“And Jade will DEFINITELY meet us in New York?” I ask Nick and Kevin.
“Definitely,” says Nick as Kevin sighs exasperatedly.
“Jade is with Brian and Brian is under contract to be at the ceremony.”
“Just checkin’,” I mutter and he walks away. “I just wouldn’t put it past Jade to get outta this thing and leave me to suffer.”
“Suffer?” Nick sounds amused. “It’s only an awards ceremony!”
“To you it is, but to me is a living hell!” I whine. “Everyone’ll stare at me and wonder who the hell I am and why you’re with me.”
“They won’t,” Nick smiles and kisses me. “They’ll all wonder what I did to get someone as beautiful as you to date me.”
“As if,” I say before kissing him. “But thanks.”
At eight o’clock Nick opens his hotel door to Brian. They exchange grins and Brian follows Nick inside.
“How was the weekend?” Nick asks.
“It was fantastic. Just perfect y’know,” Brian grins and sits on the couch. “Mom loved her. They all did. And she seemed to like them back.”
“Of course she did,” Nick chuckled. “It’s impossible not to like your family dude!”
Brian grins. “Thanks bud.”
“The girls taken over your room?”
“Yup,” Brian pulls a face. “It’s like a bomb hit it – all these clothes and make up and perfume bottles.”
“I will never understand why girls need all that stuff,” Nick shakes his head and laughs.
“So, how are things with you and Ali?”
“Just great,” Nick beams widely. “Even better than before I guess. Losin’ her kinda made me love her more… If that makes sense?”
“Oh yeah,” Brian nods. “I lost Jade too remember?”
“Yeah. How are things with her?”
“Really good. I can’t believe how much I love her some times. It’s scary some times too.”
“God, listen to us!” Nick laughs and Brian pulls a face.
“I know. Sad.”
Before Nick can respond, they hear the sound of a key in the door and turn around just as Ali pushes open the door. She walks into the room closely followed by Jade. They both look beautiful and the two guys stand up slowly, taking in the sight of their women and forgetting how to breathe. Ali is wearing a short dark red dress, which is cut low on her bosom. A diamond choker accentuates the neckline and her blonde hair falls around her shoulders. Jade is wearing a long black satin dress, which is split to the thigh and cut low over her bosom. A dark jet necklace sparkles around her neck and her black hair is twisted up into shiny pins.
“Wow,” Nick finally gets his breath back and the two girls smile shyly.
“Jade…” Brian walks over to his girl and reaches for her hands. “You’re beautiful baby.”
“Thank you,” she smiles and leans closer to kiss him. “You look gorgeous.”
He grins. “I didn’t wanna let you down.” She laughs and wraps her arms around his waist.
“Ali baby, I love you,” Nick says hugging his girl and kissing her bare neck. “You look SO good.”
“Oh boy,” I say, looking out of the tinted car windows. “All those people.”
“Don’t worry,” Kevin grins. “It’s the camera flashes that REALLY bother ya.”
“Well jeez, NOW I feel a whole lot worse,” I moan as he laughs.
“Don’t be evil,” giggles Kristen, giving Kevin a playful punch. “It’ll be fine once we get inside Jade.”
“Yup,” Brian nods. “It’s all dark so we can totally make out!” He grins at me and I pull a face at him.
“Hey, you can’t make out at award shows!”
“Sure you can!” he laughs. “Too damn boring otherwise.”
“Haven’t you been to award ceremonies before?” Kevin asks me.
“Sure, but as a writer. I’m used to being with the plebs. Not doin’ the carpet thing.”
Kristen laughs. “If it makes you feel better you could walk backwards pretending to interview the guys! Oh, and I’ll walk behind you, holding my bag up, pretending to be your photographer!” Kristen bounces up and down excitedly waving her bag in the air.
“Yeah! Ok, you’re on,” I tell her with a laugh.
“You’re on hidden camera,” she tells Brian.
He chuckles as the car slides to a halt in front of the red carpet.
“Uh oh,” I mutter.
“Relax Jady,” Brian reaches for my hand and leans across to kiss me. “You’re beautiful.”
The car door is opened and Kevin and Kristen climb out first. Then it’s our time. Brian lets go of my hand as we step onto the red carpet. A wall of screams assault my ears and out of the corner of my eye I notice Kristen wincing slightly. We head down the carpet; Kevin and Brian working the crowds like pros – giving out autographs and posing for pictures - as Kristen and I walk behind them, desperate to reach the safety of the building. I don’t know where to look. It seems like every time I look around a camera flash goes off right in my face. So I decide to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other and not ending up sprawled on the carpet. Brian reaches for my hand as he finishes signing a few autographs and I smile at him gratefully before looking back down at the carpet.
“Brian, is it true that you are getting married?” yells a reporter from the side of us.
My head shoots up and I look at Brian. He just grins in the vague direction of the reporter and we carry on walking. Marriage?! Holy cow.
As we reach the doors, a camera crew leap out at us.
“Hello Brian! Kevin! How ya doin’?” asks an overly-excited Texan reporter.
“Doin’ just great,” Brian responds with a grin, squeezing my hand.
“Are you expectin’ to win?”
“Ah, it’s just great bein’ nominated in four categories,” beams Kevin.
“Besides if we won somethin’, we’d all fight over who should have it first!”
“Yeah!” Kevin agrees.
“Are the other boys comin’?”
“Yup. Nick, AJ and Howie are in the next limo I think. We couldn’t all fit into one… With our dates and all,” says Kevin.
At that, the reporter gives Kristen and me the once-over. “Hi Mrs Richardson! Do you think the Boys will win tonight?”
“Oh sure!” Kristen grins. “They’re already winners though.”
“And, uh, you?”
I stare wide-eyed at the reporter. I wasn’t told I’d have to speak! “Uh, yeah. Sure!” Jeez, could I possibly have sounded any dumber?
The reporter smiles at me. “And you are?”
“We should go inside,” Kevin rescues me and I smile gratefully.
“Nice seein’ you,” Brian smiles and wraps his arm around my waist as we go inside.
“Jeez, how dumb did I sound?” I mutter.
“You did just fine honey.”
“He shouldn’t have asked you that stuff,” says Kevin.
“I remember gettin’ asked about what I thought of Star Wars after Kev took me to the premiere. I musta misheard cos I told ‘em my name,” Kristen giggles. “And it ended up on Entertainment Tonight!”
“Oh my God! It’s Nick Carter!!” is all I can hear as Nick helps me out of our limo. AJ and his date Layla are just in front of us and I swallow nervously.
“You’re doin’ just fine baby,” Nick reassures me and squeezes my hand.
“You let go of my hand and I will KILL you,” I mutter through a forced smile as we start walking the carpet.
“Relax,” he laughs and starts waving at various fans.
I just concentrate on the door getting nearer and nearer and nearer. Finally, it’s two steps away but a camera crew grab us before we can get inside.
“Hello Nick!” says the excited female reporter. “Are you lookin’ forward to the show?”
“I sure am!” Nick grins. “It’s pretty exciting.”
“Do you think you’ll win anything?”
“I don’t know. I really hope so!”
“Who’s your date for the night?” she looks at me and I swallow nervously as the camera fixes on my face.
“This is Alicia,” Nick says proudly.
“Do you think the Boys will win tonight Alicia?” she says.
“Uh… Do I?… Uh… I guess.” I mentally shoot myself for sounding like one of those brain dead models Jade and I love to hate.
“Uh, ok,” she gives Nick a pitying look and lets us move on inside.
“What the FUCK did I sound like?!” I groan and Nick starts laughing.