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| Chapter 36 |
| As the week progressed, Kaylee found herself less able to concentrate on work. Her mind kept wandering to the last few conversations she'd had with Kevin. Their phone calls had become the one thing in her life that she truly depended on....and this scared her half to death. With each conversation, she felt herself slipping a little more. The wall around her heart....continuing to slowly crumble. Kevin, on the other hand, became more wound up as the time passed. He made a slight adjustment to his original plan, and Luke was able to confirm it all with Ali. He would do a "quick out" of Columbus, and go straight to Pittsburgh. This would get him there on Wednesday morning with their first show not until Thursday night. He was so thrilled with his new plan, that he had a hard time even sleeping. When the show in Columbus was over, Kevin ran out to his bus, not even bothering to grab a towel. "Kevin...wait man," he heard AJ yelling from behind him. Kevin paused long enough to look over his shoulder. "What AJ.....what?!?!?! I'm in a hurry......," his voice trailed off, as he climbed the steps of his bus, turning to face a very confused AJ. "Wassup Kev.....what're ya doin leaving tonight? I thought we were all heading out in the morning?" Kevin ran a hand over his braided hair, and let out a long sigh. "You might as well know J...I've got to get to Pittsburgh as quick as I can.....I've got plans." "Really," AJ pressed, "with WHO?!?!?! Kaylee maybe??" "Yeah," Kevin said softly, "with Kaylee. Now please, this means too much to me dawg.....I gotta go. Tell the guys what I'm doin' and not to try and find me until it's time for the show.....understand?" AJ had seen his friend in many different emotional states, but he could not remember a time when Kevin was like this...nervous, excited and flustered. He had seen how Kevin was around Kaylee...he liked it and he liked Kaylee. "Kev, man....whatever you want....and......can I just say......since this IS about Kaylee.....I like what she does to you bro'....I mean it. And, if it helps at all........Kev.....get out of this town......get your ass headed to Pittsburgh. Let your body catch up to your heart.....cause you're hearts been there for weeks now." "Yeah......Aje....it shows, huh? I feel like my heart's gonna explode when I'm WITH her....and like it's gonna explode without her," he sighed. "What the fuck is that about AJ?" "Don't look at me man....I'm still looking myself.....but I do have one thing to say......go get her Kev....ok? Go!!!" And, with that said, AJ turned on his heel and walked away. Kevin jumped into his bus, smacked Mike on the shoulder and told him it was time to move out. He wandered to the back and sat down. "Damn.....I haven't been this nervous about something since.........since.........fuck........when???" "Talkin' to yourself again boss...or waiting for an answer...cause I could give you one," Luke replied, startling Kevin back to reality. Kevin looked up at Luke and just shook his head. "You think you know big man....you think," he asked. "Yeah Kev....I think I do. You got some strong feelings going on for this woman. She brings out a side of you that's been buried away for too long. And....do NOT interrupt me with your 'it's too soon' shit, buddy..or I'll kick your ass. Why would it be too soon....why??? Because of Trish?? Kevin man...you fell in love with her...or so you thought....maybe you fell in love with what you two could've been. I'm not sure about that one.....but, think about it Kevin. Think hard. When you were with Trish....did you feel this way? Even at the end...when you were proposing.....did it "feel" right? Betcha' it didn't now did it?" Kevin had his head back on his pillows.....and a tear slowly made it's way down his cheek. "God Luke...I was such a fucking fool. A real jackass. But...I think you're right. Somehow...I knew....I just knew. I knew she wouldn't marry me.....," his voice trailing off to barely a whisper. "So...do what feels right now, boss. Does this feel right? Does Kaylee feel right?" "Yeah man....she does," he said softly. "She feels REAL right.....but Luke......." "No.....no more buts Kevin......get to sleep. Just think about what....no....WHO is waiting for you." Kevin stood and reached for Luke's hand. "Again.....you make me see what I can't see on my own. Thanks dude." "No thanks needed Kev.....it's been in you all along. Now get some rest. G'night boss." "Night Luke......" Kevin slid his door shut, stripped out of his clothes, and as had become his habit every night... got Kaylee's hair clip out and squeezed it in his hand. He climbed into bed and closed his eyes....too exhausted to even think, yet so excited, he just kicked his leg out, put an arm over his head and smiled....knowing sleep would not come easy tonight. