Nick hung up the phone after talking to Jada. Connor had fallen asleep in Nick's bed and Nick told Jada he'd bring him over tomorrow morning. Nick stood in the room lighted by a small night light and admired his son who slept encircled by pillows. Nick brushed his hand against his cheek carefully, not waking him up. He heard a knock at his front door followed by Brian opening it. Nick quietly shut the door, leaving it open a crack. He met up with the rest of the guys in the living room. AJ stood facing Nick with a glare Nick couldn't quite read. It was obvious AJ knew but Howie and Kevin were oblivious. The guys all sat down around Nick's living room. It was the first time in a while all five of them sat together, alone, without press, media or girls.
"This better be good. Regan is home," Howie said, annoyed by their little meeting. Nick took a deep breath. He didn't know how to say what he was about to say but he had to make it good.
"Guys, two years ago, I messed up. I slept with a girl I met at a concert and never told anyone. And I never talked to her again until a couple days ago," Nick said. His voice started to choke and he couldn't look his brothers in the eye. "I have a son. His name is Connor." There. He said it. The room was silent.
"You what?" Kevin asked, slowly.
"I have a son. I didn't find out until yesterday," Nick confessed. Kevin and Howie looked shocked, Brian put a hand on his best friends back and AJ just looked pissed off.
"A son?" Howie repeated, trying to take in everything.
"How could you do this?" Kevin said, getting loud. "How could you mess up this big?!"
"SHH!" Brian hissed, not wanting Connor to wake up. Kevin shot up and started pacing. This wasn't good.
"How could you be so damn stupid, Nick?! You slept with this girl and she comes back, two years later and finally tells you? Just when we are about to release our album! This is a little coincidental," Kevin shouted, but remained his voice low.
"She's dying, Kevin. She didn't even know about the album," Nick said. Kevin sat down and put his head in his hands.
"What are we going to do? We leave on Monday," Howie said.
"I want to tell the press," Nick stated. Kevin shot up.
"What?! Nick! That could ruin us! We haven't had an album out in two years and they are already critical of our return. This will hurt anymore chances," Kevin said.
"But our fans deserve to know," Nick said.
"We need to support Nick in everything he does," Brian said.
"Support the fact that he had a child with someone other than his fiancee that everyone knows about five days before our album release?! Shit!" Kevin exclaimed. Nick didn't know what to do. He knew he had everything being said coming to him. After the awkward silence, AJ finally spoke.
"What about Ashleigh?" he asked, sitting back in the chair and crossing his arms over his chest.
"She doesn't know yet," Nick whispered.
"OH great! That's the cherry on top!" Kevin shouted. Kevin looked at the youngest Backstreet Boy and saw the tears that started to form in his eyes. Kevin hadn't seen Nick cry since he punched him when he was 15. He felt his heart soften.
"I'm sorry, Nick," Kevin said.
"I'm sorry I messed up guys. And if our album does horrible, I'll take the blame...." Nick said, trying to hide his tears.
"I don't give a fuck about the album sales. How dare you cheat on Ashleigh and not even tell her two years later. You've done some dumb things but this tops them off Nick!" AJ screamed, standing up. They heard a little cry come from Nick's bedroom and Nick rushed to Connor. AJ realized he woke him up and the fact Nick had a son finally set in him. Nick was just a kid himself. Without saying a word, AJ walked to the front door and left himself out, slamming the door. Nick came back a couple minutes later to the remaining three.
"I'm sorry guys. I messed up," Nick confessed.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you. I was just...shocked," Kevin said. "But we will support you in whatever you decide to do." A small smile came upon Nick's face.
"Thanks," he mumbled.
"You have to tell Ashleigh," Howie said.
"I know, I will," Nick said. The four of them sat in silence as they all tried to take in this surprise. Nick arched his back and looked out his front window as he sat on the couch. AJ's Mercedes was still in the driveway. Nick got up and walked to the front door. He opened it to reveal AJ sitting on his porch. Nick shut the door behind him and sat down next to him. They sat in silence.
"If I hadn't quit smoking, I'd be on my second pack by now," AJ said, breaking the awkwardness. "I'm sorry for freaking out man."
"It's okay," Nick said. They continued to sit in silence.
~~~~~~
The next morning, Nick finished buckling Connor into his car seat and climbed into the driver side. He started his Durango and drove over to Jada's apartment. He helped Connor get out and the two of them walked hand in hand to the door. Nick lightly knocked and Jada answered. Nick noticed how pale and weak she looked. Connor shrieked and ran straight to his toys.
"Come on in," Jada said, opening the door wider. Nick stepped in. Jada walked over and grabbed a manila envelope from her kitchen table.
"Here is all the paper work," Jada said. They had agreed on Nick taking full custody.
"Are you okay with all of this?" Nick asked. Jada held back tears as she replied.
"Yes...I don't want him to see me suffer. I love him to much to watch him while I'm..." she couldn't finish.
Nick just nodded his head. "Are you okay with this? I mean with your career and all," Jada asked.
"I don't want anything more," Nick answered. He suddenly realized how much respect he had for Jada. She got pregnant by a Backstreet Boy and instead of what most girls would have done, she kept her baby. Nick had a new found respect for the guts she had. She didn’t even go to the press to rat on Nick. No matter how crazy Nick's career was, she still had his baby. Accepting this new feeling, he suddenly wrapped his arms around Jada and hugged her tight. He let go and she looked at him.
"What was that for?" she asked.
"Thank you for giving me Connor," Nick said. Tears swelled up in her eyes as she looked at the floor and nodded.
~~~~~~~
