Chapter 4
The limo came to a stop in front of the house and Joey got out of the car. Tyler was surprised and ran to him. Joey took her in his arms and hugged her tight. "What are you doing here? I thought you were flying to New York."
"The others did but I couldn't wait to see you. You're off for the next couple days, aren't you?"
"Actually, I have the next four days off."
"Come with me to New York for the show and wrap party."
Tyler looked back to the porch where Kevin stood and then at Joey. Kevin had been about to kiss her and she had been sure tonight would be the night that he told her he loved her. She had seen it in his eyes but now Joey was standing in front of her asking her to go with him to New York. 'God, how did things get so damn complicated?' thought Tyler. Then she heard herself saying to Joey, "I'd love to go with you, Joey. I need to pack a bag though."
Kevin was thankful for the darkness as Tyler and Joey walked up to the porch where he was. He wiped away the tears and asked, "Tyler, what about your car?"
Joey asked, "What's wrong with your car?"
"It wouldn't start so Kevin came to get me from work. I'll leave Howie a note and get him to take care of it."
Kevin offered, "I'll take care of it for you."
"I'll pay you back, Kevin. Thanks for tonight."
"You're welcome. Have fun in New York."
Tyler gave Kevin a hug and then he left. All the way home, Kevin thought about the night. He had been sure that Tyler felt the same way about him but she'd been happy to see Joey.
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As Kevin slammed the front door, all four couples looked up. They saw the look on Kevin's face and knew something was wrong. He didn't speak to anyone as he went to the studio and slammed the door behind him.
Nick looked at Howie, "Something backfired!"
"Bri, maybe you'd better talk to him," suggested Howie.
Before Brian could get up, Kevin came out and started up the steps to his room.
Brian said, "Hey, Kev! What's up?"
Kevin looked at his friends and the tears that he had been fighting flowed freely. He took a seat on the couch next to Fiona and Nick.
"I went to get Ty because her car wouldn't start."
"Yeah! Is she okay?" asked Howie.
"She was in her office. She'd forgotten something and when I found her, I scared her. She gave me this most amazing hug. Then we went to get something to eat. We had a great time and I had decided that when we got to the house, I'd tell her everything I was feeling."
Fiona asked softly as she rubbed his back, "What happened?"
"We were standing on the front porch and I was getting ready to kiss her when this limo pulled up."
Howie said, "Damnit! Butthead showed up! I thought he had a concert in New York or something."
"Man! I thought for sure Tyler felt the same way for me. I can't believe I was so wrong!" said Kevin.
Kryss looked at Sonja, Fiona and Lex who all nodded an unspoken agreement. Kryss moved to kneel down in front of Kevin and took his hands in hers. "Kev, Tyler DOES feel the same way about you."
"Then why did she go with him?" asked Kevin, confused.
Howie said, "Kevin, you know Tyler as well as any of us. You didn't make the move to tell her that you loved her and she's not about to chase you."
Sonja said, "Kev, it's in her eyes every time you walk into a room. They light up like diamonds."
Brian said, "Yeah, man! Ty is nuts about you. When she talks about Joey, it's like she's talking about me or Nick or AJ. She doesn't love him, not like she loves you."
Kevin looked at all his friends, "What am I going to do?"
"Get a good night's sleep and tomorrow, go tell her you love her. 'Butthead' has a show tomorrow night and he'll be gone soon," said Howie.
"She's going with him to New York," said Kevin.
Howie was furious as he said, "I really thought my cousin had better sense than this."
Kryss said, "Well, as strong and self-confident as Tyler may seem, she's really insecure when it comes to matters of the heart. She's scared to death of not having someone to love and Joey has given her the attention that she's craving. I mean, look at us. We've all become couples and she's still alone."
Kevin said softly, "I should have told her I loved her sooner."
"It's not your fault, Kev. You got hurt by Kristen really bad and Ty understood that," said Sonja.
Brian said, "Kev, when Ty gets back, give her a call and ask her out. You know what she likes so give her a really romantic night out and tell her that you love her."
None of them ever imagined what the next few months would bring for them and Tyler. When she and Joey got back from New York, she had a huge argument with Howie and moved in with Joey. Every time Howie tried to apologize, Tyler would hang up on him or Joey wouldn't let him talk to her. Sonja, Lex, Fiona, and Kryss tried to talk to her but she wouldn't listen to them. She simply tuned them out. AJ, Brian, and Nick even tried. The only one who didn't try was Kevin. He couldn't stand to see what was happening with Howie and Tyler.
