"So what'd you and Nick talk about?" Leigh Anne asked curiously.
"Just basic stuff. . ." Kayla said pausing as a smile slowly appeared on her face. "And we're going on a date tomorrow."
"Really?" she smiled as if to say 'I told you so. . .I knew it!'
"Yeah. He is supposed to pick me up tomorrow at 7."
"You'll have a good time . . . Nick is a really good kid." she said knowing that Nick was probably more excited than ever. He had a crush on Kayla since he'd first seen her on TV. To him there were a lot of times he forgot he also was a celebrity and could get almost any girl he wanted.
"I know. . . I just hope he has a good time as well."
"He will Kay. Don't even stress."
"I hope so. . ." she smiled and turned to face the stage the stage were Nick was grinning the biggest grin she had ever seen.
***Later***
Brian bounded off stage, wrapping his arms around his wife to pick her up and spin her in a circle, gently placing a kiss on her lips before setting her back down with his arms still encircling her tiny waist. "Great show baby!" she whispered into his ear.
"Mmm- I'm so glad to have you here with me!" he smiled holding her tighter. "I love having you on tour with me."
"I love being on tour with you sweetie. I'm glad we get to spend some time together." she smiled back at him. She ran her fingers through his wet hair making it stand in various directions on his head. "You look cute..." she giggled.
"Hey Leigh, where'd Kayla go?" Nick asked looking confused.
"She said she had to take off and to tell you sorry she couldn't stay but she'll see you tomorrow."
"Oh. . .ok. Well I'm going to shower...Night Rok, Night Leigh."
"G'night Frack!"
"Night Nick. Good luck with the date!" Leighanne called as he walked into his dressing room.
***The Next Day***
"Alright Tony here is the addres-Crap!. . . I. . . Shit!" Nick grumbled as he searched his pockets and his wallet for the slip of paper that had Kayla's number and address on it.
"You lost the address didn't you Carter?" Tony asked chuckling. Tony had been Nick's body guard for some time now. So Tony knew Nick pretty well and knew he was constantly losing things usually the more important the item the more likely that he would lose it or misplace it. He also drove him around on occasion. Such as now. Nick had rented a limo but for security purposes Tony decided to drive.
"Uh. . .Yeah." he mumbled dejectedly.
"Have you got her number?"
"No. . . I lost that too." he sighed with defeat.
"Well you have to decide what to do now Carter. . . but here is an idea; didn't you say this chick was Leigh Anne's friend, so Leigh would probably have her number or address or something, right?"
"Oh you are a genius Tony!! I love you man!" Nick exclaimed as he frantically dug his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed Leigh Anne's cell phone number.
"Sorry Kid. . . I like ya and all but I don't swing that way. I don't think my wife would like it." Tony chuckled.
"Shut up Man!" Nick laughed tossing a quarter in Tony's direction. "Hey Leigh this is Nick. . ." Nick said as soon as he heard someone pick up the phone.
"Hey Frack nice to hear from you too buddy. . ." Brian laughed.
"Oh hey Bri. . .I need to talk to Leigh. Please?"
"What for?"
"I need to ask her a huge favor. . . Please Frick?"
"Alright, here ya go." he sighed handing Leigh Anne the phone.
"Yes Nick? Something wrong?"
"Yeah Leigh I need to ask you a huge favor."
"Aren't you supposed to be on your date with Kayla now?"
"Yeah, that's what I need you to help me with."
"Oh Nick please tell me you are not going to stand her up!!"
"Not if I can help it! I need her address or phone number or something. . .Please?" he pleaded into his phone.
"Didn't she give them to you?"
"Yeah but I-well- I washed the jeans with the number and stuff in the pocket. And so even if I went to find it the number would be toast."
"Oh ok. Well grab something to write with and a piece of paper while I grab her number." she said before setting the phone down and running to find her phone book. Leigh Anne gave Nick the number the phone started ringing again.
"Man Frack needs to remember this is my night off too!!" Brian complained as he loosened his hold on Leigh Anne so she could grab her phone.
"Nick is there something else you need?" Leigh Anne asked as she pick up the phone.
"What? This is Kayla. . . Actually I was wondering about Nick. He was supposed to be here like an hour ago. . . "
"I'm sorry Kay. He is a blonde and he lost your address and phone number so he just called me to get it like 5 minutes ago."
"Oh. . . I thought he might have cancelled or something happened. I was kind of worried that maybe he got into an accident."
"No. Nick is just fine. I guess he took a while to choke down his pride and call me to get the address again. You know how pig-headed guys tend to be."
"Yeah you are right. Well I will talk to you later. Bye Leigh."
"Bye Kayla." she said hanging up the phone.
