At a little past 10pm, AJ stood outside Maria’s door waiting for her to answer his knock. He fiddled with the hemline of his dark red shirt and hopped from foot to foot. He felt in need of some serious dancing and then some serious loving. He had mixed emotions about the next day. On the one hand, he was excited to be going back to his life as a Backstreet Boy after this break. But on the other, he dreaded losing Ria. And he knew he would lose her. He always had a fantastic time with her and they always seemed to be laughing. But late at night, when he looked into her eyes after they had made love he could see she wasn’t giving him all of her. He wasn’t the right guy for her, he knew that. And she wasn’t the right girl for him. But she so easily could have been. But his life seemed to be full of could haves. Maybe tonight would be the last night with Ria. He shook the reflection off him just as she opened her door. She looked just perfect. Her dark hair was long and shiny, her make-up was minimal, and she looked amazing in a pair of black flared pants and a white vest top. A bright grin spread across his face and he wolf-whistled.
“Damn Ria, you should come with a health warning!”
“Same to you Alex,” she smiled and kissed his lips lightly, her perfume wafting over him. They walked to his car and climbed inside.
An hour later, they were walking inside the nightclub. AJ pulled his shades out of his jacket and put them on just as they entered the club. Maria looked at him and reached out to pull them off.
“Just let me see your eyes for tonight honey,” she whispered. He nodded and put the shades away, wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing her neck.
“A drink?”
“Let’s just dance.”
“Sure baby,” he guided her over to the dance floor and they started to dance close together as the DJ played Bailamos by Enrique Igleasis.
Bailamos! Let the rhythm take you over
Bailamos! Te quiero, amor mio
Bailamos! Wanna live this night forever
Bailamos! Te quiero, amor mio, te quiero
When the song ended, they walked over to the bar and ordered their drinks before looking around the dark club. AJ spotted a group at a nearby table.
“Oh hey, the guys are here too! They said they might be. C’mon Ria, I want you to meet them!”
“Who?” she looked in the direction he was pointing out but could only make out dark silhouettes.
“The other guys in the group!” AJ said excitedly. “C’mon,” he grabbed her hand and pulled her over before she could protest. A few seconds later and Maria was face to face with Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, and of course Howie Dorough. Plus their dates. “Hey guys,” AJ grinned and hugged them all. “I want y’all to meet Ria.”
“YOU’RE Ria?!” asked Howie looking shocked and Maria nodded uncomfortably. “But I thought your name was Maria?”
“It is, Ria’s my nickname.”
“Oh,” Howie nodded slightly. “Hi RIA,” he added with an emphasis that made her blush. He didn’t sound too happy to see her.
“Good to meet ya Ria. I’m Brian and this is my wife Leighanne,” the blonde guy smiled and shook her hand, followed by his wife.
“Call me Leigh,” the blonde woman smiled.
“I’m Kevin and this is my wife Kristen.” Maria smiled at the tall dark man and his smiling wife.
“I’m Nick and this is my sister BJ,” he introduced the female version of himself.
“I’m Howie’s date Cathy,” smiled a short blonde woman, digging Howie in the ribs slightly. “Seein’ as Mr Polite here can’t bring himself to introduce me.”
Maria laughed and shook her hand. Damn, Howie’s girlfriend and she liked her already. Life sucked sometimes.
“Hi, it’s good to meet you all.”
“You too,” said Nick. “I was beginnin’ to think you were just in AJ’s mind.”
“Hardly…” AJ grinned and pulled Maria close to him so that he could kiss her neck. “I don’t got THAT good an imagination.”
“Are you coming to New York with us Ria?” asked Leigh.
“No, I have to work.”
“What do you do?” Kristen asked.
“I’m a writer for The Sentinel.”
“Ooh, I get that!” said Leigh excitedly. “What sort of stuff do you write?”
“Oh, a bit of everything,” Maria smiled. “I got to review the Buccaneers’ chances of success next season last week, and on Tuesday I have to cover an O-Town concert.”
“Boo!” laughed Nick. “What’d ya decide about the Bucs by the way?”
“The Bucs?” Maria giggled. “Let’s put it this way… I think FIFTH place would be a fantasy.”
“Owch!” Nick pulled a face at her.
“A Bucs fan huh?” she asked amusedly.
“Yup, all the way baby!” he cheered and everyone laughed.
“I guess SOMEBODY’s gotta do it…” mused Maria with a wicked grin at Nick.
“I say the same thing,” agreed Brian with a wide grin. “Where are you from in England?”
“A place called Stourbridge. It’s kinda in the middle of the country.”
“Near Birmingham,” said Howie. “We’ve played there.”
“Really?” Brian thought a while. “I can only really remember London, sorry.”
“We stayed in Stourbridge too. Apparently,” Howie added.
“Really?” AJ looked at Maria. “Ya never told me that?”
“Didn’t I?” she smiled lightly. “I used to work at this hotel you stayed in.”
“Wow. I wish I’d met you then,” AJ grinned.
“What did you do there?” asked Kevin curiously.
“I worked behind the bar.”
“You MUSTA met AJ then,” said Howie dryly. The other guys gave him a sharp look and he blushed. “Sorry bro,” he muttered to AJ.
“It’s cool,” AJ shrugged lightly. “I didn’t meet you though, did I?”
“No,” Maria smiled. “I’d have remembered you honey.” She leant closer to him and kissed him deeply. Howie was confusing her. He had seemed so nice when they had first met but tonight he was almost a different man. His eyes had held a hint of shock when he had recognised her, his voice had been empty of any real welcome and he had been sarcastic towards AJ. She must have got him all wrong. She leant back from AJ and smiled into his deep brown eyes. “Wanna dance again?”
“Always,” he said dazedly.
After dancing to several songs with AJ, Nick and BJ, Maria left them to grab a drink from the bar. She had just taken a sip when Howie joined her and ordered a drink for himself.
“So which do you prefer? Ria or Maria?” he asked snidely.
“It depends who’s saying it,” she replied.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were with AJ?” he looked at her.
“Because when I met you I wasn’t. I met AJ the day after. And besides, how would it be any of YOUR business Howie?”
“AJ is my friend. Does he know you came to my place?”
“He’s never asked. I only came over for a snack Howie. It was hardly a clandestine affair,” she said incredulously.
“I thought you liked me Maria,” he said quietly. “And all this time you’ve been datin’ my best friend.”
“Well Howie, you never called me.” She picked up her drink and started to walk away. “And do I gotta remind you of Cathy?”
He gave no reply and she walked away, back to AJ. Howie watched her go. She was right and he knew it. Why hadn’t he called her? He had been meaning to. He had really enjoyed talking with her that night and she was so beautiful to him. He had caught her looking out of his window at the ocean at one point and had wished he could frame that look on her face forever. She had looked so far away, so sad… He had just wanted to kiss her and hold her and never let her go. He had started to dial her number a couple of times but each time something had stopped him. Maybe it was the fact that he was due to start a huge world tour next month. Maybe it was his fear of getting hurt. Maybe it was because he was terrified of her. But there had been no need – all the time she had been AJ’s girl. Cathy walked towards him and he smiled distractedly. Cathy was wonderful. She had been his friend for over a year and he appreciated her. He had always been able to talk to her about anything but things had changed. They had got drunk together one night and she had admitted she had feelings for him. He had been flattered and had told her so. But he couldn’t see her as anything more than a friend and he had no idea how to tell her so without hurting her and losing a friend. But maybe she was exactly who he needed right now. He could grow to love her, couldn’t he?