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For four months, Tyler cut herself off from Howie and her friends. She didn't even go home with Howie for Thanksgiving and Christmas which infuriated Howie even further. They all knew that this was because of Joey. Howie and Tyler had had arguments before and had always been able to work them out. To make matters worse, there were tons of tabloid stories about Tyler and Joey. Most of them reported how she'd had a fight with the Backstreet Boys and they'd kicked her out. There were a couple that even said Kevin, AJ, and Nick had abused her and Joey had been the one to rescue her.
One day, just a week before Howie and the guys were to hit the road again, they were all gathered at Kevin and Brian's to practice some songs. Howie brought in the latest tabloid and tossed it on the table for the others to read. This one reported how Tyler was heavy into drugs and that Joey was about to dump her.
"Man, they're really doing a number on Tyler," said AJ as he finished reading the article.
"I’ve had about enough of it too," said Howie. "Lou could stop this crap but he's using it to make 'NSync look like heroes."
"We really need to get Ty out of there," said Nick.
"What can we do though?" asked Howie. "We've all tried talking to her."
Sonja, who was sitting in Brian's lap, said softly, "Not everyone."
Kevin looked up as everyone's eyes turned to him.
Howie said, "Kevin, you're the only one she's going to listen to."
"Do you really think she'll listen to me?"
"She loves you, Kevin. When we mention your name at work, she lights up," said Fiona.
Sonja said, "Kevin, she's working today and I know for a fact that Joey's in the studio all day. Why don't you go see her?"
Everyone's eyes were begging Kevin. He said, "I'll try."
Sonja suggested, "Why don't you take her some flowers?"
"And Kev," said Brian. "Don't hold back this time. The only way we're going to get her away from that situation is for you to be honest with her."
Kevin thought about what he was going to do. "I need your help, guys. Ty loves to be sung to."
"What song are you going to do?" asked Nick.
Kevin looked at Howie, "The one you wrote. 'How Did I Fall in Love with You?' Do you mind?"
"I'd be honored," said Howie.
AJ asked, "What's your plan?"
"You guys meet me at Tyler's office. I'm going to get a single red rose for her. Sonya, would you and Kryss get a picnic basket together for me and then you four meet us there too. You're going to have to get her out to the stage. Howie, you know the lighting people at the theater. Get them to put a single spotlight on the middle of the stage and then when she's seated, bring up the spotlights on us. We'll be on the floor in front of the stage."
Everyone agreed to help Kevin with his plan and they all headed out. Kevin was extremely nervous because he wanted this to work.
An hour later, the girls arrived at the Disneyworld lot where Tyler parked and met the guys at the gate. They all went into the park together and met Howie at the theater. The guys went with Howie and the girls went in the back way to Tyler's office.
Sonya knocked on the door, "Hey, Ty! What's up?"
Tyler was thrilled to see her friends and she went to them to hug them. "God! I'm so glad to see you guys!"
All of them noticed how tired Tyler looked but were afraid to say anything. In the back of all their minds, they wondered how true the stories were about Tyler doing drugs. No one wanted to say anything though.
Kryss said, "Ty, we have a surprise for you out front."
"Really?"
"Come on," said Fiona.
"Guys, I've had enough surprises lately," said Tyler hesitantly.
"I promise, you'll like this one. Trust us," said Sonya.
"Okay, Okay! I trust you," said Tyler.
Tyler went with her friends as they led her to the stage. The lights were all out except for the one spotlight in the middle of the stage. "What is this?"
"Just go sit in the middle of the spotlight," said Kryss.
Tyler did as they said and when she was seated, the light went off of her and came up on Kevin and the guys as the music began to play. Kevin moved to her as he sang and gave her the single red rose. Tears rolled down her cheeks as the guys sang.
Kevin reached up as they finished and wiped the tears away. Kevin whispered, "Tyler Ann Dorough, I do love you," and he put his hands on her waist lifting her off the stage. She slid down his body putting her arms around his neck as she did.
Tyler whispered, "I love you too, Kev."
Neither one realized they were alone because the others had left quietly. They held each other for a few minutes just staring into each other's eyes
Kevin finally said, "Let's go somewhere so we can talk. "
"I don't have to be here until four this afternoon," said Tyler.
Kevin looked at his watch and said, "That gives us about five hours. We could drive out to the coast. I know a place on the beach where we can sit and talk."
"And not have any interruptions?"
"I'll even leave the cell phone in the truck."
"What about lunch?"
Kevin smiled, "The girls packed us a picnic."
"How long did it take you to plan this?"
"About ten minutes but it took me an hour to bring it together."
"This is so sweet, Kev!"
"Ty, I'd give you the world."
"I need to go to my office first."
"Let's go then."
Kevin helped Tyler up the steps and held her hand as they walked to her office. Within five minutes, the two were at Kevin's truck and headed to the coast.
