CHAPTER FIVE

The tour continued relentlessly through Atlanta, North Carolina, Washington, Los Angeles, and Indianapolis. It was difficult to keep track of the time, what day it was, or what city they were in. Watching the hoards of screaming fans, and wincing against the constant, aggravating noise, Kevin remarked, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." Everyone chuckled. He was right. The adulation was food for the ego but there were moments when AJ was so frustrated that he wanted to scream, "SHUT THE FUCK UP AND LISTEN TO US!"

None of this mattered to Howard. He played his role and catered to the fans, but the entirety of his personal time was spent with Isabelle. He wooed her, and courted her like a gentleman. He met her for breakfast with flowers, bought her beautiful clothes in designer boutiques, discreetly turning his back when she changed. He brought her to wonderful, intimate and romantic restaurants for dinner, where they talked for hours. He was consistently late for pre-show preparations, and he happily endured the ribbing and whining of his band mates who complained. She continued to spend her nights alone in her own hotel room, and used Kevin's tour bus when necessary as Kristin was rarely with her husband. Kevin would discreetly ask about her relationship with his friend, careful not to broach the subject of that awful evening. He smiled and tried not to be over-enthusiastic as he listened to Isabelle chatter about her time with Howard, even though it was clear that she was falling in love with him all over again. Kevin watched her smile in her sleep and wake up, her face infused with happiness when Howard stepped on the bus.

He was careful not to force any physical contact with her, although his body was screaming for release. He lost count of the number of cold showers he took, or how many times he had to wander away from her while he dealt with a painful erection. He did his best not to ogle her when she wore her bikini, or wore a skimpy pair of cut off jean shorts and a T-shirt that clung to all her curves. He made a comment one morning about an aching muscle in his arm, and blushed when Nick winked and said, "Hey, D., you gotta switch hands once in a while, you know?"

He wondered how long he could last.