“You haven’t been taking your pills, have you?” Kevin asked, as Katie sat out on the back porch one night.
“Why do you say that?” Katie asked, her hands rubbing together. It was rather chilly out that night and she had forgotten to grab a sweatshirt.
“You’re not sleeping very well at all. You get a few minutes here and there but that’s it.” Kevin said, sitting down next to her.
“They caught Robbie today. Peyton is now out of danger and Joe isn’t worried anymore.” Katie said, as Kevin wrapped an arm around her and held her close. “Robbie isn’t saying anything about Reggie, the cops don’t have any leads and it looks like they may never get him.”
“Kate, it’ll be okay.” Kevin said.
“He destroyed our home, my store; he took away my sense of security and our baby.” Katie said as she cried.
“But that’s why Isabella is so special and wonderful. And the doctor said…” Kevin tried to help out.
“I highly doubt it was anything but those stairs and that fall.” Katie replied.
“But, is it possible that someone else was the cause? Joe and I were both in Reggie’s face when he showed up.” Kevin pointed out.
“I know he did it. He lunged at me while you were getting Joe out of the stairwell. He lunged again when you said I was pregnant. He pushed me down that flight of stairs to get even for something that had happened a couple or so years before.” Katie said, wiping away tears.
“But we have Isabella.” Kevin said.
“But you don’t have your career.” Katie replied.
“Don’t blame yourself for that, Kate. We all decided it was time to stop.” Kevin said, as Katie got up and started pacing the back porch.
“Did you? Did you really believe it was time to stop? Or did you make yourself and your brothers believe it was time to stop?” Katie asked. Her voice had become sharp, digging straight to the question.
“Yeah, losing the baby was part of my decision. But, it wasn’t even mentioned to anyone else. No one but us two knew that we were expecting. We hadn’t told anyone yet.” Kevin shot back.
“Well, I’m sorry that I was rather scared to tell your parents we were having a honeymoon baby. That all it took was one night and I was pregnant.” Katie replied as Kevin got up and stood in front of her.
“There was nothing to worry about. We waited; we did like we had promised.” Kevin slowly shot back.
“So, no one really was worried when we got married in April after only having been engaged since the August before? And did they not worry about the fact you proposed after I tried to seduce you?” Katie asked.
“You didn’t try to seduce me.” Kevin said.
“Really? I had been drinking straight vodka. I kissed you and tried to take it further. You tried to stop me. Sounds like seduction to me.” Katie said, counting off her points on her fingers.
“If it wasn’t for those rings, we would have gone further.” Kevin pointed out. “Our relationship would have taken on a whole new dimension if we had let it.” Kevin replied, stepping closer.
“We wouldn’t have. That promise meant a lot to you.” Katie replied, leaning in closer.
“My promise wasn’t the one stopping me.” Kevin said, closing the distance with a kiss.
It was hungry, needing, a feeling they both couldn’t quite remember when the last time they had felt it.
Kevin had Katie pushed up against the banister as his hands holding onto it for dear life and hers wrapped around his neck. She pushed them up against the house, pulling away. “Why don’t we take this inside?” Katie suggested, watching Kevin chuckle and his Adam’s apple bobble as he swallowed.
“For the girl who didn’t want to tell my parents she was pregnant….” Kevin started, as Katie leaned back in and kissed him. “I didn’t stop your CD from playing.” He added, as Katie stepped away.
“Wouldn’t be the first time we’ve done that.” Katie said, smiling.
Kevin pulled her back to him, wrapping his arms around her waist and picking her up.
There were a few stumbles up the stairs towards the bedroom, causing them to laugh. “I feel like I’m trying to corrupt you without your parents knowing.” Katie said, as they quickly hushed their laughter. They reached the bedroom door and Kevin tried to figure out the best way to get it. Katie reached behind herself and opened it.
The ‘A Little Bit Longer’ CD was playing, as Katie raised an eyebrow. “Well, this will be a first.” Katie said, as ‘Can’t Have You’ started playing.
“It’s not like we haven’t done anything to this song.” Kevin said, carefully setting Katie down onto the bed. He stepped away for a second and pulled his t-shirt over his head.
“Though, this will be the first time for this.” Katie replied.
“Katie, you shouldn’t hold yourself responsible for anything with my music career. It’s not your fault we stopped touring. It’s not your fault we lost the baby. It is your fault, however, that I love you.” Kevin said, leaning over her.
“Cheesy, honey. Really cheesy.” Katie replied, pulling Kevin back down to her by his silver chain.
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“So, what are we going to do tonight? Joe and Peyton have plans to be somewhere other than the apartment.” Kevin’s voice teased over the phone.
“I have that album release party, remember? You said you were going to go with me.” Katie said, talking on the phone as she messed with her hair. She hated having to do her own hair but she could never bring herself to paying someone else to do it for her.
“That’s tonight?” Kevin asked, as Katie laughed a little. He had forgotten, yet again.
“Yeah. I made all the plans like a month ago. That’s why you’re supposed to be here in about twenty minutes.” Katie replied.
“Can’t we blow it off? I mean, Lynn and Krista will be there. Why do you have to be there too?” Kevin asked.
“We can do something else at some other time, just the two of us.” Katie replied.
“What about tomorrow?” Kevin tried again.
“Taking Maddie and Carrie to Build-A-Bear. They ended up not having school so I’m taking them to the mall and we’re going to build stuffed animals. But, they defiantly wouldn’t mind if you were join us.” Katie suggested.
“I’m not sure if that’s a smart idea.” Kevin replied.
Katie bit her bottom lip. “Is this how it’s going to be? I have to make plans with you so far in advance so you can check with security and everything?” She asked. She didn’t want him to answer, yet at the same time, she wanted to know.
