Wonderful Tonight

By the time we roll up to the restaurant where we’re meeting the guys we are well and truly sloshed. We’re not falling-down drunk but we’re definitely what my mom would call “merry”. We walk up to the maitre d and smile widely.
“Hi, my name’s Leighanne Littrell. I called earlier about a table?”
“Oh yes Madam. This way please,” he starts to lead us to a table but I spot the bar.
“Hey, uh, are our dates already here?” I ask him.
“No, they haven’t arrived yet.”
“Could ya send em to the bar when they get here?”
He nods and I pull Leigh over to a couple of bar stools. We order drinks and are halfway through our second round as Brian and Nick join us. They’re both dressed in black suits with white shirts open at the neck.
“Hey guys!” Leigh manages not to slur her words and jumps off her stool into Brian’s arms. “How was the show baby?”
“It was pretty good honey,” he smiles and kisses her.
“How was it for you?” I offer Nick a sip of my drink.
“It was good.” He takes the drink off me, puts it down and reaches to lift me off the stool. “But obviously not as good as hangin’ out with you and Leigh,” he chuckles. I wrap my arms around him and kiss him and then he lets me go. “Wow, Starr… You look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I try to curtsey but the wine has fucked up my balance and I stumble a bit. Nick steadies me and wraps his arms around me with an amused smile.
“Shall we go eat?” asks Brian leading the way to the table.
He pulls out Leigh’s chair and Nick does the same for me. A waiter brings over the menus and asks for our drink orders.
“Uh, maybe just water,” Brian says throwing Leigh and I a glance.
“You have water baby,” Leigh says. “But I’ll have the house white please,” she smiles at the waiter.
“Don’t ya think you had enough already?” asks Brian.
“What’s enough?” Leigh leans in to kiss her husband softly. “C’mon, live a little.”
“Ok, ok,” he laughs. “You want wine Nick?”
“Uh…” he pulls a face. “I’d rather have a beer. Do ya do Bud here?”
“Certainly sir. And for you madam?” the waiter looks at me.
“Uh, a martini and lemon would be great. Thanks.”
“Sure,” he grins and disappears as we open up our menus.
Leigh and Brian are sat opposite Nick and I. Nick opens up his menu so that we are hidden from view and kisses me deeply.
“Hi,” he whispers when we break apart.
“Hi,” I whisper back. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” he kisses me again. “And you look amazing. Better than anything on this menu.”
“Hmm,” I make a big show out of checking the menu carefully. “I guess you do too…” He pouts and I giggle. “Aw, no fair! I’m a sucker for guys who pout.”
“Really? I must remember that,” he smiles and runs his hand along the split in my dress and up underneath it, making me gasp. “So… Wanna blow out the old married couple and go back to the hotel?”
“Aren’t you forgettin’ somethin’?” I giggle.
“We’re not old though,” he laughs and lowers the menu.
“Ah, nice to see ya again,” says Brian with a grin. “What ya havin’?”
“Uh, nothin’ actually. I’m sorry but I have this AWFUL headache comin’ on so I’m just gonna go back to the hotel,” I press my hand against my head for added effect and kick Nick under the table for suppressing his laughter badly.
“OW!” he glares at me and rubs his shin.
“You ok Nick?” asks Brian.
“Yeah… Uh, no, actually… I’m feelin’ kinda funny too…”
“You’re ALWAYS funny,” says Brian.
“Hah ha, very funny,” retorts Nick.
“See?!” Brian cackles and Leigh giggles.
“Shaddup, I’m ILL!” Nick stands up and reaches to pull me up with him.
“Kinda convenient dontcha think Leigh?” Brian turns to his wife with a grin. “They BOTH get ill… What do ya think?”
“I think they wanna go back to their rooms and SHAG BAYBAY!” giggles Leigh downing another glass of wine as Brian goes red and almost chokes on his glass.
“Leigh?!”
“What? I’m right, right?” she looks at me.
“Totally right,” I say as it’s Nick’s turn to blush. “I hear Nick’s room has satin sheets…”
“Oooh!” Leigh shivers and then giggles.
“STARR!” Nick pushes me ahead of him. “We’re goin’ now. Bye guys and uh, good luck Bri.”
“Thanks,” Brian chuckles. “Same to you.”
“Why do you and Bri need luck?” I ask as we head outside to a waiting car.
“Cos you and Leigh are TRASHED!” Nick opens the door and we climb inside.
“Are not!” I protest. “I’m just slightly….”
“Totally,” he says as the car starts moving.
“Huh, TOTALLY was Vegas.”
“Yeah, well…” he stares out of the window and the alcohol in my blood makes me brave.
“Why do you always avoid talkin’ ‘bout that?”
“About what?” he glances at me.
“Vegas,” I say exasperatedly. “I mean, it happened.”
“I know it did,” he looks away.
“So why are you pretendin’ it didn’t?”
“I’m not!” he looks at me again. “I just don’t know what to do about it.”
“Oh…”
“I mean…” he reaches for my hand. “I don’t want to divorce you cos we’re together now, but it’s real scary us bein’ married already. It’s like – where can we go from here?”
“I know,” I lean back against the seat. “Most people date, get engaged, get married… We get married and THEN date.”
“Yeah…” he leans back against the seat as well and wraps an arm around me. “What do you want to do?”
I shrug, “I dunno Nick. Maybe we should just let it be? Ya know, if we split up get a divorce then, and if we don’t… When the time is right call each other man and wife.”
“Sounds like a plan,” he smiles and kisses the tip of my nose. “Anyone ever tell you that you have the cutest nose?”
“Uh lemme see… Cute ass, cute eyes, cute mouth, cute breasts… Cute nose?” I shake my head. “Nup, can’t say that’s ever been mentioned.”
He laughs, “Well it is.”
“Well thank you,” I giggle as the car pulls up outside our hotel and we head inside to the elevators.
“Starr… Did you have many lovers…before me?” Nick stutters out as the elevator doors close.
“Uh, a few,” I say evasively.
“A few? How many’s a few?” he looks at me.
“Maybe about five…”
“Maybe?”
“Ok, five.” I look at him. “Why the sudden interest?”
“I just wondered, that’s all.” He looks away from me and frowns slightly. “Five… Whoa.”
“Five’s an ok number,” I defend. “And they were all regular boyfriends. How about you?”
“Me? Uh, I guess about…two,” he admits shyly.
“Two?!” I stare at him. “You’re askin’ me to believe Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys has only ever had two lovers?”
“Yeah… Well, three counting you.”
“Jeez,” I stare at him in shock.
“What?!” he stumbles out of the elevator backwards as it reaches his floor.
“Nothin’,” I shrug. “I’m just a bit surprised that’s all.”
“Ya think I’m weird now,” he mutters opening his door.
“Not at all,” I wrap my arms around his waist from behind as we walk into the room. “Actually, I think it’s kinda sweet.”
“Sweet?!” He turns around to look at me, “NOT a word to be said to ya boyfriend just before he makes love to ya.”
I giggle as I push him down onto the bed. “Well, I was surprised cos ya seem so…well, EXPERIENCED…”
“Oh yeah?” he raises an eyebrow and chuckles.
“Oh yeah…” I say in as deep a voice I can muster.
I hold his eyes as I slowly unzip my dress at the side and wriggle out of it. I kick off my shoes into the corner of the room and slowly unroll each black stocking. Nick stands up and gently turns me around so that he can unhook my bra, cupping each breast in his hands as he kisses my neck. I turn around and unfasten his shirt, letting it drop to the floor. His pants and mine are next and soon our clothes are in a heap around our feet. He reaches up and unclips my hair, letting it fall around my shoulders. I smile and pull his body closer to mine as we kiss deeply. He picks me up and I wrap my legs around his waist.
“I think you need a shower…” he suggests and I giggle in anticipation.

