Part 55
“Hey Michelle, this is Chelsea…..I’m doing great. Alex is being so wonderful…..Yeah, he is. Look, Alex has to work today and my mom is taking Annie on her school field trip. I was wondering, would you like to come over and keep me company? Maybe have a girls’ day……Oh, that sounds like an EXCELLENT idea. Moni and I use to do that all the time. I bet Alex has some stuff fans don’t get to see…….Of course, I’ll ask him……Cool. I’ll pay you back for the munchies!.......See you in an hour.”
As Chelsea cut off the phone, AJ joined her. He leaned over her to give her a kiss. “Who were you talking to?”
“Michelle. I called to see if she wanted to spend the day here.”
“Didn’t she have to work?”
“Nope, day off.”
“Cool! I didn’t like leaving you here alone.”
Taking his fingers and playing with them, Chelsea asked timidly, “Do you have any tapes or DVDs of shows?”
“You mean like our concerts?”
“Uh huh.”
“Sure, I’ve got a few from each tour. Why?”
“Could I borrow them…while Michelle is here?”
AJ moved to sit with Chelsea, pulling her into his lap. “What are you two going to do?” he asked curiously.
Giggling as she ran her finger down his chest, “Be fans! Michelle is gonna bring her Backstreet stuff and we’re gonna just hang out and watch it all.”
AJ laughed, “Probably a good thing I have to go to work. Let me go get you what I have.”
“Thank you,” and she gave him a kiss.
Chelsea slid off his lap and AJ asked as he got up, “Do I need to get some munchies for you?”
“Nah, Michelle is going to take care of it and I’ll pay her back.”
“Be back in a minute.”
Chelsea watched as AJ headed to his office where he kept all his DVDs and movies as she thought about how lucky she was. Unfortunately, her thoughts were interrupted by Annie bouncing into the room.
“Mama! We’re ready!”
“Okay, ‘Pumpkin’.”
Annie frowned, “That’s what Papa ‘J’ calls me!”
“Sorry! You have fun and MIND your grandmother.”
From behind Annie, “Don’t worry about us! What are you and Alex going to do?”
“Alex has to go to work so a friend of ours is coming over.”
Hillary frowned, “I don’t know if I should go then.”
“Mama, I’ll be fine. Michelle is the physical therapist that Alex hired to work with me after the cast comes off.”
“I still don’t know.”
“Nana!” whined Annie.
From behind Annie and Hillary, AJ said, “Annie, be patient. Hillary, there’s no need to worry. I’m not leaving until Michelle gets here.”
“How qualified is this Michelle?”
“Mama, Alex brought me out here because this orthopedic group is the best in the nation.”
“Is that right, Alex?”
“Yes ma’am. Only the best for my beautiful lady,” beamed AJ as he took a seat beside Chelsea again and put his arm around her.
“How did you hear about them?”
“I went to them for my knee last year and Michelle is one of the physical therapist for them. I thought she and Chelsea would get along.”
“And he was right, Mama.”
Hillary smiled seeing the way AJ and Chelsea looked at each other. “Alex, you are definitely looking out for my baby. Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure. Chelsea and Annie mean the world to me. Now,” taking Annie in his arms to raze her neck, “you and ‘Pumpkin’ go and have a super day.”
“Stop it, Papa ‘J’,” laughed Annie as he tickled her.
Hillary and Chelsea both laughed and after the ‘good-byes’ were said, Annie and Hillary were on their way.
Alone, AJ pointed to the pile of DVDs and tapes by the TV. “They should keep you two busy until I get back. There’s one in there from one of our very first tours…in Europe. Maybe you’ll find yourself in the crowd.”
“What other shows are there?”
“Well, there’s at least three from each tour, uncut stuff from all the tapes and DVDs that we’ve released….including the promotional tour.”
“You mean the Hundred Hour tour?”
“Yeah.”
“OH WOW! Thank you for getting these.”
“No problem,” chuckled AJ.
“You’re laughing at me,” pouted Chelsea.
“No, really, I’m not!” reassured AJ as he tried to suppress his laughter.
“You think it’s FUNNY that I’m a fan.”
“Honestly, no, I’m NOT laughing at you, Chelsea,” reassured AJ as he pulled her to him and tried to kiss her but she put her hand up to stop him. “I think it’s awesome that you’re a fan and even more so that you’ve been one since the very beginning. You know, Nick’s jealous cuz he can’t ever get as lucky as me with the fans. He calls you my ‘Poster Girl’.”
Giving a contented sigh as she nestled her head on his shoulder, Chelsea said, “I’m sure Nick will find someone…whether they’re a fan or not. You said you were gonna hang around until Michelle gets here. Does that mean you’re leaving early?”
“I have some errands I need to run before I go to the meeting.”
“What are you guys going to meet about anyway?”
“Our schedule up until the tour kicks off. Oh, and before I forget, we’re headed to Orlando at the end of the week to do the next video.”
Chelsea’s smile disappeared. “This soon?”
AJ couldn’t see her frown but he could hear it. “Yeah, but why the frown?”
“I’ve gotten extremely use to being in your arms at night. How long are you gonna be gone?”
“Whoa….what makes you think I’m going without you?”
“You’re going to work, Alex, and I can’t just take off with you every time you go out of town.”
“About the work thing…yes, I’ll be working but we’re gonna be using fans as part of the video and I thought you’d enjoy being in it. As for taking off, I know you want to have your own life but right now, you aren’t busy so….please, go with me?”
Chelsea couldn’t resist Alex’s eyes. “I’d love to go with you, but what about Annie?”
“Let’s ask your mom if she will stay with her and if she can’t, I’m sure my mom would LOVE to see her again.”
“That’s fine. Mama did say she’d stay as long as we needed her. I’m sure she’ll stay with Annie.”
“How long before Michelle gets here?”
“Not sure…thirty minutes? She said she was going to stop at the store to get the munchies.”
“If you’ll look beside the phone, there’s a list of places that deliver in case you want something else.” Pulling out his wallet, AJ took out his credit card and handed it to Chelsea. “Here, use this to pay for it.”
“Alex, I don’t need it.”
“I know but use it anyway.”
Taking the card, Chelsea asked, “What kind of errands do you have to run?”
Leaning back and taking Chelsea in his arms, AJ said, “None of your business.”
“Oh…okay! I have to tell YOU what I’m doing but you don’t have to tell me?! That’s NOT fair.”
With a devilish smirk, AJ said, “All’s fair in love and war.”
Chelsea pouted.
“You’re so cute when you do that,” teased AJ as he played with her bottom lip. Leaning to her, he kissed her.
“Can you at least give me a hint?”
“You’ll find out later.”
