Shea:

 

            Three weeks and I still haven’t talked to or seen Lauryn. I know she’s home and that she’s sorry for her outburst because Brian told me, but with the hectic schedule I’ve been on since rehearsals started, I haven’t had time to call or write. Tomorrow we’ll be leaving for Germany. First show of my first tour.

            “RING! RING!” the phone shrieked. I tossed the remainder of my toiletries into my suitcase and ran to answer the phone.

            “Hello?” I answered, somewhat breathlessly from racing to the phone.

            “Hi. Just wanted to call and wish you luck on tour,” the voice on the other end said cheerfully.

            “Um...thanks, but who is this?” I asked, confused.

            “Jeez! One little fight and you forget your best friend?!” the voice asked with a laugh.

            “Christ, Lauryn! How’ve you been?” I questioned excitedly.

            “Fine. I’m still working for Madame DuBois, and I also sing at this club every Saturday,” Lauryn stated. “How about you?” she inquired.

            “Been busy with rehearsals. We leave for Germany tomorrow morning,” I answered.

            “You and Nick still together?” Lauryn asked.

            “Yeah. He helped me get an apartment in Tampa that’s not too far from his house, and we spend almost every waking moment together,” I replied. “What about you and B-Rok?”

            “Technically, we still together, but I haven’t seen him since I left Florida. He calls to let me know if he can’t make it to Manhattan to see me, but you know, it’s just not the same as it was when I was down there. Kevin and I have become really close. I talk to him damn near everyday. How he finds the time, I’m not sure, but I’m not going to complain,” Lauryn responded. “Kev, gave me your number since I never hear from you,” she laughed.

            “Are you going to try and come to a show?” I asked.

            “We’ll see. I don’t know for sure yet,” Lauryn answered. “Listen. I have to go, but I’ll call you again next week. I have you cell number. Have fun and don’t forget about me,” she said suddenly.

            “Okay. I will and I won’t,” I replied to her statements before hanging up the phone. I sighed heavily with relief and happiness, and although our conversation felt a little strained, it was extremely good hearing her voice.

            I packed the rest of the things I’d need for the next couple months into my suitcases, and set them by the door. Nick would be coming to pick me up in a little bit and I wanted everything to be ready for him. Tonight would be our last night completely alone with each other. Starting tomorrow we’d be surrounded by nine other dancers, the four other Boys, the Band, Fatima, and God only knows who else.

 

Lauryn:

           

            “RING! RING! RING!” I heard the phone ringing inside my apartment as I fumbled with my keys.

            “Hi. You’ve reached the machine. You know what to do,” I heard my recorded voice say. Finally, the damn locked opened and I rushed inside, dropping my purse and backpack on the floor by the open door.

            “Hey, Lauryn. This is Brian. I have a short break so I thought I’d call...”

            “Hello?!” I answered excitedly.

            “Hey, Pooka! I thought I’d missed you again,” Brian said into my ear.

            “I just got home from work. The stupid key stuck in the lock,” I explained. “Where are you?” I asked.

            “Amsterdam. We’re getting ready to do a show for 56,000....THOUSAND....seats in about three hours,” he replied.

            “Are you having fun?” I questioned.

            “Oh, yeah! I always have fun on tour,” he said. “But...it would be more fun if you were here with me,” he added.

            “Oh? There aren’t any women in Europe for you?” I asked jokingly.

            “None like you,” he stated softly. My heart fluttered. I loved it when Brian said those sweet things to me. They made me realized exactly how lucky I was to find someone like Brian to fill the void in my heart.

            “Yo, Frick! Let’s go!” I heard Nick shout in the background.

            “Hey, baby. I gotta go. Last minute rehearsals,” Brian said apologetically. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

            “Okay. When will you be back in the States?” I asked. I really wanted Brian with me. I missed the way he smelled. The way he laughed. The way his arms felt when he held me. I missed him.

            “Three weeks left in Europe. A week in Asia. And then two weeks in South America. So, six weeks,” Brian answered.

            “I miss you,” I whispered, the tears silently slipping down my cheeks at the thought of six more weeks without him and Shea.

            “I know. I miss you too. I gotta go. Love you,” Brian whispered back. The phone went dead in my hand. I sat on the couch with the handset pressed to my bosom and cried softly. I’d never felt more alone in my life as I did that minute.

 

Shea:

 

            No matter how much fun I had on tour, I still wanted to go home. Home to my apartment. My job. Lauryn. I loved being on tour with the guys and Nick and I were closer than we’d ever been, but there was always a yearning in my heart for Manhattan.

            It was late. Really late. We’d just finished a show in Barcelona, and I sat alone in my hotel room, thinking. Not about anything specific. Just random thoughts. I glanced at the bedside clock. Two am. What time would it be in New York? I couldn’t figure the exact time, but I figured it to be early afternoon. Maybe Lauryn would be home.

