Nick groaned as he went to open the door to his condo. His mother was standing there and the last thing he wanted to do was have the same, monotonous conversation with her. Why did you do it, Nick? Don’t you know how much she loves you? That was always the way it went with her. Trying to make him feel guilty. Just as Brian did. BJ did. Leslie, Angel, AJ, Kevin, Howie, his father, blah blah blah. They all had the same thing to say to him. He was destroying his family for some stupid fling that probably wouldn’t last that long anyway. That wasn’t the point. He knew what he had with Beth wasn’t serious. But it was a hell of a lot better than walking on eggshells around his wife all of the time. It was a hell of a lot better than being two total strangers who were forced to spend time with each other because of their children. It was a hell of a lot better to have fun with someone for a little while than to be miserable around the person he was supposed to spend the rest of his life with.
“Hi mom,” he greeted, solemnly, as he let her inside the condo. “What are you doing here?”
“Do I have to have a reason to come and see my son?” She asked, brushing past him into the living room.
“Come on in,” Nick said to himself, rolling his eyes, as he shut the door. He turned around and followed her into the living room. “No. But it’s not really like you to just drop by like this. I don’t have the kids this weekend.”
“I know you don’t, Nick.” Jane sighed. “Doesn’t that sound at all wrong to you?”
“Mom,” Nick groaned. “I don’t want to have this conversation with you. We’ve had it a thousand times.”
“I know, Nickolas,” she snapped. “I just, for once, want a straight answer from you. Doesn’t that sound wrong to you?”
“Of course it does!” Nick exploded. He stood up and began pacing the room. “Don’t you think I know that? Don’t you think that I know how fucking wrong it is, mom?!”
“Don’t use that language with me, Nick,” she warned. “I am still your mother.”
“Sorry,” Nick mumbled, sitting back down on the couch. “Of course I think it’s wrong. But there’s nothing I can do about it. I tried, mom. God, I tried for months. I couldn’t get her to open up to me. I mean, when did she fall out of love with me?”
“Nicky, she never fell out of love with you,” Jane told him, wrapping her arm around his shoulders. “I know she didn’t. She still hasn’t. Nicky, she is so broken up about this. She’s not the same person she used to be.”
“Do you think I am?” He questioned, his eyes bright with unshed tears, as he looked at his mother. “God mom, Katelin has been my life for so many years now. She gave me three beautiful children. Do you think that this is easy for me? Cause if you do, you’re wrong. I never meant for this to happen. Never.”
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
“I’m coming!” Katelin called as the doorbell rang. She ran down the stairs and opened the door, shocked to see who was on the front porch. “Brendan?!”
“Katie, Katie, Katie,” he smiled. “How long has it been?”
“Oh my god!” She reached over and threw her arms around his neck. “It’s been, like, years!”
Brendan enthusiastically returned her hug. They had been practically best friends at college and had only seen each other once, about six years ago, since graduation back in May of 2001. Brendan had just recently relocated to the Tampa area, and since he and Katelin had kept in touch from time to time, he looked her up and decided to pay her a visit.
“That it has,” Brendan agreed. “So, I haven’t seen you in six years. Think you’re going to let me in your house.”
“Oh.” She smiled, sheepishly. “Come on in.” She stepped aside and let him inside the house. They walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table.
“So, where are these rugrats of yours?” he asked, sitting down. “I’d love to meet them.”
“They’re around here somewhere.” Katelin stood up and walked to the bottom of the stairs. “Kids! Get down here. There’s someone I want you to meet.” She walked back into the kitchen and not a minute later, three pairs of feet came stomping down the stairs and into the kitchen. “Hey guys. This is an old friend of mine, Brendan. Brendan, this is Aaron, Brian, and Kayleigh.”
Brendan knelt down to Aaron’s level and stuck his hand out. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Aaron replied, politely, but quietly. “Are you my new dad?”
Katelin groaned and buried her face in her hands as Brendan threw her a confused look. “No honey,” Katelin replied. “This is not your new dad. Why don’t you take your brother and sister and go to the playroom, okay?”
“Okay mommy!” Aaron called, grabbing one of their hands each and leading them down to the basement.
Brendan sat back down in the chair across from Katelin and noticed the tears in her eyes. “What the hell was that about?”
“Nick left me,” she replied, staring at her wedding band. “About two months ago.”
“What?!” Brendan exclaimed. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I’m not really used to the idea myself,” Katelin answered. “I keep thinking that he’s just out on tour. That he’s going to walk through that door any second and things will be back to normal.”
Brendan slid into the chair next to her and wrapped his arms around her. “Aw, Katie. I’m so sorry.” He let her cry quietly on his shoulder for a minute or two before continuing. “What happened?”
Katelin pulled away and wiped her eyes. “I don’t even really know. We just grew apart.”
“But that’s no reason to completely give up on a marriage,” Brendan explained. “You two can work through that.”
“He’s seeing someone else,” Katelin told him.
“Oh.” Brendan was fuming. How dare that asshole treat one of his closest friends like that. “I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize, Brendan.” She stood up and walked over to the fridge. “It’s not your fault. Anyway, you want something to drink?”
“Sure,” Brendan answered her, getting up to grab some glasses.
“So,” Katelin began, sitting down again. “You still haven’t told me what you’re doing here.”
“I live here now,” he explained.
“You do?” Katelin asked, her eyes widening. “That’s awesome!”
“Yup.” Brendan grinned. “The D.C. office transferred me here. You are now looking at a full-time resident of Tampa, Florida.”
“That’s great!” Katelin exclaimed. “Finally, a friend that has no connection to anything Backstreet or Nick.”
“I wish I could get my hands…” Brendan began. Katelin cut him off. “Don’t, Brendan. He’s still the father of my children. And, despite what he’s done, I still love him. That’s not something I can just stop doing.”
“Sorry,” Brendan apologized, although he didn’t quite understand how much slack she was cutting Nick. He didn’t deserve her. “Anyway, think you can find a sitter for the kids tonight? I want to take you out.”
“Brendan, I don’t know,” she began, nervously.
“Kate, you look like you need to go out and have some fun.” He grabbed her hands. “This isn’t the Katie I remember. Come on. Let me take you out tonight.”
“Okay,” Katelin hesitantly agreed. “I know a cool place we could go to. You up for some dancing?”
“Sure!” Brendan grinned. “Now, find a sitter for your kids and let’s go out!”