Part 531
"One more time."
"Kevinnnn…." Nick groaned.
"You want this to be perfect, don’t you?"
"Of course we do."
"Then trust me and do it one more time. I just want to make sure that the timing on the lift is right."
"What’s going on?" Howie asked, taking his seat beside Kevin.
"Where’s Sarah?" Kevin asked, looking around almost guiltily.
"Out on the bus, sleeping, why?"
"This is supposed to be a surprise." He chuckled as Nick waved goofily from the lifter that was carrying him back down below the stage.
The lights dimmed and a single spotlight shone on Becca as the band started the music one last time. Becca’s voice rang out clearly in the almost empty arena, and just as planned, at just the right time, Nick’s lift carried him back up, right behind where she was standing. The spotlight widened to encompass them both and he began to sing.
"Damn, Kev, this is good."
Kevin grinned. "Isn’t it? The crowd is gonna eat it up." Unconsciously he began to jiggle his knee in attempt to soothe the fussy baby that was propped up on his thighs.
"They’re doing this tonight?"
"Yep. Becca’s going to introduce it, but they won’t tell me what she’s going to say."
"I can’t believe how well Becca and Sarah are handling everything. After the shit that Pearlman tried to do to them-"
"Nick, too. I don’t know when I’ve seen Nick more in control than he was last night and again today, in the meeting.
"I hear you. I wouldn’t want to be in Pearlman’s shoes if he ever tried anything with Becca again."
"God forbid," Kevin snorted. "I think I’d almost enjoy standing back and watching Kaos tear him a new asshole."
Howie smiled as he reached for Garrett’s hand, loving the way the baby’s soft fingers felt as they wrapped around his pinky.
"Umm … excuse me, is there a ‘Carter’ here?" A gentleman in a ‘Denver Pepsi Center’ blazer leaned over the seats to peer at Kevin and Howie.
Both looked at him, then up at the stage and broke out laughing. Nick and Becca were locked in a rather steamy kiss as the band wandered away for a break.
A soft voice behind them interrupted, "That would be one of those two up on stage. IF you can pry them apart," Kryss chuckled.
"Oh. Okay. Thanks." Clasping a large manila envelope, the stodgy old gentleman walked right up to the edge of the stage and cleared his throat. "Excuse me?" Not getting a response, he tried again. "Excuse me?"
Becca pushed Nick away and blushed, smoothing her hair and touching her fingers to her lips.
"Umm … sorry, but I have a delivery for a ‘Carter’."
"That’s me." Nick said, reaching for the parcel.
The man pulled it away, and gave him a ‘look’. "Rebecca Carter?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh!" Becca exclaimed. "That’s me." She tore into the envelope and frowned. "Nick-"
"What is it, Bec?"
"I’m not sure …"
"It’s all the details pertaining to a private meet and greet after the show tonight."
"We don’t do that," Nick said, taking the papers and handing them back to the man.
"I’m afraid it’s all been set up through the proper channels," he insisted.
"May I see those?" Kryss asked, having wandered down front along with Howie and Kevin.
"And you are-?"
"Kryss. Kryss Kahill. I‘m with Backstreet legal counsel, Mr …"
"Summers. Adam Summers," he stammered, handing her the papers and blushing as his fingertips brushed Kryss’.
"Thank you Mr. Summers," she smiled brightly, trying hard not to laugh at the expression on the dour old man’s face. Carefully she read over the document, finally nodding as she handed all the papers back to Becca. "It’s legitimate, Becca. There’s some fine print about yours and Sarah’s Foundations, but it’s all come through the Orlando offices." She saw that Nick and Becca weren’t completely convinced, so she went on. "I can make some calls if you like."
Becca looked at Nick, and then to Howie and Kevin. "What do you think?"
"If Kryss says it’s on the up and up, then we’ll do it," Kevin said. "Kryss, you and Steve will still be here tonight, so I’d like you both to be there."
"No problem, Kevin, I’ll let him know. And Sarah?"
"I’ll tell her about it after my sound check," Howie offered.