Part 355
Kevin closed the door behind him and quickly shed his shirt. Tossing it on the chair, a slip of paper fell out. Bending over to pick it up, he realized that it was Lynne’s phone number. Smiling, he decided to call her. He needed to apologize for Vanessa and he just needed to hear a friendly voice.
As he listened to the ringing of the phone, he sat on the edge of the bed and pulled off his boots.
On the other end, a sleepy voice answered, "Hello?"
"Damn, I thought I was calling the Backstreet Bordello."
That woke Lynne immediately. There was no doubt in her mind who that southern drawl belonged to. "Kevin!"
"Hey, baby. I’m sorry for waking you."
"No, that’s okay!" Oh god was it okay. "Is everything okay? Nothing’s happened to Becca or Garrett?"
Laughing, Kevin asked, "Can’t I call just to talk to you?"
"Uh…sure. I’m sorry…I just…." Stammered Lynne.
"It’s okay. I just wanted to hear your voice again. How was your day?"
"It was okay. I worked Pediatrics at Mt. Sinai today…just to fill in. What about you?"
"Busy. We got Sarah’s CD done yesterday and the video for her first single today."
"Oh wow!! What’s she doing?"
"Did you see the VMA’s?"
"Yeah. Oh…she’s doing THAT song?"
"It’s called ‘Underneath Your Clothes’. AJ helped her write it for Howie."
"They are such a cute couple…so in love. I hope one day I can find that kind of love," sighed Lynne.
"They are good together and I’m sure you’ll find someone," soothed Kevin. "Lynne, I owe you an apology."
"For what? You haven’t done anything to me."
"When you called me yesterday…you talked to Vanessa. I never told you about her."
"It wasn’t any of my business." Then hesitantly, she asked, "Is she your girlfriend?"
Leaning back against the headboard, Kevin ran his fingers through his hair. "She was, sorta. We’d been dating for a while…since last December, when Sarah introduced us, but we’d had problems and I decided to end it."
Lynne was silent not knowing what to say.
Kevin continued, "I’ve met someone else that makes me happy and I want to see where it could go."
"Oh! Well, she’s a lucky lady," said Lynne softly trying hard to hide the disappointment in her voice.
Kevin heard it and smiled to himself. "What are you doing October 3rd?"
Being the Backstreet/Kevin fan that she was, Lynne knew immediately that this was Kevin’s birthday and she was curious why he was asking. "Nothing that I know of."
"How would you like to meet me in Seattle for an ‘NSync show?"
Lynne laughed, "You’ve got to be joking? Why on earth would you be going to one of THEIR shows?"
Kevin laughed this time. "Why wouldn’t I go to one of their
shows?"
Embarrassed, "Oh god! I didn’t mean it the way it came out?"
"It’s okay. The media makes more of the rivalry than there really is. Actually, we’re all friends but the reason I’m going is because they’ve asked Sarah to open for them at a benefit they’re doing. Howie and I are going with her and I thought maybe you’d like to join me."
"I don’t know, Kevin. I can’t really afford it."
"I’ll pay for the plane ticket."
Lynne paused to mull over Kevin’s offer. She had realized that she was the lady Kevin had been referring to earlier. Now he wanted her to join him and was willing to buy her plane ticket. The chance to celebrate Kevin Richardson’s birthday with him was too great for her to turn down.
Kevin asked again. "Lynne, will you join me in Seattle?"
"I’d love to," she whispered excitedly.
"AWESOME! Tell you what. I’ll make all the necessary arrangements. You clear your calendar from….let’s say, October 2nd to the 8th. You can travel with us. I have an extra bunk on my bus or I’m sure Nick and Becca wouldn’t mind you riding with them."
A week with Kevin…this was too good to be true. "I’d love that!"
"Then it’s settled. I’ll call you as soon as I have all the details worked out," said Kevin. Then dropping his voice to that sexy, bedroom voice, he said, "Tell me what you’re wearing tonight. It’s not your old navy sweats, is it?"
Lynne felt her heart skip a beat. Kevin had eluded to phone sex the last time he called and here he was asking what she was wearing. Her night just kept getting better and better. "Ummmm…No, I’m not wearing sweats. I’m actually wearing my Backstreet shirt Sarah gave me in Toronto."
"Is that all?"
"Uh….a pair of socks. My feet get cold easily."
"Cold feet, warm heart," said Kevin sweetly.
Lynne melted. Thank god it was just a phone call so Kevin couldn’t see the brilliant shade of red she’d turned.
In an effort to turn the tables, Lynne asked, "What are you wearing? I know you’re not getting ready for a show."
Kevin chuckled, "No, I’m getting ready for bed."
Lynne wanted to climb under the bed and hide. She hadn’t stopped to consider what time it was wherever Kevin was. In fact, she didn’t realize what time it was where SHE was. Looking at the clock, Lynne said, "Kevin!! It’s 3 AM! Where are you?"
"It’s almost midnight. You know, I didn’t stop to think about the time difference. We’re in LA…at my house."
"Who’s with you?"
"Changing the subject?" teased Kevin.
"YES!"
"Okay. AJ, Brian, Howie, Sarah and my mom."
"Where are Nick and Becca?"
"They’re visiting Nick’s parents and they have Jesse with them. For the record, I’m wearing a pair of white jeans."
Lynne gulped remembering how good Kevin looked on stage with the white jeans.
"Like the ones you wear for the show?"
"Those are the ones…with the button undone," drawled Kevin.
Lynne whimpered and didn’t say anything.
Kevin rescued her. "I’ll let you go, Lynne. You were asleep and you’ve had a long day."
"I didn’t mind you waking me."
"I’ll call you in a couple days with the details. Lynne, thanks."
"Any time, Kevin. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone again," said Lynne. Then boldly, she added, "Especially you."
"Me too, Lynne. Sweet dreams."
Kevin hung up and lay back thinking about Lynne. She was definitely a breath of fresh air.