“Christine,” her secretary buzzed through to her office. “There’s someone here to see you.”
“Send them in,” Christine replied, going back to look over the notes on her desk. The door opened and in walked Paul. “What are you doing here? Didn’t I make it perfectly clear to you that I didn’t want to see you anymore?”
“And didn’t I make it perfectly clear that I don’t accept that?” Paul sneered. “Christine, you’re wearing my engagement ring. I think that’s a clue to just how serious we are. I mean, we’re getting married.”
Christine took the ring off and threw it at him. “Not anymore we’re not. I don’t want to marry you. Not now. Not ever. You’ve caused enough trouble in my life during the past through years. I don’t want anything to do with you anymore. Now get out.”
“No,” Paul replied smugly. He sat down in the chair and dropped the engagement ring on her desk.
“Get out,” Christine told him through clenched teeth. “Before I call security and have them throw you out.”
Paul reluctantly stood up and began walking to the door. “You’re going to be sorry, Christine. Very, very sorry.”
“Asshole,” Christine muttered as the door shut behind him. She leaned back in her chair and breathed a sigh of relief. That had been very liberating. Now all she had to do was square things away with Howie. Tell him the truth once and for all. She buzzed her secretary. “Karen, can you get Howie Dorough on the line please?”
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
“Call the police, Ang,” Brian told her. “That’s the only thing you can do. Well, that and change the locks on your doors immediately.”
“Brian, don’t you understand?” Ang wept. “That’s what they’re threatening me about. I can’t call the police.”
“Are you going to live like this the rest of your life?” Brian exclaimed. “Call the goddamn police!”
“I’m not calling them,” Ang sternly replied. “If I call them, it means that everything has to come out. Everything Brian. Including what happened three years ago in L.A. I don’t care what happens to me, but I will not do that to you and your group. You don’t need that kind of publicity.”
“So you’re going to let this person control your life?” Brian asked. “I can’t believe you, Ang. You know you didn’t do anything wrong. There was another set of prints on that syringe.”
“Yes there was!” She cried. “But mine were there also! It could have just as easily been me as it could have been anyone else?”
“Do you really believe that?” Brian walked up to her from behind and put his arms around her waist. “Do you really believe that you could do that to someone? Because I don’t. No matter what the circumstances surrounding that night were, I don’t believe, for a second, that you had anything to do with that guy’s death.”
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Krista sat at Starbucks in Orlando, sipping her coffee and reading the paper by herself. She thought back to last night and what had occurred at the beach house. Lanie and Katelin getting into it was nothing new, so she had heard from the other girls. Lanie was jealous, plain and simple. She had every reason to be but Krista also saw Katelin’s side to the story. Lanie might have every reason to be jealous that Katelin was living with Nick and their son, but she also didn’t have to go picking a fight with Kate every time they were in the same room as each other. That did nothing but hurt Nick in the long run. Her thoughts wandered to Sarah, AJ’s fiancee. She was pleasantly surprised to find that Sarah didn’t treat her the same way that Lanie treated Katelin. Sarah had every reason to be a bitch to Krista and yet she was as nice and sweet as could be.
“Krista?” A voice cut into her thoughts.
“Fatima?!” Krista exclaimed, jumping up to give the older woman a hug.
“What are you doing back in Orlando?” Fatima asked, sitting down across from her.
“I’m not sure actually.” Krista shrugged. “Just needed a change of scenery, I guess. I couldn’t deal with New York any longer. How have you been?”
“Great,” Fatima smiled. “Just working with my boys again on another tour. We get started with rehearsals today.”
“Cool.” Krista took a sip of her coffee. “How are the dances looking so far?”
“Good, I think,” Fatima replied. “You know what? I could use some help. Would you be interested?”
“Ooh,” Krista answered. “I don’t know. I’m not sure that would be the best idea.”
“Come on Kris,” Fatima begged. “You were always so good with the choreography. One of the best dancers I’ve ever seen. The guys would love to have you helping out.”
“I don’t think all of them would be so thrilled,” Krista replied. “If you know what I mean.”
“You and AJ are both adults, Krista,” Fatima explained. “I’m sure you guys can work together.” Krista sighed. “I guess I’ll do it. But only if AJ agrees to it.”
“Deal.” Fatima jumped up and hugged Krista. “Oh this is going to be so much fun!”
“Oh yeah a blast,” Krista said to herself as Fatima ran out of the coffee shop.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
“You’re late.” Lanie glared at her boyfriend as he walked into the restaurant. “You were supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago.”
Nick discreetly rolled his eyes. “There was traffic, alright? And hello to you to.”
Lanie sighed. “I’m sorry. I’ve just had a bad day, I guess you could say.”
