to talk about some stuff, but she’s being stubborn,” Kevin said.

Casey laughed and nodded her head. “That sounds like Megs to me. Well, are we still going?”

“Sure thing, come on!”

“Um, where are we going?” Kevin asked, walking with them towards Megan’s car.

“To the park to shoot some hoops,” Casey answered. “Wanna play?”

He grinned. “Sure, I love basketball.”

Casey made sure the ride was not a quiet one. She bombarded Kevin with questions about the group, their songs, and what it was like to be famous. Megan gritted her teeth together. Wasn’t there anyone who *didn’t* like them?

They reached the park and headed for an empty basketball court.

“Megan’s helping me with my free throws,” Casey explained. “I wanna play next year when I get to high school.”

“Sounds like fun. I didn’t know Megan played basketball,” Kevin said, turning his emerald green eyes to her.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” Megan responded, bouncing the ball. She tossed it to Casey who caught it and aimed for the basket. “That’s it, arms up, keep your eye on the hoop...yes!”

She and Kevin cheered as the ball went in and made a swishing noise. Casey ran after the ball. “Hey, can we play a real game? Kevin against you and me?” she asked when she returned.

“That sounds like fun,” Kevin said.

“Yeah, loads,” Megan forced herself to say.

They played for twenty minutes before Kevin called for a time out. The score was 14 to 12, in favor of Megan and Casey.

“Whoo! You girls are good!” he said, wiping sweat from his brow.

“Thanks,” Casey said, beaming. Her friends were never gonna believe this!

Megan was sweating like crazy. She figured she must smell awful too. She glanced over at Kevin who was wiping his face with the bottom of his shirt, revealing a smooth firm chest underneath. She shivered in the sunlight and looked away. Casey, who had been running around and dribbling the ball, suddenly stopped.

“Megan,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t feel so good.” The ball left her hands and rolled away as she collapsed to the ground.

“Casey!” Megan cried, running over. “Casey, what’s wrong?”

Kevin came over and they both knelt beside her.

“Where does it hurt?” he asked.

Casey pointed to her right side.

“For how long?”

“Coupla days, on and off,” she groaned.

“Here?” he asked, pressing gently on her lower abdomen.

“Yow, yeah, there!”

“Come on, Casey, let’s get you home,” Megan said, helping her to stand.

“We need to get her to a hospital,” Kevin informed her.

“For a stomachache?” Megan asked in disbelief.

“I don’t think it’s her stomach.”

“Well what is it, Doctor Richardson?”

Kevin ignored the sarcasm in her voice and scooped Casey up in his arms. Then he started for the car.

“It’s quite possibly her appendix,” he called out.

Megan frowned and ran after them. Kevin carefully placed Casey in the back and then climbed in next to her. Megan drove them to the nearest hospital. She watched in her rearview mirror as Kevin held Casey’s hand and reassured her that everything was going to be okay. He even sang to her. Megan found herself actually liking the sound of his voice.

They made it to the hospital and Kevin carried her inside. He flagged down a nurse, explained the situation and Casey was whisked away.

Megan was scared. She needed to call Casey’s mother, but where the hell was a phone?

A comforting hand landed on her shoulder. She turned to see Kevin holding out a cell phone, a half smile on his face. She gratefully accepted it and dialed Casey’s mom at the restaurant where she worked as a waitress.

“Thanks,” she said, handing the phone back a few minutes later.

“No problem.”

A doctor came to see them. “Are you Casey’s parents?” he asked.

Megan almost laughed. “No, we’re friends of hers. Her mother is coming.”

“Ah, well. I just wanted to inform you that Casey has been taken to surgery to have her appendix removed.”

Megan gasped sharply.

“Now, there’s nothing to worry about, she’ll be fine. We caught it before it burst,” the doctor continued. “I’ll be back as soon as it’s over.”

“Thank you,” Kevin said, shaking the man’s hand just before he left.

Megan sank into a nearby chair, shaking her head. “How did you know?” she whispered.

Kevin sat down beside her. “Because it happened to me.”

