Stop two on the Black & Blue tour and we’re in Boston. It’s a cool city. I went out sightseeing with Jade on the day we arrived and took a few scenic location shots for the book. I was glad to leave Pittsburgh. Todd, the hotel clerk, had turned into one of those guys who don’t take no for an answer. I guess I had myself to blame. I had accepted his invitation for a drink and had met him in the hotel lobby on the last night in town. I had flirted like hell until we walked out of the building and I saw Nick coming in. he had kinda stopped and stared, and given me this look of disgust. And I agreed with him. I felt dirty. I had faked feeling sick and left Todd pretty quickly. After a long shower, I had called Nick’s room to try and tell him some of what I was feeling but he hadn’t been in. So I started imagining who he was with and what he was doing. It was a real horrible night. And now we’re in Boston and Nick barely even looks my way any more. I’m giving up on us slowly and it’s killing me.
“We get a lot of letters from people who say that songs of yours have made a big impact on their lives. Like a lot of people say Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely helped them cope with a death, and others get married to Yes I Will. Do you guys have songs that mean a lot to you in that way?” the blonde journalist smiles at them, pen poised over her pad.
“Uh, well we’re always real proud when we hear stories like that ‘bout our songs,” says Kevin. “It really makes us feel good. Like we’re really making our mark on music and on people’s lives.”
“There’s no higher form of praise,” smiles Howie.
“Yeah. I guess a song that means stuff to me is this one by a group called Journey. It’s called Ask The Lonely and it’s got me through a lot of crappy times,” Nick looks serious and then brightens. “And of ours, I really love Shining Star cos I co-wrote it and it’s great to perform. Plus, we all have shining stars in our lives so it’s cool to think of those people while we’re singing.”
“I like Thieves In The Temple by Prince,” Kevin says. “I used to play that song to death whenever I broke up with my girl. And of ours, it’s gotta be Back To Your Heart. I think of Kristen whenever I play it cos I wrote it on one of our times apart. So it reminds me of how much I love her.”
“I like Feel You Up by Prince,” AJ chuckles. “It’s a great bedroom song. Oh and If I Was Your Girlfriend is great too. I remember singing that to one of my ladies and it really put across how I was feeling. It’s about wanting to be more than just a lover. And of ours… I love Don’t Want You Back cos most songs are kinda of the needing variety. And that song just kicks ass!”
“There are lots of songs that mean things to me. I guess the main one right now is Breathe by Faith Hill cos I always think about my girl whenever I hear it. And, y’know, there is nothing like that moment when you can lie there and watch someone sleep and watch someone breathe,” Brian sighs.
“Uh ho, Bri’s gone goofy on us,” AJ jokes.
“Bri’s ALWAYS goofy when it comes to his girl,” says Nick with a grin at his buddy.
Brian blushes slightly. “Yeah, ok of ours… I guess I like singing Spanish Eyes.”
“Does your girlfriend have Spanish eyes?” asks the journalist with a smile.
“Oh boy, DOES she!” Brian laughs.
“And Howie?”
“Oh I really love Angel by Jon Secada. It makes me think of Caroline whenever I hear it. It’s gorgeous and full of hope. And of ours, I kinda like All I Have To Give. It’s just great,” Howie laughs.
“Great! Some good songs there. I’m gonna have to check a few of those out,” she giggles. “Ok, so we’ve kinda established that Brian and Kevin are in relationships. How about you three?”
“Totally single,” AJ grins. “I date and all that, but nobody regular.”
“Ditto,” Howie says. “And I’m not really lookin’ to get involved right now either.”
“Neither was I,” Brian says. “It just kinda comes up and gets ya when you’re not expecting it!”
Everybody laughs and the journalist turns to Nick. He looks slightly uncomfortable.
“I’m single too, I guess.”
“You guess?” she raises an eyebrow inquisitively.
“Yeah. I kinda just broke up with somebody and my heart is not over her yet. So I guess my body’s waitin’ for my heart to catch up before I can be really single…” Nick’s voice trails off and Brian gives him a soft pat on the back.
“We gave up on his brain years ago!” he jokes, easing the uncomfortable silence.
Twenty minutes later, the guys get up and head out of the door, saying their goodbyes to the journalist. Nick is the last one out and she stops him.
“Uh, Nick. About what you said?”
“Yeah?”
“Y’know, about waiting for your heart to catch up? Well, maybe you need to catch your heart up.” He stares at her. “I mean, I know it’s not my business but I tend to believe in my heart.”
“Thanks,” he mutters and heads out of the door to catch Brian up.
“What’d she want? A date?” Brian asks lightly.
“She told me to catch my heart up.”
“Huh?”
“About what I said before. About Ali… I should believe in my heart.”