One month later and the tour has been over for two weeks. I have taken my last picture for the Backstreet Boys and everyone has dispersed to their homes around the country. I live around an hour’s drive away from Nick in Florida. I actually live just across the block from Howie.
It’s around 2am on Sunday night and I’m lying in bed trying to sleep. I haven’t seen Nick since we said goodbye at the airport in Orlando. He had flown to LA to see his family and then on to New York for promotional work. We’ve kept in touch over the phone but I miss him a lot. It’s hard to go from seeing someone every day to not seeing them for two weeks and counting. He seems to always be on my mind.
I sigh and roll over in bed, switching on my stereo. ‘Wonderful Tonight’ starts playing and I close my eyes, but instead of my dad I see Nick’s face. I smile and start to drift off to sleep. A loud knocking disturbs me and I sit up with a start. It comes again and I glance at the clock. It’s 2.30am. Who would be knocking at this time? I look around my room and grab a baseball bat that my brother had leant me. I creep to the door and look through the spyhole. I see a familiar blonde head and open the door with a little squeal. His arms wrap around me and our lips meet.
“Ya shoulda told me you were coming,” I pull him inside and he eyes up the bat amusedly.
“Well, I will next time so ya don’t bat me.”
“Oh, it’s my brother’s,” I lay it again the wall and wrap my arms around him again. “I thought you were in New York.”
“I was. We finished today and I thought I’d try and get a flight home.” He kisses me and our tongues entangle. He tastes so warm and perfect. After a while he pulls away and looks at me intently. “And I realised there’s something I’ve forgotten to tell you, so I came straight here.”
“Oh, ok…”
“I love you Starr.” He waits for me to respond and steps back when I don’t.
Truth is I don’t know what to say. Well I DO but I’m not sure how to say it all without sounding like a complete idiot.
“Starr?” I look into his blue eyes and smile, squeezing his hands gently.
“I love you too Nick.”
“Thank God,” he chuckles and kisses me. “You had me worried there.” He looks at the door leading into my bedroom. “So, is this your bedroom?” I nod and he pushes it open. ‘Wonderful Tonight’ is on repeat and we walk inside. “I have had this song on my Discman since we said goodbye,” he confesses quietly. “It’s your song.”
“No, it’s yours,” I say kissing him.

Fiction