I had just finished feeding Tristan and was doing our laundry when there was a knock at the door. I threw the rest of the dirty clothes quickly into the washing machine and walked to the door.
“Flowers for a Peyton Bryant,” a florist read from the card in his hand.
“Yes, that’s me!” I stated brightly, blushing slightly.
“Just sign here please, thank you,” he said handing me the flowers and walking back to his van.
I put the bouquet of flowers in a vase in the kitchen and sat down to read the attached note.
Peyton,
I cannot tell you just how much I really enjoyed being with you last night. Remember that if you ever need to talk, I’m here. My number is
128-8019.
Love Always,
Nick Carter
I noticed the signature on the card. It looked so familiar and that strange sense of déjà vu came over me, as if I had seen it somewhere before. Even so, I couldn’t stop smiling the entire time it took me to read the note. I wanted to call him, but didn’t want to seem overly anxious, so I decided to wait a while.
“Okay sweetie, what are we watching?” I said, walking in the living room, picking up Tristan, and flipping through the TV channels. “This, huh?” I asked Tristan, as VH1’s “Where Are They Now?” came on.
“Remember those five adorable guys that had it goin’ on, that would go anywhere for you, and would never break your hear, as long as you loved them? Yep, that’s right ladies…the Backstreet Boys. They were pop teen sensations nearly ten years ago. So…where are they now?” some unknown announcer introduced the show. I became very interested in the show because nearly ten years ago I was one of their screaming 16 year old fans, buying all their CDs and hanging posters of them all over my room. I laughed a bit to myself and thought of all the great memories when all five of their gorgeous faces appeared on the screen. My tummy no longer did flips and my heart no longer skipped a beat just at the sound of their voices or at the image of their faces. I stopped reminiscing when I heard the announcer say, “Let’s turn our attention to the baby of the group…Nick Carter.” I sat there shocked for a moment and stared at the television. I had never made the connection before. No way…couldn’t be the same Nick Carter…I watched as they flashed older pictures of Nick from his BSB days and ones from his solo career, and then one of his most recent interviews began to play. I instantaneously recognized the handsome face, friendly smile, and those twinkling blue eyes. My heart leap into my throat and I ran to the phone to call Shay.
“Seriously?!” my best friend yelled from the other end of the phone.
“Yes! Go turn on your TV to VH1! Just look…it’s the same guy!” I practically screamed to her.
There was a silence on the other end that was soon broken by a high-pitched scream.
“It is him! Aaah…you went out with the Nick Carter!!!”
I laughed and replied, “Yeah! I guess I did! Can you believe this?!”
I remembered when Shay and I were growing up and we were both in love with the Backstreet Boys. She wanted to marry Kevin and I wanted to marry Nick…or AJ. We used to go to all of their concerts together!
“Pey? Peyton…ya there?” Shay’s voice broke through my memories.
“Oh! Yeah, yeah…sorry! I was just thinking.”
“So, are you going to?” she asked.
“Going to what?” I asked confused.
“Are you going to call him?” she repeated.
“Oh! Hmm…I don’t know. What am I going to say to him?” I asked, suddenly feeling nervous.
“Just act natural, like you did last night. He obviously liked you,” Shay reassured me.
“I guess you’re right. Thanks! I’ll call him now! Bye!” I hung up the phone and dialed in Nick’s phone number.
“Hello?” a sweet, female voice answered the phone.
I stood there stunned for a moment, feeling my heart sink to the bottom of my tummy.
“Hello??” the voice repeated.
“Oh, um…hi. Sorry. Is Nick around?” I questioned.
“He’s a little busy at the moment. Who’s calling?” the girl’s voice asked.
“Just tell him that Peyton called. Thanks,” I said hanging up the phone disappointed.
I took Tristan up to the nursery and rocked him quietly to sleep, with only thoughts of Nick on my mind.
