Kevin sat down and stared at the blank TV screen. To his left was the cordless telephone in its cradle. It taunted him because Kevin didn't have to guts to call any of them, even though he knew he should. Brian and he had that chance phone call that was short-lived. Kevin heard Nick went solo and Howie was in the movie business. No news about AJ.
Probably at a club trying to get some girl to sleep with him, he sneered, venomously.
Nick had a press conference the next day. It started at 10:30. It was presently 10. And Nick was still sleeping.
His phone rang from his bedside stand. Nick blindly reached for it, his head stuffed in the pillow and finally found it. "Hello?"
"Nick! Where the hell have you been?" Tracee yelled at him. "You have a conference in a half hour!"
"Shit, I'm sorry!" he apologized and jumped up. "I'll be there real soon! Bye!"
Nick took a shower and dressed in yesterday's clothes. That was not on his mind. He grabbed his keys and raced out of his apartment complex. He rode his car, nothing stylish, to the building where the meeting was at.
"Nick, I shouldn't put up with you!" Tracee yelled at him. She ran miraculously in her high heels to him and grabbed his ear. And dragged Nick.
"Trace! My ear!" Nick squealed as they paced through the main doors.
Two passing security guards snickered softly at the two.
"Nick, this is the last time this is going to happen, right?" she asked him, pulling his ear harder.
"Yes, whatever you say. Just let go of me!"
Tracee let go and he stood up and gave her a childish face. He towered over her, but she always beat him up. She pushed him playfully and whispered, "Go get 'em, Tiger."
Howie and Rena had been together long before BSB shut down. They had met by chance in one of their lawsuit cases. That was years ago.
The two were perfect for each other. Everyone knew it, they knew it. And just before they quit the group, Brian and Howie had bought an engagement ring for Rena.
Brian must have been the most faithful person Howie had met. He loved his wife and daughter even though on tour, time with them was sparse. And he was true. He kept secrets and promises.
So when Howie told Brian, he was overjoyed. They went to the same store as Brian did. Howie fell in love with one particular ring. It one large but sole diamond shaped into a heart.
The ring had never been given to Rena, though Howie attempted to approach her several times.
How went to his room and found the box where he had left it last.
Now or never, D, Howie told himself.
"Rena?" Howie called. He headed to the den, where she was on the couch, crouched over a book. She was so into the book, she hadn't heard him.
Howie leaned against the door. Her brown hair feel loosely around her face. Her vibrant blue-green eyes paced steadily across the pages of the novel. She was wearing an old pair of sweats.
"Sweetie? Can I talk to you?" he asked again.
She looked up and her lips curled into a smile. "Sure, what's up?" She put the book down and adjusted her glasses.
"We've known each other for many years. Many, many ---"
"You're making me feel old," she teased him.
He grinned. "What I'm trying to say is..." Howie kneeled down in front of her. "Will you marry me?"
Her face was so still, finally realizing after he asked. Then it was so animated. She put her hands over her face. She nodded. He pulled her left hand away and slipped the ring on. She leaned over and kissed him.
"Where's my baby?" Brian cooed. "Where's my baby?"
Natalie gurgled and laughed as he blew on her stomach.
"Mail's here!" Chelsea yelled from the kitchen.
Brian picked up Lee, as he called his daughter and carried her to the kitchen. "Let's visit Mommy, Lee!" Brian exclaimed, before passing her on to his wife.
Brian gave her a kiss and shuffled to the mail. He sorted through it. Bill. Bill. Ad. Magazine. Then something different. Brian searched for the return address. In big, loopy letters:
Dorough
Brian panicked. He didn't want to look back on the past. Not at that point, at least. He wanted to be entirely devoted to his family. He'd made one mistake, he wasn't about to make another.
Brian plopped down on the floor, numbly. Why was he doing this to him? He dropped the unopened envelope and started to cry silently.
"Brian, what's wrong?" Chelsea asked, walking over to him, Lee still in her arms.
He kept babbling something, but pointed to an envelope. She curiously opened it up. She looked at him. "Howie's getting married!"
"He's WHAT?" Kevin stared at his mom in disbelief. "You're lying."
"Look," she said, and passed him the invitation, "we just received it today."
Kevin looked it over and after reading it twice, he couldn't prevent the smile that appeared on his face. He whispered, "I can't believe it. Go, D."
"So, I guess that means I should call Howie? Or do you want to?" she urged, gently.
Kevin frowned again, trying to conceal his smile, this time more successful. "You can call."