"What'd Kay want?"
"She thinks Nick is either backing out of the date or got in an accident or something. He hasn't gotten there yet but I suppose he will be there pretty soon." she answered as she snuggled back into Brian's arms.
***Later***
Kayla sat in front of the TV checking her watch every few seconds getting annoyed that she had even agreed to this date just for Nick to stand her up. She sat feeling stupid because she even dressed up. She was wearing a purple floral print summer dress. She slowly picked at the flowers that were delicately placed along the back of the twist that went about half way back her head. She sighed heavily as she leaned forward burying her face in her hands as her hair cascaded down around the sides of her face. 'Yeah I am extremely pitiful. Sitting here like a little high school girl. He isn't coming!' she thought as she hoisted herself off her couch and started to climb up her stairs to her bed room. As soon as she got there she heard some one knocking on the door and considered ignoring it but didn't hoping that maybe Nick haven't stood her up after all. She jogged down the stairs quickly and was almost at the front door. "Eager much? Jeez at least act like you have not been sitting around for an hour waiting on him." she slowed down and tried to look bored after peeking into the peep hole and seeing Nick standing outside with a bunch of roses in hand. She opened the door and Nick smiled at her.
"Hey, sorry I am late Kayla. I lost your address and got a little lost trying to find your place. I am not very familiar with the area."
"It's alright."
"These are for you." he said handing her the beautiful bouquet of yellow roses. "The guy at the flower shop said Yellow meant sorry and I am really sorry about being so late. I hope this won't ruin the date." he said as she took the flowers from his outstretched hand and smelled the wonderful fragrance.
"Thank you...They are lovely. Come on in while I put these in some water." she said opening the door to invite him in as she walked off to find a vase.
"You have a nice place..." Nick said standing uncomfortably in the living room.
"Thanks, you ready?" she asked smiling as she made her way to the door.
"Yup." he smiled hoping she'd enjoy the evening he'd planned. He walked out and waited as she locked up her house and held out his arm for her as soon as she turned around.
"A limo??" she questioned.
"It'll be fun. Come on." he smiled. "I've got the whole evening planned out. We're running a bit late but that's ok."
"Ok. . .She said nervously as she took his arm. Like a perfect gentleman he opened the door and held it for her.. "So where are we going?" Kayla asked once both were seated comfortably.
"It's a surprise." he grinned
"Ok. . ."
"I meant to tell you when we were at your house that I think you look absolutely stunning tonight."
"Thank you." she smiled.
"Ok, we're almost there so close your eyes."
"Why??" she asked shocked.
"Because it's a surprise!" he said simply as if that should completely explain everything. Reluctantly she did as she was told not sure of what Nick was planning
"Ok we're here. Keep your eyes closed." he said opening the door. "Thanks Tony. . . I'll call you later, alright?"
"Alright Carter. . .Didn't lose my number did ya?" he teased.
"Shut up man. I'm going to get you back some day." Nick warned jokingly. "Here take my hand and I'll help you out Kayla." he said as he fit her tiny hand into his. He led her along a path and she hoped he wouldn't let her trip because that was the last thing she needed. She could hear the waves crashing against the beach some where nearby.
"Would you mind telling me where we're going now?" she asked wondering what kind of guy Nick really was. 'Thank god I've got my cell with me.' she thought silently knowing that with it she could get help if needed.
"Hang on you'll see in a second. Watch out there is a couple steps coming up here." He said watching to make sure she didn't slip. "Here stand right there." he said opening the door so he wouldn't slam it into her face and grabbed her hand again to continue inside. "Ok you may open your eyes." he announced as soon as they reached their destination.
"Oh my gosh. . .It's beautiful!" she exclaimed looking at the marvelous view. The room was lit with candles and the soft glow they gave the room made it romantic. On top of that the huge window looked out directly on the ocean and the millions of tiny shining stars above. "Where are we?"
"This is my home." he smiled proudly.
"You live in California??"
"Some times. It's my home on the west coast. I usually live in Tampa but my parents live out here not too far from here. So to avoid staying with them or in a hotel when I visit I stay here."
"Oh. . . You have an amazing view."
"Yeah that's why I bought this house." he said looking out the window with her. "Well let's have a seat and dinner should be out shortly. I didn't trust myself to cook so I hired some one. I didn't want my cooking to be the thing that scared you away."
"I doubt you are that bad of a cook!"
"You've never had to taste it. Trust me it's pretty dern nasty." he laughed as he pulled out a chair for her to sit in.
"Why thank you Nick."
"No problem." he grinned as he sat across the table from her.
"Dinner is served." A man announced setting the food out in front of them.
"Thank you Cory."
