“I can’t believe this week is over,” Katelin said, sadly, as they were waiting for her flight to be announced. She, Amanda, and Kristin would be flying back to Florida this afternoon, leaving the guys to record for a couple more weeks. The week had been amazing. The girls spent the days relaxing at the resort. Getting pampered at the spa. It was heaven. The nights were spent with their guys, leaving Howie and Brian to hang out with each other. Nick had been a completely different person than he had been for the past two months. He had been caring, sweet, and attentive. Work on the album was left in the studio at night, something that never happened when they were at home.

“I know,” Nick replied. He pulled her close to his body and wrapped his arms around her. The last week had been magical, to say the least. And he never wanted it to end. But it did, and he would be away from Katelin for two and a half extra weeks, not due to return home to Florida until a few days before his twenty sixth birthday.

“Hey,” Kristin interrupted. “They just called our flight.”

“Alright,” Katelin sighed. “I’m coming.” She turned back to Nick. “I’ll see you on the twenty fifth?” Nick nodded. “Okay. I love you, Nick.”

“I love you too,” Nick said. “Take care of my babies for me.”

“I will,” Katelin laughed. “Bye.”

“Bye.” Katelin held his hand until the last possible second and then turned around to follow Amanda and Kristin on to the plane.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

“So,” BJ said, sitting down next to Katelin on the couch. “Do you think he suspects anything?”

“Nope.” Katelin shook her head. “I don’t even think that the guys know yet. I told everyone not to tell them until the last possible second.”

“They don’t have anything to do that night, do they?” Leslie asked.

“Not as far as I know,” Katelin replied. “Leighanne checked with a couple of people and they told her that the guys were free. I mean, it’s a Friday night. How much work would they possibly be doing?” Katelin and Nick’s sisters were making plans for Nick’s birthday. They were going to be throwing a surprise party for him at the Carter’s house. It wasn’t going to be too big of an affair. Just the usual crowd of the Boys, their girls, and their families.

“How are you getting him there?” BJ questioned.

“I’m going to tell him I have to take a client out for dinner and that the munchkins will be with your mom,” Kate answered. “She’ll tell him that she has plans and needs them to be picked up by eight.”

“He’s gonna love it, Kate,” Angel remarked. “Don’t worry.”

By five o’clock on Friday afternoon, Katelin was positive that there was no way Nick could have known. Brian had promised her that they would have everything at the studio wrapped up by five so by the time Nick went home and showered, he would make it to his parent’s house by eight.

“We done?” Nick asked, standing up.

“Yeah,” Brian answered, looking around the room at the rest of the guys. “What’s your rush?”

“Just got some stuff I need to do,” Nick replied. He checked his watch. He would have just enough time to get home and shower before he needed to be where he had planned.

Assuming Nick was talking about going to the Carter’s house, Brian didn’t press him any further. “Alright, Frack. See ya later.”

“Yeah, B.” Nick grabbed his jacket and began walking out the door. “Bye guys!”

“Hi Bri!” Katelin greeted as Brian walked in the front door. “Leigh’s already here. Did you talk to Nick?”

“Yeah,” Brian answered, handing BJ his coat. “He said he was going home to get showered. He should be here on time.”

“Good.” Katelin led him into the living room where Leighanne was talking with AJ and Amanda. She pointed them out to Brian before walking back into the foyer to answer the door.

“Thank you so much for meeting me,” Mandy said, sitting down at a corner table with Nick.

“You’re welcome.” Nick sat down across from her and glanced at his watch.

“Am I keeping you from something?” Mandy asked, noticing the gesture.

Nick shook his head. “No. I’m supposed to pick up the kids at my parents but I can be a little late.”

“If you need to go…” Mandy began.

“It’s fine, Man,” Nick interrupted, smiling. “Now what was it you wanted to talk to me about?” K

atelin checked her watch for the tenth time in as many minutes. It was already eight thirty and Nick still wasn’t there. Jane had tried him on his cell phone but he didn’t answer. “Where could he be?” she whispered to herself. Of all the nights to be late. She hoped that nothing was wrong. She was tempted to call his cell phone herself but she couldn’t because she was supposed to be out with a client. “Any luck?” she asked, as Jane walked into the foyer. Jane shook her head. “No. He’s still not answering.” “

What if I tried?” Katelin questioned. “I could just say that you called me looking for him. He wouldn’t suspect anything.”

"Couldn’t hurt,” Jane answered, shrugging. “Come on.”

Katelin followed Jane into the kitchen and picked up the portable phone, dialing Nick’s cell phone number. When his voice mail picked up, she left a message asking for him to call his parents as soon as he got the message.

Nick glanced at his watch. He was now two and a half hours late to pick up his kids. He was sure Katelin had picked them up by now, otherwise his parents or she would have been calling his cell phone all night. It hadn’t rang once, so he figured that everything had been taking care of. He hadn’t meant to spend so much time with Mandy. She had asked to meet him in order to discuss a recording contract that she had been offered. They ended up getting some drinks and catching up. The time had flown by and now it was ten thirty.

“I should get going soon,” Nick told her.

“One more beer?” Mandy questioned. “Come on, Nick. One more won’t kill you. Katelin will still be there when you get back.”

“Alright,” Nick conceded. “One more.”

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