Immediately after the in-store signing at Virgin they headed to the airport and were on their way to Boston for the second of five in-store appearances. His eyes were closed as he lay his head back and listened to everyone board the private plane. It was a relatively small plane, a thirty seater they rented for the week. There was more than enough room for comfort, there were only about twenty people in the entourage including the boys. He heard and felt the presence of someone in the seat next to him and looked over to see Sally,
"My favorite PR person, got more torture for me?" She shook her head,
"Nope, but uh...who were you with last night?" He frowned,
"What do you mean?" She smiled,
"What's her name? The girl you were dancing with at the club last night?" He shook his head,
"How do you know?" He could see the conversation had Kevin's interest, who was sitting in a seat in front of them,
"A picture was on the New York Post website." He shook his head and looked back over when she began to laugh,
"It said something about you should have a revolving bedroom door to help with the traffic." He sighed,
"It's not funny." She stopped laughing and placed her hand on his arm, speaking at a lower volume,
"Nick, there are worse things to be called than a playboy. I know how you feel about your privacy but they aren't saying bad things about you. After years of being in a couple of heavy duty relationships you should play the field. You're young and cute." He looked at her like she was crazy,
"What? Look, you're too young to be so serious in relationships. Every since you were like what...eighteen? That's crazy, don't feel like you have to be with someone. You're young...and don't let people tell you dating and hanging out with different girls is wrong. What you're doing is normal. And don't look at me like that." He shrugged his shoulders,
"I don't hear too many girls saying what you're saying." She shrugged and smiled,
"Because they're young and dumb and get their feelings hurt trying to see something that isn't there." She laughed at the expression on his face,
"Just because someone isn't in a committed relationship doesn't make them a dog..as long as they are upfront with the other person, and it doesn't make them afraid of committment either. Hell, after what you've been through in the past I kinda thought you were a little too committed." She stood up and leaned over and whispered,
"Although I still think Shayna rocks." He laughed,
"Who doesn't?" He looked out the window and once again felt someone sitting next to him,
"So, how are you?" He smiled and looked over at Kevin,
"Cool." Kevin nodded absently and tried again,
"Everything is always cool. How are you really doing?" Nick frowned,
"I'm cool man. Why can't things be cool with me? My family is great, I'm great, my friends are great. I have no problems ok Kevin. I know that disappoints you but my life is good, I don't need your advice about anything." Kevin placed his hands in front him,
"Ok, ok Nick geez." Nick pulled out a magazine from his backpack and began to flip through it,
"So, we don't seem to talk or hang out. We haven't all hung out in months. Since we went bowling in LA." Nick continued to flip through his magazine and sighed,
"We didn't all hang out...Brian wasn't there." Kevin nodded,
"Yeah. after the in-store tour why don't we all hang out since we'll all be in LA? We can get some pizzas and watch movies." Nick didn't bother to look up,
"Can't I'm flying back to Florida the next day."
"Why?" Nick closed the magazine and lay his head back, looking around the cabin,
"I'm going to help produce a song I wrote for Leslie...she's recording again." Kevin nodded,
"Oh, well maybe some other time." Nick nodded and closed his eyes,
"Yeah....maybe." As Kevin got up he didn't know why he acted that way. He did it on purpose that much he knew but lately it really didn't bother him that he wasn't spending that much time with them, not like it would depress him in the past. They had their own things and didn't hesitate to do them, leaving him behind now he was having fun without them.
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Chapter 98