"No problem Nick."
"By the way this lovely lady here is Kayla Williams, Kayla this is my long time friend and part-time cook Cory Landers."
"Nice to meet you Kayla. Enjoy your dinner and Desert is ready whenever you are."
"Thanks Cory. . .Don't forget about our game tomorrow."
"I won't. Later Carter. It was nice to meet you Kayla." he said politely kissing her hand.
"Nice to meet you too Cory." she smiled as she thought 'I wonder if he is friends with all the people he has working for him. He was friendly with his driver and now his cook. Maybe he is really a nice guy. . .I hope so.'
"I hope you enjoy the food or I might have to fire Cory!" Nick said in a teasing tone just loud enough for Cory to hear.
"Oh no I'm scared!!! Nick Carter is going to fire me!!! What ever will I do??" Cory called out sarcastically.
"I'm sure I'll enjoy the food." she laughed and took a bite.
"So what do you think?"
"I think it's wonderful. Cory can keep his job."
"Ya hear that Cory? Kayla says you can keep your job."
"Thank you ma'dam. I am forever in debut to you." he said as he uncorked a bottle of wine and poured them each a glass. "Now I'll really get out of your way. Best of luck Carter. You are going to need it."
"How long have you known him?" Kayla asked curiously.
"I don't know. . . Jeez I meet him back in I think 4th grade. I still keep as many of my friends around as possible. He lives here most the time because I can't be here to take care of the house. So he keeps it up for me and cooks while I am here. Usually we're both too lazy though and I take him out to eat instead." he laughed.
"Wow, are you friends with everyone you hire?"
"Most. Tony is usually my bodyguard but he is cool and takes up the job of driver now and then for me also. He's been with me since Europe So I'm pretty cool with him too." he smiled. "It's nice to have people you actually know around because you know that they aren't just there to use you, ya know?"
"I've never really experienced that yet and I hope I don't have to."
"I hope you don't either but if your career continues to grow the way it is, you probably eventually will. But hopefully I'll be around to help you."
***LATER***
"Thank you so much for the lovely evening but I should really get going."
"Ok just let me give Tony a call." he said as he leaned over and grabbed his phone to call their ride. She turned to face the water and smiled. They had been sitting out on his back patio that overlooked the ocean with the full moon and starlit sky shining down on them as they talked about everything from family to relationships and beyond.
"He said he'll be here in like 15 minutes."
"Cool."
"I'll ride with you back to your house."
"You don't have to. I mean you'll just have to turn around and come back so I can go alone."
"I know you can but I want to take you home. How else is it a date if I make you go home alone?"
"Not sure. Anyway you were talking about your first tour. What happened after AJ and you started fighting?"
"Oh. . .Kevin had to break us apart. It wasn't really fair yet because of the fact that AJ was bigger than me at the time. Kev was so pissed off at me because I was always making trouble. They used to go out for guys nights out and I was never allowed because I was too young." he laughed easily as he remembered. "I was always so home sick over there. I'd always either be on the phone or whining to one of the guys about how much I wanted to be back home."
"I don't think I could ever imagine being able to do the things you did as a kid. I would just be too much of a wimp. I'd cry and whine and be home a day after I left."
"Oh trust me I cried and whined but didn't go home. I almost did several times but I was always talked out of it. Or once Lou just flipped out because Kevin couldn't convince me to just stay and be happy. I only stayed because Lou and Kev got in a fight over it."
"What do you mean?"
"Lou was in my face screaming and that got Kev pissed off. He grabbed Lou's fat lard butt and yanked him back out of my face. He started screaming at Lou that if he ever got in my face like that again he'd beat the crap out of him. He kept saying that Lou had no right to be in my face the way he was and I was just a kid. I felt so bad for causing trouble that I just told them I was tired and needed some sleep."
"What were you really?"
"Home sick as heck. I missed my family and I was sick too. I kept losing weight because I couldn't eat anything because everything made me feel sick. So I was going to go home."
"Man didn't the guys notice something was wrong?"
"Not for a while. I'd make it look like I was eating a lot more than I was. But finally the cold caught up with me and I was throwing up right before a concert. But Lou was the only one who knew at first so he made me perform and every break I was back stage getting sick. This of course provoked another fight from Kevin on my behalf. . .Jeez I never realized how much I made those two fight. . ."
"He was just standing up for you."
"Come on Carter!!" Tony called as he walked out towards the patio.
"Come on, let's go." He said as he stood up and held out his hand to her.
"Ok Let's." she said smiling as she took his hand. 'Glad I took this date after all. He is a total sweetie. I could really see this turning into a real relationship.' she thought to herself as she walked along side Nick to the limo.
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