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Everything Your Heart Desires Chapter 34 Cheryl fiddled with the backstage pass around her neck as she awaited her mother and sister�s arrival. A small group of fans was already gathering nearby, and in an effort to avoid a confrontation like the one that morning, she tried to stay as hidden as possible. Finally, she spotted her mother and sister crossing Causeway Street. "Chris," she yelled and waved as she walked toward them. After giving them each a hug, she gifted them with their backstage passes and the trio bypassed the bodyguards � Marcus and Q. "Guys, this is my sister and my mom." Cheryl saw her family�s eyes widen at the sight of the two large men. "Hey, Sister and Mom," Q greeted. "So Howie�s meeting the family today? That would explain his nervousness." "He has nothing to worry about. They are as innocent as I am," she answered, batting her eyelashes. "Mhmm� I�ve heard that one before," the bodyguard teased which elicited a friendly smack on the arm from Cheryl. "The guys are out on stage. Go left�" "It�s okay� no directions needed. I did a PR stint that required trying to get through this maze. See ya later."Howie wasn�t able to focus enough of his mind on the soundcheck and rehearsal as he liked that day. Instead, he channeled most of his energy into what he was going to say to Cheryl�s family when they arrived. And as if it wasn�t terrifying to go through meeting "the family" once, he would be suffering through it twice. Once in Boston with Cheryl�s sister and mother. A second time in Milwaukee with her dad and stepmom. "D," A.J. said taking a seat next to him on stage during a break. "Everything will be great. You�re a lovable, charming guy. Hell, I�d even bring you home to meet Mom." "Actually, Bone, you have. Of course, your mother had to deal with you first. Anything else is easy." "Oh, funny, where did ya get that material?" The two friends laughed until A.J. caught some movement out of the corner of his eye. "Don�t look now, Lover, but it�s time to put Sweet D into overdrive." Time could not have ticked away slower as Howie watched Cheryl cross the arena toward the stage. He inhaled a breath of courage and walked down the steps to meet her. �I would have to be all sweaty from dancing,� he thought then smoothed his hair back with his palms. �I hope my hair�s okay. God, please don�t let me screw this up.� The four other Boys watched their bandmate with their fingers crossed. Howie embraced Cheryl rather conservatively and kissed her more chastely than normal. She noticed the slight tremble in his hand as she took it in hers. "Not as easy as it looks is it?" she teased softly. "D, you�ll be okay." He smiled. As the couple approached the other two women, Howie squeezed Cheryl�s hand. "Mom, Chris, this is Howard Dorough. Howie, this is my mom Sharon and my younger sister Chris." Howie shook of their hands in turn. "Nice to meet you both." As Kevin watched the scene unfold, he couldn�t help but hope that he might be in the same situation when they traveled to Portland. �Of course, I probably screwed up those chances this morning. But she has to realize that the fans aren�t going to like her. It�s nothing against her personally � just that she�s dating me.� But as hard as he tried to reason, one word kept haunting him. Friend. �She has to know what she means to me.� Kevin buried his face in his hands, exhausted from the battle going on his mind. Brian saw the anguished look cross his cousin�s features and knew what he was thinking. �Yeah, Kev, you screwed up. Big time.�After a some quick get-to-know-you chit-chat, Howie excused himself to go rehearse one last song and take a shower. He rejoined them and the small party went to the Cheesecake Factory at Cambridgeside Galleria for lunch. "Chris suggested it. She loves the food there," her mother explained. "And you have to save room for the cheesecake." Howie�s laughing eyes glanced at Cheryl, whose cheeks were faintly colored crimson. "You don�t have to tell me twice. I love cheesecake." Howie was trying hard not too seem to eager while also curbing his usual signs of affection toward Cheryl. Her mother would not be too impressed with their normal examples of PDA. He didn�t want to make a bad impression, but he also wanted them both to know how much he cared for Cheryl, that his intentions were noble. When Cheryl and Chris excused themselves to use the restroom, the elder sister asked the younger about her opinion. "He�s a bit short and aren�t there cuter ones?" Cheryl gave her a squelching look. "What? I saw the others up on stage. The blonde is cute." "Nick? The tall one." "No, the shorter one with the curls." Cheryl remembered the first time she had ever shown her younger sibling a photo of the BSB and she conceded that the "one with the chiseled face wasn�t bad." "That would be Brian and he�s taken." "Seriously, he�s sweet and definitely cares about you." The two siblings returned to the table to find Howie and Sharon enjoying a relaxed conversation while nibbling on three slices of cheesecake. "Where�s mine?" Cheryl asked with a pout. "I knew you didn�t have much experience in cheesecake so I thought I might order us a piece to share," Howie hinted feeding her a piece of the Chocolate Tuxedo confection in front of him. "I have to be able to dance tonight and this stuff is sinful." "Yeah? I wouldn�t have it any other way. You know I love the stuff as much as you do." Cheryl�s voice held a tinge of sadness as she continued, "I miss it sometimes." Sharon was oblivious to the conversation but Chris understood the undertones. On the walk back to the Fleet, she pulled her older sister aside. "Why do I get the feeling that there was something else to that conversation at the restaurant?" "I don�t know what you mean." Chris rolled her eyes. "Fine, deny it. But I have to let you know something." "Yeah?" "I may not like the music, but Howie really is a great guy." Cheryl glanced ahead of them where Howie was charming her mother with stories about his travels in Europe, where Sharon had taught for the Department of Defense. "He is, isn�t he?"Next: Chapter 35 |