“Oh,” Brian looks at his friend and they walk in silence. He is worried about Nick. Ever since he had split up with Ali, he hasn’t been the same old Frack. He laughs and jokes with them as usual, but something in his eyes is missing. He isn’t totally with them. And Brian wants his best friend back.
Brian opens his hotel room and dumps his bag on the floor before curling up around Jade who’s asleep in the bed. He kisses her neck softly and closes his eyes.
“Hey Bri…” she says drowsily. “How’d it go?”
“It was good, yeah,” he nuzzles her. “And the interviewer said some cool things to Nick.”
“Like what?”
“He told her that he wasn’t single until his heart caught up with his body. And she said that maybe it was the other way round, and he should believe in his heart.”
Jade rolls over to look at him. “That he should give Ali another chance?”
Brian nods. “I guess.”
“And?”
“It made him think.”
“Fantastic,” Jade smiles and sits up, “I have to tell Ali!”
“Don’t.” Brian sits up with her, “Please Jade. This is just between you and me. Nick told me that in confidence and I told you because… I tell you most things.”
“But Ali should know this. It might give her hope.”
“Hey, this is between Nick and Ali. Don’t ya think it’s his decision to tell her or not?”
“I guess,” Jade admits reluctantly.
Brian kisses her bare back and pulls her back down with him.
It’s late in the evening, and I lie in bed awake and feeling restless. Usually I’d jump out of bed and get Jade for some late night girl-talk, but lately she’s been too busy for me. After the guys’ interview she’d gone back to her and Brian’s room and I haven’t seen her since. Maybe some of the guys are watching a game downstairs in the bar. That should keep me entertained for at least half an hour. I grab my camera and put on a jacket. I step out of the room and shut it, only seconds before realising I’ve left my card on the dresser.
“Damn it!” I complain, and stomp my feet. Oh well, I’ll just have to flirt with the desk clerk for a new one. I hit the bar looking for the guys. I spot Nick and AJ engaged in a competitive game of pool. I click away on my camera, until they notice me and AJ beckons me over.
“Hey, cuz. Whatcha up to?” he asks, hugging me.
“Nothing, really. I couldn’t sleep,” I reply simply. “I play winner.”
The guys nod and I continue taking pictures.
“Ha ha! You losin’ your touch J?” Nick exclaims, as AJ accidentally shoots the 8 ball in the corner pocket.
“Shut up, man,” he throws the stick down on the table with a disgusted sigh. Nick opens his mouth to say something but AJ stops him. “I know, I know. Losers buy. Whaddya want?”
Nick picks up his empty beer bottle and hands it to him. “Another Bud.”
“Ali, can I get you something?” he asks, turning to me.
“I’ll have the same.” He nods and heads off to the bar. I turn to Nick. “You ready?”
He nods and picks up his cue. “Girls break first.”
I smirk and raise my eyebrows. “I don’t take charity. You can do it.”
He shrugs and sets up the balls. He shoots and knocks in two balls. “Guess I’m stripes,” he replies, and shoots again.
Minutes later I’m losing pathetically and AJ comes back with our drinks. It only takes Nick another ten minutes to win the game. Every time he potted a ball, he had smiled that little grin that used to drive me crazy. Still does. That’s why I let him win.
“Oh yes!” he says happily as I put down my stick.
“Congrats Nick,” I look around the bar and spot the cute hotel clerk talking with the bartender. I decide to go over, flirt and hopefully get a new card key. Plus if I could make Nick jealous – that would be a definite plus. “Well, you guys must excuse me,” I drawl and head over to the two hotel workers.
Nick watches Ali talking with the dark-haired young man he recognised as the hotel desk clerk. He frowns and leaves the bar. He didn’t want to watch Ali with other guys – it made him jealous.
Later that night, he grabs a denim jacket and throws on a baseball cap. Marching down the hallway to the elevator, he’s feeling slightly guilty. He knows why he’s about to do what he is doing, and he also knows Ali will bitch at him when she finds out. He doesn’t care - all he wants to do is take care of Paul the desk clerk. He’d heard from AJ that Ali was going out with this Paul guy for lunch the next day, and Nick wants to stop it. He walks over to the front desk and lowers his sunglasses. Then, putting on an incredibly pathetic and over-exaggerated masculine voice, he asks for Paul.
“I’m Paul,” a short brown-haired guy with dark brown eyes appears from out the back. “May I help you?” he adds, politely.
“Yeah, yeah you can help me. See, I THOUGHT I heard that you and my girl Ali were sneakin’ around behind my back. Clearly I’m mistaken, right?” Nick asks, leaning over and grabbing Paul’s uniform tie.
“Your girl? Why would I do that? No, absolutely not, don’t worry about a thing. She’s all yours,” he reassures Nick.
Nick smiles and lets go. “Good, good. Keep up the good work, Paul,” he pats him on the shoulder and walks away, grinning to himself.