            I punched in the familiar digits of Lauryn’s number. The phone rang and rang, but Lauryn never answered. “Hi. You’ve reached the machine. You know what to do,” the machine said. I smiled at the sound of Lauryn’s forced-pleasant voice on the recording. “BEEEEP!”

            “Hey, Laur. Shea. Just wanted to chat, but I guess you’re probably at work. Talk to you later.” I hung up the phone just as someone knocked on my door.

            I pulled my robe tighter around my body and went to see who would be knocking on my door at this hour. I assumed it would be Nick, but AJ stood in the hall when I opened the door. “Bone? What are you doing here?” I asked, somewhat confused.

            “Andre and I were outside getting some fresh air and I saw your light on. Thought I’d take a chance,” he answered.

            “Well, come in,” I stated, opening the door wider for him to enter. AJ walked in and I closed the door behind him. “Have a seat.” I gestured to the small table by my window. AJ sat down, tossing his pack of smokes on the table. I sat across from him, took a cigarette from his pack and lit it.

            “Didn’t have you pegged as a smoker,” AJ said, lighting one of his own.

            “Used to. I quit a few years ago,” I replied.

            “Then why start again?” he asked, inhaling deeply.

            “I don’t know. It calms me,” I answered. AJ stared at me with his big, brown, puppy-dog eyes and scooted his chair closer to mine.

            He snubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and placed his hand on my bare ankle. He pulled the cigarette dangling from my fingertips and deposited it in the ashtray with his. Slowly, he slid his hand up my leg, his eyes never leaving my face. I sat there and watched him, but I didn’t push his hand away. It traveled upward, pausing just above my knee. His hands then went to my robe tie and slowly, AJ began untying the knot.

            “KNOCK. KNOCK.” I jumped in my seat and realized the situation I was in. I couldn’t believe what I was going to let myself do. Was I that sad and lonely? I stood up and readjusted my robe. AJ sat back and sparked up another cigarette. I peeked out the peephole. ‘Thank God! It’s Nick!’ I said to myself.

            I opened the door and hugged Nick. He hugged me back, not asking why, but just doing it because he cares about me so much. It was one of the things I loved most about Nickolas. He didn’t ask me what was wrong or if I’m okay every time I do something out of the ordinary.

            When Nick and I separated, he looked over at the table to see AJ smoking a Camel. “You know, it’s a good thing that I’m not the suspicious type cause I don’t know how other guys would feel about their friend alone in a hotel room with their girlfriend. Who is in only a bathrobe, I might add,” Nick said with a smile. My cheeks flushed blood red with embarrassment and shame. How could I even think about anyone but Nick?

            AJ snubbed out his second cigarette. “Well, I’ll leave you two alone,” he said as he rose from his chair and walked toward the door. “Good night, Nicky,” he said, shaking Nick’s hand. “Good night, Shea,” he whispered, kissing my cheek lightly. AJ walked out of my room and closed the door behind him.

            As soon as the door clicked shut, Nick scooped me up into his arms and carried me to the bed, his lips leaving hot kisses on my neck. He laid me down, and timidly untied my robe. “Can I look at you?” he asked shyly.

            “Of course you can, Nick,” I whispered. He pulled open the gauzy material and gazed lovingly at my naked body exposed to him.

            “God, you are the most beautiful creature on this earth, Shea,” he sighed, his eyes drinking me in. “How did I get so lucky as to meet you?” he asked as he gently laid himself on me, my bare breasts pressed against his clothed chest.

            “How did I get so lucky?” I asked, running my hand through his tousled blond hair.  He kissed me with fervor and urgency, making a trail down my body, before returning to my lips again.

            I rolled over so I was sitting on Nick, and playfully, I began unbuttoning his shirt. Slowly and provocatively, I moved my naked body against him. I planted light, feathery kisses on his bare chest, down to the fly of his jeans. Nimbly, I unbuttoned the button. Nick grabbed my wrist. “Don’t start anything you don’t want to finish,” he said jokingly.

            I kissed his lips again and traced my tongue along the outer edge of his ear. “I want to,” I whispered huskily. He released the hold on my wrist, and I made my way back down to the fly of his jeans. I gripped the zipper tab with my teeth and pulled down slowly, exposing the bulge in his boxer briefs.

            Nick and I made love for the first time that night, and there’s nothing I can say to do it justice. It was beyond phenomenal. More than I had expected. Take the most satisfying orgasm you’ve ever had, multiply it by a million and you still won’t come close to what I felt with Nick.

 

AJ:

 

            What the hell was I thinking? Hello, Bone! What’s going through that perverted little mind of yours? I sat alone in my room, chain smoking, and thinking about Shea. I had made a move on my band mate’s woman. And she didn’t push me away. Could she possibly want me as much as I want her? Maybe she’s wondering what it would be like to experience one night of torrid sex with me, but she’s just too afraid that Nick will find out. Hmm…if I can work up a plan where Nick would never have to know, maybe she’d be willing to do the nasty with me. Me, rolling in between the sheets with Shea’s perfect ass. What an arousing image.