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Everything Your Heart Desires Chapter 31 Cheryl tried to stifle a yawn as she walked into the office on Monday morning. It had been a long weekend. First the fight and reconciliation with Howie. Staying up most of the night talking to him. Him having to leave for the tour the next morning. She and Kristy had done their best to stay busy after their men had left � going to the beach and to MGM Studios with Polly, John and Tim, who left for Kentucky last night. Somehow though - and unbeknownst to the other - each found herself at her respective boyfriend�s house on Sunday evening pilfering several items from the bedroom closets. Kristy was in her snuggle chair reading when Cheryl returned. The redheaded had to giggle at her friend�s wardrobe � a well-worn University of Kentucky sweatshirt. "Okay, I know I�m pathetic, but really - do you have to laugh at me?" Cheryl shook her head then removed the windbreaker she wore to reveal one of Howie�s Tommy Hilfigger button-down shirts. "I have a few more things stashed away in the bag," she admitted sheepishly. Kristy sighed, "If nothing else, Sparky, we�ll be pathetic together." Cheryl had graciously accepted Monday for the first time in her life, grateful for the work that would take her mind off the pain she felt in her heart. She greeted Geoff with a half-hearted hello and a smile as she passed the reception desk. "Wait, Cheryl, aren�t you forgetting something?" "What�s that?" Geoff nodded toward the flower arrangement on the corner of the desk. "For me?" "Yeah. But this time there are a half dozen red roses. Seems to me your man is dealing in code. What does that mean?" Cheryl smiled. "A lot.""Kristy," Sarah�s voice called over the intercom. "I have a message from Leighanne. She said to give her a call when you�re free." "Thank you." �Leighanne? Wonder what�s going on? I hope nothing�s wrong with Kevin,� she thought as she dialed the number in her Rolodex. Kevin had called her every day since he had left on Saturday. He had sent tulips and a card on Wednesday proclaiming how much he missed and loved her, that he wanted her to have a reminder of him at the office. As she listened to the phone on the other end ring, Kristy glanced from the tulips atop her desk to the moving truck on her bookcase and smiled. "Hello?" "Hi, Leigh, it�s Kris. You called?" "Wow, you got back to me so quickly." "I had a short break between patients. So what�s up?" Leighanne went on to tell Kristy about her plans for a girls� night out. "Amanda, Mandy, Polly, myself, you and Cheryl. Polly is calling her right now. We know how hard it is when the guys are on the road � especially the first time they leave. This is kind of a BSG support group � a sorority if you will." "BSG?" "Backstreet Girls! Polly�s an honorary member." Kristy laughed. "So, fellow BSG, what�s the plan?" "Friday night we�ll all carpool it to Blazing Pianos. It�s this great piano bar on International Boulevard." "Sounds like my style. I�m there."It had been a week since the Backstreet Boys began their Into the Millennium tour and A.J. had lost count the number of times he had discovered Howie in the same position he was now. Rubbing the St. Cecilia medal between his fingers. Staring at the same photo on the wall beside his bunk. A.J. sat down on the bunk across from his friend and rested a hand on his shoulder. "I love this gig, you know that, right? I�ve always said that being a Backstreet Boy has been on of the biggest privileges of my life." Howie paused for a moment. "You want to know something though? Being with Cher, God, the rush I get from performing? It�s that multiplied to the tenth degree." "You love her, don�t you?" Howie sidestepped the question. "I�m scared of all the emotions she invokes. I�ve known her only a short time." "Time has nothing do with it." "Bone, what if I told you that I�m falling for her?" "I�d say great. You need this, D. Cheryl is a damn remarkable chick." A.J. caught his buddy�s stabbing glance. "Oh, okay, woman. She�s a damn remarkable woman. Better be after the hell you put her through the night before we left." "Sometimes I wonder if I truly deserve her, then I realize how difficult it is to be without her." Howie glanced back at the snapshot of he and Cheryl at Fantasia Gardens � so obviously in love and yet fearing to admit it. The two men felt a new presence and looked to see Kevin walking out of the entertainment room. His face reflected his demeanor, which as far as A.J. could gauge was a notch or so lower than Howie�s. It wasn�t that Kevin had reverted to his moody, pre-Kristy days, but rather he had become more subdued. "Kev, you look as bad as I feel," Howie commented. "Worse," was the mumbled answer as Kevin sat on the mattress beside A.J. Brian�s unmistakable chuckle broke the heavy atmosphere. "Yeah� mhmm... I miss you, too, Baby. Love you� mhmm� Bye." He clicked off his cellphone as he joined the rest of them. "That was Leighanne." A.J. rolled his eyes. "Kind of figured that. Who else do you call baby? Oh, well, maybe Nick." "I heard that," came a voice � interrupting the beep and blip video game sounds that filtered in from the back of the bus. Brian, however, chose to ignore the snide remark. "I have some news from the home-front." The others groaned. "Hey, wait until you hear first. It seems there was a BSG outing last night." At the mere mention of the ladies, both Kevin and Howie perked up. A.J. bit back a smile partly a result of the duo�s reaction and partly at the thought of his own girl back in Orlando. Brian smirked. "Now that I have your attention. Here are the details... Polly, Leigh and Manda figured they�d take Cheryl and Kristy out to a strip club last night." "They what?" Kevin nearly banged his head on the upper bunk as he shot to a standing position. "Just playin�." "Not funny, B." Howie shook his head. "Sorry, damn, lighten up, would ya? Well, even without the strip club, it IS a good story." He smiled at the anxious faces surrounding him, hanging on his words. "They went to Blazing Pianos had a few drinks and yes, flirted with the piano man�" "Brian, I swear�" Kevin felt his temper begin to rise. "Okay, okay. It seems your girl," he pointed to his cousin, "and your girl," at Howie, " weren�t spirited enough for the place and had to get up and dance to �If You�re Happy and You Know It.�" The guys couldn�t help but laugh at the image of Spunky and Sparky standing on a stage dancing to the children�s classic. "A far cry from Britney Spears," Kevin mused. A.J. stood and bumped Howie�s shoulder with his hip. "Nice to see you laughing again, D." "You know what? It feels good, J."Cheryl opened the email when she arrived at the office on Monday morning. Her eyes scanned the block of messages bypassing most of them before she found the address for which she had been searching. Sparky:I heard about your Friday exploits and wondered if anyone had been smart enough to document the evening. You know I like to watch you shake your groove thang. :o) Thinking about how much I miss you and dreaming about having you back in my arms has forced my brain to think about when we might be able to see one another again. I discussed the thought with Kevin and we decided that you and Kristy should try to meet us up in Boston. If you glance over our itinerary, the dates are on a weekend � in on a Friday night, out on Sunday. It isn�t much, but it is something. Talk it over and let me know. I know it might be nice to see the city through your eyes since you spent so much time there, and although the thought scares me to death, I could meet at least part of your family. **gulp** I miss you and hope you are coping okay. I�ll call you soon. Your Sweetie, Howie Next: Chapter 32 |