Days past since that night and most of those days she found herself in Kevin's arms either at his place or hers the next morning. She couldn't get enough of him, for the first time in a long time she felt really loved and cherished. The more she kissed him the more she wanted to take it further and usually they did. He became a drug for her and she was definitely addicted.
One morning, a week after she caught AJ with Vala in the club, Kevin and Christel lay in his bed after a scorching night.
"Hey uh Kevin what are we gonna do about telling AJ about . . . uuuhhh . . . us. I think we both should tell him," she said running her hand down his chest.
"I agree. We should both tell him, partly because it involves both of us and partly because if he lashes out it should be at me not you. Although I know AJ would never raise a hand at you, still to be sure. It should come from both of us but, when should we tell him is the real problem," he said smoothing her hair out.
"I don't know but we can't go on like this, as much as I would like to he'll find out soon. Brian called me at work and complained because he was having a hard time covering for us. In other words AJ may be on to us."
"When did he-" Kevin said before he was cut off by the phone ringing. Kevin reached over to the night stand and answered the phone.
"Hello?" he said. Then he turned to her and mouthed, "It's AJ" her eyes widened instantly.
"Naw I haven't seen her," he said.
"The last time I saw her was uuuhhh last Sunday we watched Dumb and Dumber," Kevin said lying completely.
"I know I don't like Dumb and Dumber but uuhh Brian was here and I really didn't care what we watched, neither did she. I did talk to here though, just to see how she was after what you did." This statement was followed by a few uh-huh, ok, alright, and yeah. Then he said,
"Alright I'll be here. Bye AJ" Then he hung up.
"What did he want?" Christel asked stretching.
"Well he was looking for you," she rolled my eyes "he said he was on his way and he's about thirty minutes away." she sat straight up in bed.
"Shit! We have to move. Ok uuhh Kevin take my car keys and move my car out of your driveway, while I clean up the living room. Cause my uuhh shirt, shoes, and socks are down there," she said climbing out of bed and scrambling into Kevin's discarded t-shirt. Kevin sat up in bed watching her dart from one end of the bedroom to the other picking up clothes. After she picked up all of the clothes, she looked over at Kevin, who was still in bed.
"Why the hell are you just sitting there with that silly grin on your face?" she asked irritated.
"I was just admiring the view," he said still grinning. She looked at him puzzled until she looked down and realized the shirt had ridden up and half of her butt was exposed to Kevin's greedy eyes. He burst into laughter as she yanked the shirt down over her bare bottom.
"That's great Kevin but, don't you think you can stare at my ass some other time?" she asked shoving the clothes under the bed.
"You weren't saying that yesterday," he replied. She shot him a warning glance making him change his tune.
"Alright I'm up. Hand me my boxers and jeans, please," he started. "I'll have to go without the shirt it looks like you need it more than I do." she threw his clothes at him and he got dressed laughing the whole time. Then they headed downstairs where she recovered the rest of her clothes.
"Where are your keys?" Kevin asked looking puzzled.
"Right here on the coffee table," she said pointing to them. Kevin picked up the keys and headed for the door. He stopped just as his hand touched the doorknob and turned back toward Christel. He walked up to her, pulled her into his arms, and gave her a passionate kiss. She just stood still loosely held in his arms amazed.
"What was that . . . " she started but Kevin cut her off.
"I just haven't kissed you all morning," was his simple reply before he let her go and went out the front door. She stood still shocked until she heard a soft meowing and spotted a little black cat stride from behind the sofa. It was Kevin's cat Quincy.
"Hey Quincy, I'll feed you in a minute. Just let me finish cleaning up here," she replied to the cat. He answered her with a low meow. She straightened up the sofa, the table then she went to search for Quincy. She spotted him again next to the love seat.
"Ok you have my full attention now. Wanna get some food?" she asked picking up Quincy and carrying him to the kitchen. She dropped him to the floor and went to search for his food.
"Sit right there Quincy, ok," she said not expecting an answer. After what felt like an extensive search, she found his food and poured it into his bowl.
"Go ahead and eat kitty," she said as she patted Quincy's soft dark head. How like Kevin, she thought to herself. At that moment as if she called him Kevin walked into the kitchen.
"Oh I see you fed him, thanks," he said running his thumb across her cheek.
"Well uuhh yeah I love cats, always have but, my parents would never let me get one. I always said I'd get a kitten. I just haven't had the time or the money," she said looking into Kevin's eyes. As she stood there she thought, I'm falling in love with you. I can look into those green eyes of yours Kev and spill my soul, without you even having to ask.
"Oh, what time is it? Christel you should go upstairs before AJ gets here," he said turning to go back into the living room.
"Ok," she said. She gathered her things and went up to Kevin's room.
