Part 61
The days before the tour was to start were filled with non-stop activities. There were guest appearances, rehearsals, plans to move, and classes to finish. AJ took Chelsea every where and proudly introduced her to fans. He was excited to have her in his life and it showed.
Three days before the tour was to start, AJ and Kevin sat together at rehearsal, each man sipping on a bottle of water as they took a break.
“So where is Chelsea today?”
“Doctor’s appointment. She’s getting the cast off.”
“Cool!! I know she is excited about finally being completely healed! Any plans for tonight?”
“Yeah, I’m taking her out to dinner and maybe do a little dancing. I don’t want her to overdo it but I DO want to take her on a regular date now that she can move around.” AJ grew silent before continuing, “Kev, can I ask you something…about Chelsea?”
“Sure. What’s up?”
AJ reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. He handed it to Kevin as he asked, “Do you think she’ll like this?”
Kevin opened the box to reveal a ring….three stones, one diamond in the middle and Chelsea’s birthstones on either side. This was the ring she had described to him one night seven years ago. “Yeah, I do think she’ll like it. When are you going to ask her?”
“Opening show…but I need to ask you one more thing.”
“Okay.”
“Do you think it would embarrass her if I send a text to our board? You know…the one we’re going to have up for the fans to send us messages during the shows?”
“Why do you think it would embarrass her?”
“Well, she told me before we did the video that she really doesn’t want me giving her a lot of extra attention in front of the fans…you know…like dedicating a song to her or having her on stage during sound checks to sing to her if there are fans around.”
“I don’t think so. There could be any number of Alexs and Chelseas in the crowd. There’s no way anyone could realize it was you and her. How are you going to give her the ring and what if she doesn’t see the message?”
“Michelle is going to help me with both.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’m sure Chelsea will love it.”
“Sure I’ll love what?” asked Chelsea startling both men.
“SHIT!” swore AJ as he spilled water down the front of his shirt. Then he realized Kevin was still holding the ring and panicked. “Where did you come from?”
“Geez….doesn’t sound like those tutors you had when you first started touring were much good if you don’t know basic biology!” teased Chelsea.
“Smartass!” smirked Kevin as he closed the box and put it in his pocket.
“Learned from the best,” countered Chelsea as she gave Kevin a hug. Moving to AJ who was trying to dry his shirt and asked, “What am I going to love?”
“The new house,” and he gave her a kiss.
Chelsea knew they were both up to something by the way they were acting but decided not to push it. “I can’t wait to see what Ella does with the new house. Kevin, was that a ring box you put in your pocket?”
“Uh…yeah….I, ah….I bought it for Dee as a going-away present,” lied Kevin as he saw the look of sheer terror in AJ’s eyes.
“Cool!”
“What are you doing here, ‘Beautiful’?” asked AJ as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him.
“I came to see how much longer you’re going to be.”
Kevin and AJ exchanged conspiratorial looks.
“I’m not sure. Why?”
Chelsea’s heart dropped thinking he’d forgotten the promise of a normal date without crutches. “I thought….we could go out to eat and dancing.”
“What are you going to do with Annie?” asked Kevin.
“She’s gonna be with you.”
“No, I asked AJ to take Annie tonight.”
“Why?” demanded Chelsea, her temper beginning to flare.
“Well, there’s the party management is throwing tomorrow night and then dress rehearsal the next night. Tonight is the last night Dee and I will have to be alone. Besides, we’re gonna be here for several more hours.”
“I can NOT believe what an incredibly selfish ASS you are!” ranted Chelsea. AJ could feel her body trembling with anger. “When we looked at the weeks, you KNEW all of this.” Pulling away with the threat of tears, she said, “I’m going home.”
“WHOA! Wait a minute,” said AJ trying to hold on to her.
A tear fell as she struggled against him. “NO! Let me go!” and she broke free.
Fortunately, Kevin was fast enough to get in front of her and stopped her by wrapping his arms around her waist when she tried to turn away from him. “Chelsea, stop! We were just playing!”
Chelsea sagged against his chest, tears streaming unchecked down her cheeks. “Playing?”
AJ moved in front of her and wiped her tears. “Yeah, ‘Beautiful’…we were just teasing you. I have the reservations for tonight….at one of the top spots in Malibu.”
“Really?”
Kevin let go of Chelsea and AJ put his hands on her hips pulling her to him. “I promised you we’d celebrate.”
“I thought you had forgotten,” she whispered meekly.
AJ laughed, “Not by a long shot. My lady is FINALLY completely well and I want to show her off.”
Chelsea wiped her tears. “I’m sorry for blowing up.”
“It’s okay, ‘Beautiful’. You were so excited when you came in, you didn’t realize we were picking on you.”
Chelsea realized Kevin had left them alone. “I need to apologize to Kevin.”
“Later,” whispered AJ as he placed a feathery kiss on her neck. “I want to apologize to you.”
Chelsea turned her full attention back to AJ and put her hands behind his neck. “Don’t you have to go back…..”
“Shhh,” and AJ covered her lips with his own. Slowly he caressed her lips apart and dipped in for a taste. His hands roamed her body as he held her tight.
Breaking apart, Chelsea said, “I love you, Alex.”
“I love you too, Chelsea.”
“Hey…AGE! Come on,” called Nick. “I wanna get out of here.”
“How much longer are you REALLY going to be?”
“About an hour. Are you going to wait here for me?”
Giving a smirk, she said, “Michelle just dropped me off and left. She had to go back to work.”
“You can come watch with Fatima…the slave driver,” said AJ and led her to a chair where he had her sit. Giving her a kiss, he headed to join the guys. As he passed Kevin, he said, “Smooth! Just keep it until we have a free minute and she’s not looking.”
“No problem.”
The guys spent the next hour going over the last set for their show as Chelsea looked on.
