AN: Some lovely Kevin/ Corrie interraction because Corinne amuses me and Kevin truly does scare the crap out of me. He may be attractive as sin but that man has intimidation nailed to a tee. Oh and HUGE thanks to everyone who gave me feedback, all of like two people... LOL But thanks, it means a lot to me and it truly does make me post quicker. Standard disclaimers apply. *********************** The Only Girl: Chapter Four ************************ Kevin Richardson is usually a frightening, intimidating man. That image just doesn’t hold much truth while he’s sitting with me at the beauty parlor, getting a manicure. No one, not even mountain man extraordinaire, can look masculine as an over priced beautician files his cuticles. I’m not much for manicures. I don’t like the smell, don’t like being prodded with little sticks, and don’t like having a stranger rubbing and massaging my hands. I’m an artist and there’s something very intimate about my hands. My hands. No touchie. No touchie! And the colors are kinda pretty but I’ve never had a coat of color last longer than about an hour. I chip, I gnaw, I scrape and poof, there goes twenty dollars down the drain. Or more if you get dragged along with Kevin. And I was LITERALLY dragged. Out of my perfectly fine house, past my shabby little car, and along with Kevin as he made me go to the beauty salon. I’m not sure but I think this might permanently scar me on some sort of emotional level. Especially because usually scary Kevin looks perfectly at home in the girlie pink padded chairs. If he didn’t have Kristin I would really wonder sometimes. Not that gay Kevin wouldn’t be as frightening and intimidating as hell too, just, well, he’d be frightening and intimidating Kevin in high heels. The giggle factor is definitely higher. “Ow! Dammit!” I yank my hand back and glare at the smug beautician as I suck my thumb. “I really hate you sometimes, you know this right?” I demand of an equally amused Backstreet Boy. “You’re such a baby Corrie.” I snort and glower darkly but secretly, I’m please that I’m here. The whole me and Nick thing really put a damper on me and the guys’ relationships. It was a long time before I was strong enough to face any of them, longer still before things could be semi normal between us. Oddly enough, the marriage helped. Made things final and cemented and set. The last several months have been good, better than I could have ever hoped for them to be again. Me and Aje have been joined at the grinding hip at various clubs and stuff around town and Kevin has picked up this strange habit of dragging me along on domestic errands. I so drew the line last week at bringing him to his proctology appointment. Some things are so a wife’s job, even if she’s insanely busy with her latest movie and finally achieving some of the success she’s been searching for, for so long. Brian and I are cordial and Howie and I are the same as always, distant but friendly. And, well me and Nicky were fine until three weeks ago when he went all psycho and sulky on me. Its not like I’m the only girl in America to want to get my groove on with AJ. Again. Hell, I’m probably not even his only ex girlfriend. Most of them would be pleased as punch to be given four other Boys and make a complete set. Five Backstreet Boys, screw them all. I am so going to hell, just because of my thoughts alone, let alone what I let pop out of my mouth. I’m the perfect example of what not to let your children become, a poor artist wanna be who sleeps around and dates Pop Stars. “I’m such a whore.” Perfect example. They should just gag me and put a parental advisory sticker on me, I’m not fit for society. Kevin stares at me for a heart beat, the beauticians stare at me for a heart beat, and suddenly all three of them break into near hysterical laughter, Kevin’s a thundering rumble that sets off the women’s high pitch squeals. Great, I’m a comedian and a menace to society. I should get a medal with my gag. “Corrie, what the hell brought that on?” Am I blushing? Dammit I am! Only Kevin Richardson can make me blush like a freaking school girl. “Dunno,” I mumble, embarrassed beyond belief. Kevin leans forward and wipes tears from his face before meeting my eyes. “You upset about AJ and Nick honey?” Damn him for knowing me so well. “What… what are you talking about?” Oh yeah, I’m SO convincing. Sarcasm is a bitch sometimes. Kevin’s face sobers and he studies me with a frank stare that disconcerts me. I’m used to AJ making astute observations and turning my world upside down. I’m not sure I can handle Kevin doing it too. “Corrie, Aje is absolutely, wildly crazy about you, has been for years. And Nick is just as wildly displeased with that well known Backstreet fact.” Woah, excuse me? Did I just hear the words years and AJ used in the same sentence? AJ doesn’t like anything for years. He gets bored with his stupid tattoos and they are so much more permanent than a crush. “AJ has trouble sleeping with the same groupie more than one night in a row Kev. We had sex once, once. I’m so tagged and put away in the conquest box already.” Green eyes bulge. “Excuse me?” he demands. “You and Aje, AJ McLean had sex?!” Whoops. Forgot that was sorta a secret. Stare at the table, stare at the table, not at the shocked, scary Backstreet Boy. Oh, pretty table. Look at all the sparkles. “Just once,” I manage to squeak. “Once? Just once?!” Hello frightening, bellowing Kevin Richardson, mountain man. “When?” Stare at my nails, oh, not so pretty nails, maybe a manicure isn’t such a bad idea; dirt is so not appealing. “Umm, dunno, three, four years back. I actually thought Aje told you guys a long time ago. Ya know, like Brian’s bachelor party and that stripper with webbed toes…” Kev leans forward and grabs my hands, bringing my attention to rest squarely on him. Oh and this is so why he can give me nightmares. “Does Nick know?” he asks, voice dangerously soft. I blink and stare at him for a long moment before yanking my hand away. “Oh I know you did not just insinuate that Mister! I did NOT cheat on Nick with AJ Kevin. Me and Nick were broken up, AJ was having a bad day, we got stupidly wasted and it just happened. Once. Once! One measly time so don’t you dare get self righteous on me Mr. Backstreet Slut. I was so around when you and Kristin were dating and having rough times. Since when have you been a believer in keeping in your pants huh?” Oh my I just made Kevin Richardson blush. He’s rather attractive with a purple face. “That was uncalled for Corinne.” I snort and fold my hands primly in my lap. “And your little comment wasn’t? And to answer your original question I don’t know if Nick knows me and Aje got physical. I just assumed that everyone knew already, it was ages ago. AJ and I were a little weird for awhile but we’re better friends than ever now. I guess you can’t really be close to a guy until he’s seen you naked huh?” Green eyes widen still more and I flush scarlet. “Oh god, purely rhetorical question Kev… Shit that came out wrong.” The beauticians startle us both by cracking up in hysterical laughter. We jump and stare at them, suddenly hit with the realization that we just had a very deep conversation sitting in padded pink chairs in a downtown Orlando nail salon. I feel dirty. Dirty I tell you, and man, that little old lady with purple hair is so staring at me funny. Kevin can do his domestic errands by himself from now on. I should have known though, manicures don’t bring anything but trouble and ohh, pretty nails. “I can’t believe you slept with AJ.” I glance over at Kevin who was shaking his head slowly in thought. “Was it any good?” Men are such bastards sometimes.