“Really?”

“Yup. We were in Germany, doing a tour there. I had really bad stomachaches for a couple of days. I thought it was just the rich food. Turns out it wasn’t that at all.”

“Were you scared?”

“Terrified. I was so far away from home, and the guys were my only family.”

“I’m sorry I snapped at you in the park.”

“That’s okay. You didn’t know.”

“But I didn’t have to be such a bitch about it.” She sighed. “I’ve been a bitch ever since you met me, and I’m sorry.”

Kevin’s mouth dropped. “Hold up. Did I just hear you apologize...twice?”

Megan blushed. “Yeah, well, twice is all you’re gonna get.”

“Hey, works for me. So do you think we can be friends now?”

Megan nodded her head. “I think I’d like that.”

Kevin extended his hand and they shook on it.

Twenty minutes later, Myra Dawson came rushing towards them.

“I got here as fast as I could. The boss was being an ass,” she said, hugging Megan. “How’s my baby?”

“She’s in surgery. She has to have her appendix taken out.”

“I feel so terrible! She’s been complaining about her stomach for a few days, but we don’t have the money for a doctor.” Myra’s eyes widened. “Oh no! I’ll never be able to pay for this. Not unless I get another job, and I already have two. But Casey needs me at home-”

“Myra!” Megan broke in. “Don’t worry about it!”

“Don’t worry about it? Megan, are you crazy?!”

“It’s already taken care of.”

“Megan, you didn’t.”

“Not me, him.” She pointed to Kevin.

Myra saw him for the first time.

“Myra, this is Kevin RIchardson, a...friend,” she introduced. “He was with Casey and me when she collapsed. He took care of the bill, so don’t worry about it, okay?”

“But I don’t know him.”

“Have you ever heard of the Backstreet Boys, ma’am?” Kevin asked.

Myra frowned, and then let out a little shriek. “Oh my God! You’re that Kevin Richardson? Casey adores you!”

He chuckled a bit. “Well then she deserves to be taken care of.”

“I can’t accept this...”

“You have to,” Megan said, grinning. “Besides, it’s too late. It’s already paid for.”

Myra stepped forward and hugged him. “Thank you so much. I’ll pay you back, I promise.”

Kevin shook his head. “You can’t pay back a gift.”

“But--”

“No buts. Actually, I have a better idea. Can you type?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Can you answer phones, and are you organized?”

“Yes,” Myra said, not seeing where this was going.

“Well, a friend of mine at Jive Records is looking for an assistant. Her last one just got married and moved away. It’s a nine to five job with a good salary, plus excellent benefits. You’d be able to spend more time with Casey and you wouldn’t have to put up with a crummy boss. What do you say?”

“Are you serious? Is he serious?” Myra exclaimed.

Megan was bobbing her head up and down and grinning like a cheshire cat.

“I’ve already called her, she says you can start tomorrow,” Kevin said.

Myra squealed and hugged him again. When she let him go, she looked to Megan and said, “Why didn’t you tell me you were seeing this incredible man?”

“Oh, we’re not,” Megan stuttered.

“She’s not...” Kevin trailed off.

An uncomfortable silence filled the space between them.

“We’re not together,” Megan finally said. “Kevin’s dating my friend, Dana. We’re just friends.”

“Yeah, just friends,” Kevin echoed.

“Oh. Okay. Well, he’s a great friend to have then,” Myra said, taking note of the sudden tension in the air. “I’m going to go call Merv now, and tell him to kiss off. Thank you again, Kevin.”

They watched her go off in search of a phone.

Tension wasn’t the word to describe the air. Suddenly, they couldn’t stand near each other, or even look at each other.

“Um, you could go home, if you want,” Megan said awkwardly. “I’m gonna wait here with Myra.”

“Well, I can’t go home. And even if I could, I wouldn’t.”

“Why not?”

“I want to see Casey after the surgery. And my car is at your place, remember?”

She laughed nervously. “Right, forgot about that.”

“I guess we wait then, huh?”

“I guess.”