“Katie…” Kevin started.
“I can’t live my life like that.” Katie informed him.
“You won’t have to. We can do something else. I mean, you’ll leave about ten in the morning, right?” Kevin asked.
“Yeah and we won’t be gone all day either.” Katie replied.
“Just give me a call and we can do something afterwards. Your sisters can show me all the stuff they bought and maybe we can do some swimming.” Kevin said.
“Okay.” Katie replied, looking at the clock on the wall. “And get your cute butt over here!”
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“Come on you two! The bears and stuffing won’t wait all day.” Katie called, as a five year old Cara Lynn and an eight year old Madalynn came rushing into the kitchen.
“There’s someone at your door.” Cara Lynn, who was affectionately called Carrie, said as Katie slid her messenger styled purse over her shoulder and body.
“Did they say who they were?” Katie asked, pulling out her car keys.
“Someone named Big Rob.” Madalynn, who was called Maddie, replied as both Carrie and Maddie grabbed their purses.
Katie quickly pulled out her cell phone and dialed Kevin’s cell. “Why is Big Rob at my front door?” She asked, without even waiting for him to say anything.
“Good morning to you too, beautiful.” Kevin replied. She could hear in his voice that he was smirking.
“Don’t hello beautiful me. You didn’t answer my question.” Katie said, walking to her front door and smiling at Big Rob, who smiled back. “Why is your bodyguard at my front door?” She asked, closing the door behind her sisters as the group made their way down to her car.
“He’s going shopping with you.” Kevin replied.
“I don’t have the room. I haven’t cleaned out my trunk from last night and I’ve got my two sisters.” Katie said. She felt kinda silly using that excuse but she knew all the junk she had shoved in her trunk. Anything they bought at the mall would defiantly be going into the car with them.
“You’re not driving.” Kevin quickly answered.
“Oh really?” Katie said, as a black Jeep entered the parking lot. “If I’m not, who is?” She asked as the Jeep pulled up to her and stopped. The driver’s side window rolled down.
“I’m driving.” Kevin said into his phone as he leaned out of the window and smiled at Katie. “Hello, beautiful.”
“You are so on my list.” She replied, giggling as she climbed into the passenger side.
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“But that’s why I’m mad!” Katie said, climbing out of the Jeep as Kevin pulled into a parking spot. Big Rob staid in the Jeep, while Carrie and Maddie had been dropped off at their house.
“Katie!” Kevin quickly called, climbing out of the Jeep after her.
“Kevin, I can’t do this. I’m a normal girl. I can’t be in a high profile relationship.” Katie replied, stopping at the stairs. “I can’t date someone famous because I crave too much normalcy.” Katie said, quickly running up the stairs and into her apartment.
“Katie!” Kevin called, following her. He tried her front door, surprised to find it locked. “Katie!” He called.
‘Goodnight and Goodbye’ started blaring from inside, causing Kevin to shake his head. “I’m going to call you later. Maybe we can talk this over.” He said, climbing down the stairs.
Katie watched him walk off before she flopped onto the couch and took a deep breath.
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“I never knew we had so many break-up songs that we had written.” Kevin said, hanging up his cell phone.
“Is she still playing SOS?” Joe asked, not looking away from the video game he was playing against Nick.
“No, she’s onto the third CD now. I just heard ‘Tonight’.” Kevin replied, looking out the window for a second. “I’m going over there.”
“Nice suicide mission there, Ace.” Nick said. “You have to give her time to cool off.”
“I can’t.” Kevin said, pacing. He pulled his cell phone out and called Katie again, receiving ‘Pushing Me Away’ in response. “I know you can hear me Kate Lynn and I am coming over. We are going to sit down and talk this through like the adults we are.” He said, as he hung up his phone and left his house.
Kevin drove his way to Katie’s apartment in a haze. He rushed up the stairs and saw an envelope addressed to him taped to Katie’s door. He tore it open and unfolded the stationary.
Dearest Kevin,
What can I say? I love you. I love you so much that it’s killing me to say this. It’s been killing me to even debate this. But, sometimes love just ain’t enough. I wish it was. I honestly wish it was.
But we knew it was coming. We can’t live in this bubble forever. We won’t be picture perfect all the time. I can’t deal with the rumors and speculations. I can’t deal with the price of fame. You’ve become used to it.
I do not want to say it. That’s why I’m writing it. And, it is with part of my heart still with you that I sadly and tearfully say good-bye.
Kevin beat on the door, surprised when a red eyed Katie answered.
Lookin’ at the letter that you left
Wondering if I’ll ever get you back
Dreaming about when I’ll see you next
Knowing that I never will forget
That I was being such a fool
And I still don’t deserve you
Don’t want to fall asleep cause I don’t know if I’ll get up
Don’t wanna cause a scene but I’m dying without your love
Begging to hear your voice
Tell me you love me too
Cause I’d rather just be alone
If I know that I can’t have you
So tell me what we’re fighting for
Cause we know that the truth means so much more
Cause you would if you could, don’t lie
Well I’ll give everything that I’ve got left
To show you I mean what I have said
“You might want to put that song on repeat.” Kevin suggested.
“Why?” Katie asked, quickly hitting the repeat button on her stereo while watching Kevin step closer.
“I plan to put some good memories to that song.” Kevin said, quickly pressing his lips to hers as he walked them into the apartment and closing the door behind them.
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Katie pulled the sheets closer to her body, watching Kevin fall asleep as the CD ended. She smiled as her eyelids started to slowly fall. She leaned close, placing a soft kiss on Kevin’s cheek as he stirred a little in his sleep. “I might be pregnant again.” She whispered to him before she fell asleep herself.