“Hey Kira.”
“Wussup Kevin?”
“Not too much. I’m really tired. Let’s get the luggage and get out of here.”
“Sounds like a good idea.”
They walked towards the luggage carousel talking and laughing. As they got closer, Kira noticed a familiar blond haired girl and a dark haired man. She stopped dead in her tracks.
“What’s wrong?”
She pointed towards the couple.
“Do you know them?”
She nodded.
Kevin looked at her with concern in his eyes, “Are you okay?”
“That’s Shelley James and Paul Franklin.”
“The Shelley from Sliversin and Paul your ex?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you think they’re together now?”
“Worse, I think they were together then.”
“Kira, is that you?” a high-pitched voice asked.
“Hi Shelley.”
Shelley and Paul walked over to them.
“Hi Kira.”
“Shelley, how are you?”
“I’m great. Oh, hi Kevin, how are you?”
“Fine.”
“You know Shelley?” Kira asked.
“I’ve met all of Sliversin.”
“How did you meet them?”
“Well he-“ Shelley started.
“Work,” Kevin said, cutting her off.
“So, how are things?”
“Just great.”
“Did you hear about Janine’s wedding?”
“Yeah.”
“Were you invited?”
“No, were you?”
“No. I don’t think I’d have gone anyway.”
Shelley looked at Kevin and Kira holding hands, “Are you two together?”
“No,” Kira said.
“Not yet,” Kevin added.
“Are you two?” Kira asked, nodding to Paul.
“We’re engaged,” Shelley said, thrusting a diamond ring in Kira’s face.
“That’s great. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
Paul still hadn’t said a word to Kira. He kept his eyes on the ground.
Shelley kept looking at Kevin, undressing him with her eyes. After a while, Kira’s Irish temper caught up with her and she couldn’t hold in her anger anymore.
“Why don’t you just jump him right here Shelley?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh come one! You’re staring at Kevin like he’s a piece of meat. Your tongue is practically on the floor. What’s up with you? You always have to have what I’ve got. You’re standing there with my ex-boyfriend who’s now your fiancée and gawking at my new boyfriend. How sick are you?”
“He’s not your boyfriend yet.”
“That’s the keyword Shelley, yet.”
“Get over yourself Kira. You’ve always been second place compared to me.”
“Honey, I think it’s time we left,” Paul said.
“One second, darling, there’s something I feel that has to be said. Kira, so you remember you and Paul’s first anniversary?” She leaned closer to her and whispered into her ear, “The reason Paul never showed up is because he was too busy fucking me.”
She backed away quickly and Kevin grabbed Kira as she lunged for Shelley.
“You bitch,” she spat at Shelley.
Shelley grinned as Paul pulled her away.
“Let me go, Kevin.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Please Kevin, just let me go.”
“I don’t want you getting in trouble over her. She’s not worth it. Come on, let’s go.”
She walked with Kevin to her Rav 4 and put his stuff in the back. They went to his house so he could unpack. As Kevin se the last suitcase down in his bedroom, he took Kira’s hand and led her to the living room. He had her sit down on the couch.
“There’s something I have to tell you. Well, two somethings actually. First, do you remember how I told you that I’m a singer?”
“Yeah…”
“Well, I sing in the Backstreet Boys.”
“You’re in the Backstreet Boys? But you told me that you weren’t in anything that I’d heard of. You knew that I listened to Backstreet Boys. You lied to me Kevin.”
“But I-“
“Don’t. I can’t trust you anymore Kevin. I don’t even want to talk to you. I’m leaving.”
She got up off the couch and left. Kevin sat on the floor and let hot tears fall to the carpet.
“I really messed up.”
Over the next two weeks, Kira distanced herself from everyone. Tristan, Fatima, and Roni had all known about Kevin’s job, but they didn’t say anything so, in a sense, they had lied to her too. The only time she left the house was to go to work and she didn’t stay there long because Kevin would try to talk to her after. She didn’t pick up the phone unless it was her parents. She was absolutely miserable.
Kevin wasn’t much better. He barely ate and didn’t sleep. He left long messages on Kira’s machine explaining why he lied, but she never picked up or called back.
Fatima saw how miserable they both were and she called Kira’s parents. They made a plan to get the two back together.
Mrs. Samuels called Kira and asked her to meet her at the Olive Garden at 8:00. Brian called Kevin and asked him to meet him at the same place at the same time. Neither Mrs. Samuels nor Brian ever showed.
Kira came into the restaurant and saw Jeff.
“Hi Jeff, I’m here to meet my mother.”
“Yes I know. She called and said that she’d be late. She wants you to wait for her at your table.”
“Thank you Jeff.”
“No problem Kira.”
She sat down and ordered a coke. Looking beside her, she saw that there was another coke sitting there. Kevin came out of the bathroom and went to sit down at the table that Jeff had told him to sit at.
“Hello Kira.”
“Kevin, what are you doing here?”
“Probably the same thing you are. Who called you and asked you to meet them here?”
“My mother.”
“Well then I guess I’m your mom and you’re Brian.”
She laughed, “Gee mom, you sure have changed a lot since the last time I saw you.”
“Brian, you need to cut your hair,” He sat down across from her, “Are you still too pissed at me to listen?”
“I’m pissed, but I’ll listen.”
“Kira, I lied to you because I didn’t want you going out with me simply because I’m Kevin from the Backstreet Boys. I wanted you dating ‘Kevin Richardson,’ not ‘Kevin Backstreet.’ Do you understand?”
“Yeah I do. But you knew that I liked you even before I knew who you are. I still do.”
“I should’ve told you sooner, but I didn’t. And I regret not telling you. Friends?”
“Friends. So, since we’re here, we might as well eat. I’m starving!”
“Me too. Elena, we’re ready to order.”
After dinner, they went to the park to play on the swings. Then they went to Kira’s house. They stopped at the door. Kira looked up at Kevin and leaned up to kiss him. He trailed kisses to her neck.
“I think you should not come in.”
“Good idea,” he said, kissing her collarbone.
“Or come in, whatever.”
She unlocked the door and they walked inside.
Chapter 6
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