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kaylee spent a restless night in bed, unable to sleep. And, her work day was almost totally non productive. Lisa knew why she was so giddy, but tried to not ask too many questions. The day was not going at all fast enough for Kaylee, when around 4:15, she got a phone call. "Dammit...I thought you were Kevin," she said sadly into the phone. "Still no word Kay," Ali asked, trying to pick her words carefully. "No .. nothing....and I'm starting to really......." Ali interrupted her before she could finish her thought. "Kaylee.....don't go there, ok? Hell.....he's going to be here..maybe something came up. Technical difficulties, ya know...just keep your chin up." "But Ali...you don't understand.....this is the first night I haven't talked to him since we went our own ways. I didn't realize or think it would hit me this hard. Damn...we've talked every single night...even if it was just to say hi...and now....I didn't know it would hurt this bad." "Listen.....why don't you bug out a little early....go home....change.....and we'll grab some dinner....go somewhere really nice. Kevin has your cell number.....he'll call...don't worry." Ali spent the next 10 minutes trying to reassure her friend, which was no easy task. She looked around their townhouse, and smiled. Kaylee was going to be surprised ...oh yeah..something came up alright, and she's probably going to kill me There was only so much Ali could say without betraying Kevin's confidence, so when she was convinced her friend was okay....they hung up...and Kaylee headed home..unaware that Ali had been there all afternoon. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin got to the Westin Hotel at 3:45am....and made his way directly to his room. He was thrilled that there were no fans waiting around. He just wanted to get into bed, curl up and try to sleep. He threw his duffel bag in the corner and let his clothes fall wherever he dropped them. When he was completely nude, he slid under the comforter, his head sinking into the oversized pillows. It took him about 30 minutes to succumb to his exhaustion, and his waiting dreams. His dreams of a woman who took his breath away...who he missed like hell....who scared him to death....who his heart and body ached for..... When Luke was finally able to wake him later that morning, Kevin looked peaceful and excited all at the same time. "Kevin, it's almost noon...c'mon...let's get this started. Ali said she would leave work at noon. You got some calls to make....let's go!" Kevin stood up, stretched out his long torso, and grabbed his bag. He threw on a pair of jeans and reached for the phone. "Room service first man...I need me some coffee...and I need it fast," Kevin mumbled. When the coffee was ordered, Kevin called the conceirge to get some answers....and hopefully some phone numbers. Satisfied with the responses...and the coffee arriving...Kevin put his "plan of attack" into motion. When he was done, the next call went to Ali at the townhouse. They spoke briefly, confirming their plans and then hung up. Kevin leaned back on the desk chair, crossing his long legs in front of him and his arms across his bare chest. A smile slowly building across his face. "Well Miss Barrone," he said softly, "you're about to get hit by a Train....I know Luke...pun intended!" Luke and Kevin finished the coffee and at about 3, Kevin climbed into the shower. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ All Ali could say was "oh my God"...all afternoon. It started with the florist knocking at the door, and then not leaving for twenty minutes as he brought in one bouquet of flowers after another...until the living room was full. There was one in the kitchen...and a special arrangement was done in Kaylee's bedroom. It ended with one last phone call from Kevin...and one phone call to Kaylee. "She's gonna shit.......and she's gonna kill me.....then she's gonna kill Kevin." Ali couldn't help smiling though. He's got it bad, she thought. Real bad...... At around 4:50, she heard the key in the door, and panicked as Kaylee pushed the front door open, and walked in. When she heard the small gasp as Kaylee got further in the room, and then saw her face, she thought, this is it....here we go.....God help us both Kevin. |