“Anybody know what Brian wants to talk to us about?” says Nick curiously as the Boys lounge around in Kevin’s hotel room after the night’s show.
“No idea,” shrugs AJ. “Maybe he’s finally got outta that funk he’s in.”
“I hope so,” says Howie. “He’s really starting to scare me.”
“Ditto,” says Kevin just before Brian walks in. “Hey cuz.”
“Hey. Thanks for meeting me here,” Brian says as he takes a seat. He looks nervous. “I need to tell y’all some things and it’s not gonna be easy.”
“Just tell us,” Nick says nervously.
“Y’all know ‘bout me and Jade? How we’re not together right now?” The guys all nod and Brian takes a deep breath. “She went back home because she felt like I was choosin’ the group over her. And she was right. She wanted to go home to do some writing after the book finished and I tried to make her stay. I was too selfish to see that she needed to do something independent of me. And I was too selfish to compromise for her the way she had been doing for me. So she left and I haven’t seen her since. And I miss her. I need to see her and talk things through with her.”
“It’ll be ok,” says Howie. “She loves you.”
“Maybe you could have a weekend back home with her soon?” offers Kevin.
“That’s not enough any more. I need to tell you something else, make y’all see who she is to me. I married her in Vegas,” Brian confesses quietly and they all stare at him in shock.
“What?” whispers Nick.
“I’m sorry for deceiving you but I’m not sorry for marrying her. It was the most perfect moment in my life. I talked Jade into marrying me in a private ceremony just for the two of us. I didn’t think about how hurt y’all would be. I just needed to marry her and with our schedule bein’ so crazy… Well, I couldn’t wait until there was a long enough gap. I just figured the church blessing would be a good compromise.”
“You’re married?!” asks Howie shocked.
“Yes.”
“I can’t believe you would do that Brian,” says Kevin sadly.
“I’m sorry Kevin. Jade is my wife and I need to go and try to fix things with her… And the only way I have of doing that is to leave the group. So that is what I am doing.”
“Oh my God,” whispers Howie as everyone stares at Brian in shock.
“You can’t leave!” yells Nick after a few minutes’ silence.
“Yes I can. I’m sorry but you’ve seen what I was like this past month. I’m not good for you and I’m not good for me. I can’t go on like this any more. I can’t wait another month to go home and I can’t go off around the world for the next three months. And I can’t spend my life wondering when I’m going to get a day off. It’s makin’ me ILL.”
“Is it your heart?” Kevin whispers.
“No. Yes,” Brian admits. “I get a little breathless sometimes…”
“Why didn’t you tell us?!” yells Kevin. “We coulda gotten you a doctor.”
“I was scared to. I don’t want there to be anythin’ wrong,” Brian confesses. “I just want to go home and kiss my wife and rest awhile. I can’t do this stuff any more.” He stands up, “I’m sorry,” and walks out of the room, leaving the other guys in a state of shock.