“Haven’t we all,” Nick muttered.
“What? Trouble at home?” Lanie questioned.
“Actually no.” Nick looked at her, contemplating if he should bring this up or not. Finally he just decided to go for it. “I had a little talk with Katelin this morning.”
Lanie rolled her eyes. Of course the little bitch would blame everything on her. “Yeah? And what did little Miss Perfect have to say about me?”
“Nothing actually,” Nick replied. “For some reason, and I’m not sure what it was, she defended you.”
“There was nothing to defend,” Lanie argued. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Lanie, I love you,” Nick began. “But I don’t believe you for a second. I’ve seen how you act around her. You can’t wait to start a fight with her. To remind her that you’re with me and she’s not.”
“What’s so wrong with that?” Lanie cried. “I’m protecting my relationship! If she can’t deal with that than it’s her problem.”
“No it’s not!” Nick yelled, causing people to turn around and stare at them. “You’re the one that’s creating the problem. You’re jealous of the fact that she’s living there. You’re jealous of her. Hell, you’re even jealous of Aidan. I see how you look at my son and I swear to god, Lane, if it doesn’t stop soon, than this is over.”
Lanie looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Nicky. I don’t want this to be over. You know that. I love you so much.”
“I love you too Lanie.” Nick’s temper had calmed down somewhat and he grabbed her hands. “Don’t you get that? You saved me. And you know I’ll never forget that. But you’ve got to learn to accept Aidan and Katelin as a part of my life because they’re never going to go away.”
Lanie smiled at Nick but inside she was seething. She wanted to kick herself for ever talking Nick into telling Kate to come down to Florida. She needed to find a way to change is mind. Katelin was going to go away alright. And Lanie was going to slide right into her spot as Aidan’s mother. She just needed to find a way to do it.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
“You ready for this?” Fatima asked. “The guys should be here any minute.”
Krista nodded, tentatively. “I guess. I just hope that AJ’s not pissed.”
One by one, the boys began to file into the rehearsal studio. “What are you doing here?” Kevin asked Krista, walking over and giving her a hug.
“Fatima asked me to help out with the dances,” Krista answered. “I hope that’s not a problem?”
“Not at all.” Kevin grinned. “Welcome aboard!”
“Thanks.” Krista smiled, gratefully, glad that at least one member of the group wasn’t annoyed at her presence. She glanced up and saw AJ walk into the room, listening to his walkman. He didn’t see her at first and went over to throw his stuff in the corner of the room. Once he was ready for rehearsal he spun around on his heel and noticed Krista standing there. “What are you doing here?”
“Uh…” Krista stuttered, not knowing what to make of the expression in his eyes.
“I asked to her to help me,” Fatima chimed in. “You have a problem with that?”
AJ glanced down at his shoes. He didn’t know what to make of the situation. “I guess not.” He looked at Krista. “As long as you were okay with it.”
“Would I be here if it was?” Krista asked before spinning around on her heel and walking over to the stereo. She busied herself with getting the music cued up while the rest of the guys and the dancers showed up.
“What’s with the grin, Nicky?” Brian snickered. “You look like you just got laid.”
Nick shot a goofy smile in his friend’s direction. “You could say that.”
“So, no trouble in paradise after last night?” Ang asked, sitting on the floor and stretching out her legs.
“Nope,” Nick replied, grinning. “Things are perfect. Never better. I’ve got my son. I’ve got my girlfriend. Nothing more I could ask for.”
“When does that social worker start observing you?” Howie asked.
Nick glared at him. “Must you rain on my parade? I hadn’t even thought about that.”
“Well, you probably should start thinking about it,” Kevin advised. “I know you’re a good father, Nick. But the situation you live in is not actually conventional. The Gerhart’s could use that against you in the custody hearing.”
“What are you saying?” Nick asked. “That I should pretend that Katelin, Aidan, and I are one big happy family? Cause I don’t think I could do that. And I don’t think Lanie would go for it.”
“I’m not saying that at all,” Kevin replied. “I don’t think you should lie. But I wouldn’t argue with the mother of your child in front of the social worker like you have a tendency to do sometimes.”
“I do not!” Nick defended. “Kate and I have been getting along great, actually. We’re fine.”
“That’s good, Nicky.” Brian patted him on the back before turning to Kevin. “Leave him alone, Kev. He knows what he’s doing. There’s no way that they would take Aidan away from Nick and Kate.”
Nick smiled gratefully at Brian, hoping to God that he was right. He was the biological father. It wasn’t his fault that he didn’t know about his son until almost two months ago. He’s been a perfect father to him since then. Surely a judge would see that. Wouldn’t they?