Chapter

Kevin and Kaylee sat nervously across from each other. Once the laughter had stopped, they both sat silently, neither daring to look at the other.

Kevin seemed to be terribly interested in his hands....and Kaylee found her wine glass intriguing!

Kevin finally dared a glance across the table.

Wow.....finally.....I have a chance to talk to her...to thank her.....to see if she wants to know what really happened to me last night, and all I can do is sit and stare at my hands, he thought. He kept looking at her, not realizing that he'd been staring.

Kaylee lifted her eyes from her wine glass and saw him staring at her. Her hand started to shake on the glass...and her heart started to pound.

Kevin finally broke the awkward silence.

"Kaylee........I.........I just don't know where to start"

Kaylee looked away, as much because she just could NOT continue to meet his gaze, but because she was feeling very self-conscious.

"Kaylee......," Kevin sighed deeply, "would you look at me? Talk to me? Help me out here....this is probably the hardest thing I've ever done."

Kaylee was able to return his gaze...and she caught her breath as she realized that he had leaned considerably far over the table, in her direction.

"Kevin," she said in a shaky voice, "please don't be nervous. I want to talk to you......tell ya what....let's help each other out, ok? Why don't you sit over HERE," and she pointed to the chair directly next to her, "and tell me something about yourself." Kaylee let her breath out, never even realizing that she had been holding it. She was genuinely touched that he seemed so nervous and shy.

Kevin never took his eyes off her....as he began to smile. He slowly stood up, pushed his chair in, and moved to the empty seat on Kaylee's left. He stopped to remove his jacket, and then settled himself down in to the chair next to her.

Kaylee was shocked that she was able to hold his gaze. Her eyes only moved once.....when he removed his jacket. Her breath caught again. His tee shirt was tight, and had short sleeves. Last night, she could tell that he must've had a good body. On the stage .. he appeared to have a good body...she was really rather far away to tell...and when he WAS close....she was too shocked to notice. But now, he was less than a few feet away from her. He draped his jacket over the back of his chair, and she saw how the muscles flexed in his arms, and how the shirt pulled across his chest. Holy cow, she thought, a good body hell.....he's got a great body.

Kevin sat down, and cleared his throat. "Ah..Kaylee...darlin'...you in there?"

"Oh..ummm...oh...yeah...sorry," she said nervously, "I was just thinking about how strange the last 24 hours have been. Don't you think so, too?"

Kevin had been watching her while she sat staring. He was shocked. Kevin prided himself on details. He was always one to remember details. Being drunk seemed to be the only reasonable explanation for why he did not remember her being this beautiful. Then he chuckled....again. He seemed to be doing that a lot more these last 24 hours....24 hours.......

"Kevin....now please tell me you're still with me......."

Her voice interrupted his thoughts and he almost jumped, "W....ww..what...24 hours....yeah...........they've sure been strange alright." And, she didn't even know the half of it.

"Well, Kevin Richardson, I asked you before...and now that you're sitting here...why don't you tell me about yourself. Where are you from? The south, I know...that adorable accent......"

"Hey..I don't have an accent! Y'all up here have the accents!"

"OK," she giggled, "WE have the accents, but you sure sound cuter than I do. So, anyway...how many times are you going to avoid the question? PLEASE, tell me about yourself."

Kevin blushed ever so slightly, and then tilted his head toward her....Kaylee could smell his cologne....she didn't understand why he made her feel the way she did......giddy, silly....like a teenager.

"Ya sure you want to know?", he whispered so close to her that his breath tickled her ear.
"It's not pretty. I mean.....I'm a little boring."

"Boring! YOU!! Boring," she almost choked at the absurdity of the word.

"Well, Kaylee....lemme tell you...I ain't 'all that'....I might be the 'bag of chips'...but, nope...I ain't 'all that'. Kevin Backstreet....yeah......he's 'all that'......but ME, Kevin.......just plain old Kevin Richardson.....nope...I'm not. So, tell me....," he whispered in her ear again, "who do you want to get to know? Kevin Backstreet........or Kevin Richardson?"

Kaylee's mouth had gone dry. His breath on her ear......that one piece of hair that brushed against her cheek.....god, she was so physically attracted to him she wanted to scream! Damn him! Did he have a clue what he was doing to her? And yet, all that aside, Kaylee almost felt sorry for him. He really wasn't trying to come on to her.....she didn't think so anyway. He was just being himself. There was no way in hell any man could fake this. He was genuine, and she was convinced that he really......really needed to hear her answer.

"Ummm...Kevin....I've got to tell you. Kevin Backstreet has me so totally intrigued. I mean, what a life to lead. But, yet....there's got to be a downside to it all. I'd love to learn all about him."

Kevin pulled away from her and looked back the other way. Damn, how could I have figured so wrong, he thought, but, I guess I did. She sure didn't seem this way last night....but, I shouldn't expect anything different, should I? He squeezed his eyes shut tight, and shook his head. Clearing his throat, he turned back to face her....."Ok....," he shakily tried to reply, "Kevin Backstreet it is then. Ask away.....I'll try to answer whatever you ask."

Kaylee was shocked to see his eyes, shining...glistening...even in the darkness. This larger than life man....he seemed so vulnerable. Oh dear God, what did I say, she thought. And then as if a million lights went off in her head, it dawned on her! She reached across the distance and touched Kevin's arm.....it was so strong, yet soft......"Kevin.....I'm so very sorry. I guess I gave you the wrong impression. Honestly, I don't know either one of you! I still find it incredibly strange that you can be two people...rolled into one...but, Kevin Backstreet is NOT who I want to get to know. Sure, he's a part of you......a BIG part.....but, not the ONLY part. I want to know where you grew up....what you did for fun as a kid.......what your dreams are.....your fears.......and.....," she took a deep breath before finishing, "I want to know what happened to you last night. What hurt you so deeply?"

Kevin blinked hard, and Kaylee reached over further to touch her hand to his cheek.

"I truly am sorry Kevin....Kevin Backstreet can wait.....a long time....I don't care.......PLEASE..........
tell me about Kevin Richardson."

"Are you sure, Kaylee? I mean....I.....well....I just don't know what to say."

"Yes Kevin," she said as she moved her hand on his cheek, "I'm sure. Please......please let me get to know Kevin........the real Kevin......Kevin Richardson."

That was all he needed to hear. He reached up for her hand......squeezed it......and put it down on the table.

Kevin Richardson mattered to someone........Kevin Backstreet was taking a "backseat" tonight.
Someone wanted to know HIM...........he couldn't believe it.........

Kevin took a breath.....silently thanked his dad..........and started to tell Kaylee about his life.......his life as Kevin Richardson.