Later she stood in the middle of Kevin's room when she saw AJ's shiny gray Ford Expedition pull into the driveway. Anxiety crept into her as she watched AJ climb down from the big truck and go inside. What is he here for? What could he possibly want to talk to Kevin about? she thought as she continued to stare out the window looking at nothing in particular. She decided that it would be within her best interest to go out in the hallway and listen to their conversation, while sitting at the top of the stairs.
******
Meanwhile downstairs . . .
Kevin was trying his best to act normal. He just couldn't keep his mind from wandering off and landing on Christel. This is all he ever wanted ever since he saw her that day at the mall. He thought the good friend approach would be a good way to get closer to her. After all friends make the best lovers or so he heard. At the time he didn't know how long she and AJ's relationship would last and at the time he really didn't mind the wait.
Even though, there was always that part of him that wanted to make a move, even though she was still with AJ. There was always that part that wanted to grab her and kiss her full on the mouth as she laughed up at him and whatever he said that was so funny. That part that wanted to slowly peel her swimsuit from her body and kiss every inch of her when they went swimming last summer, that part that wanted to cherish and appreciate her the way AJ was not. Then there was the part that said no she's one of your closest friend's girlfriend.
Both of these parts pulled at him in a never ending tug of war until finally one of them won, last week at her house when he found her there in her bed asleep. Her lashes were still wet from crying over her loss. At that moment he was in his weakest state. He couldn't bear seeing the pain and the hurt in her eyes, he wanted to throw AJ through a window. Knowing that was impossible all he could do was make her feel better. He would never regret the way he �made her feel better'.
He couldn't let on to AJ that anything new had developed between he and Christel. All had to appear to be the same. But this would be hard to do when Kevin knew that Christel was upstairs in his room with nothing on but one of his t-shirts. When he heard the knock at the door his thoughts flew instantly to what he would have to do, lie to a good friend. He answered the door and stood back to let AJ inside.
"Hey AJ, why do you wanna talk to Christel this early in the morning?" Kevin asked rubbing his head.
"I just couldn't wait. I wanna tell her that I broke up with Vala. I was stupid to have even thought she was for me," AJ said sitting on the sofa.
"And you're stupid to even think that this bit of news will make Christel feel any better or take you back," Kevin said pacing behind the couch. He couldn't believe how cocky AJ was being about this whole thing. He wanted to throw something at him or punch him, he couldn't decide which.
"Well I don't know I just thought . . . " AJ trailed off.
"You just thought she would go back to you after what you did, what you put her through? You hurt her AJ, bad! You can't understand that, your ego won't let you! You think everything is supposed to go your way," Kevin exclaimed. He turned to continue his pacing and saw Christel peaking around the corner. He smiled, but quickly hid it when he turned back toward AJ.
"What do you mean by that?" AJ asked incredulous.
"I mean that you just know that just because you broke up with that girl that she's gonna instantly go back to you. Reality check, she won't. You shouldn't have been with that other girl in the first place," Kevin said continuing his pacing.
"Yeah but, I made it better now Kevin," AJ said.
"No you didn't. Face it AJ, it won't work. Are you done, she isn't here and I haven't seen her?"
"I guess but, besides what you said I'm gonna try at least," AJ said rising to leave. Kevin walked him out as Christel watched from the top of the stairs. After Kevin closed the door without turning around he said, "Alright he's gone you can come down, although you knew that, didn't you?"
"You saw me watching from the top of the stairs didn't you?" she asked coming down the steps.
"Yes I did. You're lucky AJ didn't see you otherwise we'd be caught," he said.
When Christel hit the bottom step Quincy walked up to her, she reached down and picked him up.
"You're gonna spoil him," Kevin said shaking his head.
"Well he doesn't mind," she said carrying Quincy to the sofa.
"I wouldn't either," Kevin said sitting beside her. She smiled at Kevin and continued to stroke Quincy as he purred in delight.
"I uuhh heard what you told AJ and... you were right. I won't take him back and I don't know what makes him think I will," she said putting Quincy on the floor.
"I know but, that's AJ for ya."
"Well after what happened this morning I think we should really tell everyone about . . . about us," she said.
"Alright but, how do you wanna do it?" he asked.
"We can call them over to my house, sit them down, and explain the situation to them."
"Them? Them who?"
"Well, AJ, Howie, Brian, Nick, Niecey, and Chinita," she replied.
"Damn, when you said everyone you meant everyone. Should I call our publicist?" Kevin said mockingly.
"No but they are the ones this will affect most," she said gravely.
"You're right. Where do we start?"
"I'll call Chinita, Brian and Nick. You call Howie and AJ and tell them to come to my house at 3pm."
"What about Niecey?"
"You know that if Nick comes so will she, they're like joined at the hip. Besides I'll just tell him to bring her," she said.
"If you want this to get started you should get dressed," he said. Kevin leaned toward her and kissed her hungrily.
"Well if you keep kissing me like that we'll have to put it off until tomorrow," she laughed as she got up from the couch. She walked to the stairs and began to climb them feeling his eyes on her the whole time.