“Bri, I can’t believe she’s here and you haven’t even gone over to say hi.”
“She’ll just kick me out!”
“And Howie?”
“He’ll kick me out, too! I’ve screwed up too much this time, Jay. I can’t do anything about it.”
“And you’re not even going to try?” Sighing, Brian felt like slamming the phone against the wall thinking that maybe it would knock some sense into his friend. Of course, AJ had mutual sentiments about Brian.
“I already have.”
“And this relationship isn’t worth enough for you to keep trying, right?” AJ’s tone was sarcastic and accusing all in one and Brian didn’t appreciate. Unfortunately for him, Brian also knew AJ was right.
“Damn, Jay, what are you suggesting I do?” Brian snapped impatiently. “Break into D’s home and wait there until he gets home?”
“Something to those extremes, yes,” AJ said, frusteratedly. “If that’s what it takes.”
“Look, I have to go,” Brian sighed. “I have to pick Leighanne up frm her appointment.”
“That’s another problem we have to talk about,” AJ began.
“I don’t want to hear it,” Brian snapped.
“Some other time, then,” AJ said, wryly, before hanging up the phone. Taking a deep breath, Brian turned off the portable phone and threw it down on the bed.
Truth was, he was getting as sick of Leighanne as everyone else, but there wasn’t much he could do about it. She was sadistic, fake, and demanding. Not to mention, she was cruel to all the Backstreet fans. He knew he should break things off with her, but he didn’t really want to. He was just so used to the safe haven of a relationship that he didn’t really understand the feeling of being single once again.
Also, with this thing – whatever it was – with Kassy, his mind was getting so jumbled that he barely knew which way was up anymore. No one had ever had that effect on him and he wasn’t sure whether or not he liked it. He didn’t think he could handle the pressures of being single along with his “Kassy problem.”
Sighing, Brian trudged to the front foyer of his home, grabbed his keys, and walked out the door prepared to pick Leighanne up from the salon.
“Kevin, are you okay?” Those were Kassy’s first words when he opened the door to reveal her on his front porch. He nodded and plastered a false smile on his face.
“Hey, Kas,” he said. “What are you doing here?”
“Actually, AJ, Howie, and I were just going to dinner,” she explained. “I came by to invite you along.” She looked at him concerned. “I can always cancel . . .”
“Don’t even think of doing that,” he demanded. “I’m not really in the mood right now, but you go and have fun.” Kassy bit her bottom lip.
“You sure?” she asked. “I could always stay here with you, y’know. We could hang out and watch an all night movie fest.” Suddenly, a car horn blared.
“Yo, Kas, hurry up or we’ll be late!” AJ yelled. “Kev, ya comin’?”
“Nah, you go ahead!” Kevin yelled back. “Maybe I’ll catch up with ya later.” Nodding, AJ began drumming to his own beat on the side of Howie’s 2-door convertible. Kevin looked back at Kassy. “You go ahead.” She looked unsure. “Really, I’ll be fine.” Sighing, she gave in.
“Okay, but I’m not gonna have any fun,” she pouted, jokingly. Smiling softly, she took his hand and pulled him down so she could kiss his cheek. Before he stood up, she put her mouth next to his ear and whispered, “I think you need this more than I do.” As she released his hand, she left a small, folded piece of paper in it. He looked at his hand, then back at her, confused. She just smiled and began to back away.
“Call me if you need anything,” she said before turning her back to him and walking towards the car.
Kevin watched as they drove off, then looked down at the slip of paper in his hand. Unfolding it, he read it carefully. Tears formed in his eyes. It was Kristin’s number.