Episode 73...

I grin at the soppy expression on Ali’s face and lie back on the bed with my eyes closed. “If anybody had told me we’d be actin’ like this a year ago… I’d have had ‘em certified.”
“At the least,” Ali chuckles. “We were always relationship freaks. I mean, there’s me and my past. And you and your commitment phobia.”
“I still have that,” I confess and she rolls over to look at me.
“You do?”
“Yeah. Sometimes I get SO freaked out and I just wanna run and run…”
“What stops you?”
“Brian. He usually picks those moments to do somethin’ real sweet. It’s like he knows.”
“Maybe he does. You guys ARE pretty close.”
“Yeah,” I sigh. “Ali, changing the topic TOTALLY… Have you noticed anything about AJ since bein’ on tour?”
“That he’s crazy?” Ali laughs.
“Yeah… But also that he kinda drinks a LOT. I mean, he always seems to be hungover or have a glass of something in his hand these days.”
“I guess,” she says slowly. “I know he had a problem back on the Millennium tour but the guys talked to him and I thought he’d worked through it.”
“Why did he drink then though?”
“Loneliness.”
“So, what’s changed?” I ask. “Do you see AJ with some girl who loves him the way he deserves? He just seems to get these slutty types. It must be pretty bad for him to see us all so happy and settled.”
“Howie hasn’t got a girl either,” she points out.
“Howie’s Howie,” I say. “He’s a lot stronger than AJ y’know.”
“I guess. Have you mentioned this to Brian?”
“Nup, I wanted to run it by you first. I mean, you’re his cousin.”
“Thanks. I’ll talk to him.”
“Cool. It makes me realise how lucky we are, finding our guys.”
“Totally,” Ali laughs. “We musta been ANGELS in a previous life to get those two guys.”
“Oh yeah,” I giggle. “We got a pair of devils,” I add as I see the room handle turn and the two guys in question walk into the room. “Feelin’ better?” I ask cheekily and they blush.
“You got Twinkies,” Nick accuses from the doorway.
“Nick!” Ali gasps. “As if we would.”
“Oh you would,” Brian says. “I bet you had McDonalds too.”
“And frosties from Wendy’s,” adds Nick.
“Wendy’s?!” Brian groans loudly. “God, I miss their cheese…”
“Work through it bro,” Nick pats him on the back. “Deep breaths.”
“Breathing,” says Brian. I glance at Ali and I can see that she’s struggling not to laugh. My own eyes are watering with the effort. Brian straightens up and looks at us wickedly. “You think they have any left?”
“I think,” Nick says. “But they ain’t goin’ to give it up without a fight.”
“They ain’t seen how WE fight yet though,” Brian advances on me as Nick moves towards Ali’s side of the bed. We back ourselves up against the headboard and giggle. “Last chance to give up the goodies,” Brian tells us.
“What goodies?” I ask innocently.
“We don’t have any,” says Ali seriously before laughing hard.
“Only one thing for it,” says Nick looking at Brian.
“I’m sorry it had to come to this,” Brian tells us.
“TICKLE WAR!” they both yell as they launch themselves onto us, tickling every part of our bodies as we scream with laughter. Brian hits the ticklish spot on my stomach and I try to squirm away from him but he holds me down.
“Stop!” Ali screams as Nick finds her ticklish spot.
“Ok! Ok! My bag!” I yell as Brian leaves me breathless from laughing too much. He jumps off me and runs to my bag as Nick stands back from Ali.
“Oh yes!” Brian exclaims, looking into my bag before throwing it across to Nick. Nick catches it and empties it out on top of us. The two guys dive in on the chocolates.
“Kit Kats!” Nick grabs two.
“Snickers!” Brian grabs one.
“Hey, those are ours!” Ali protests as they unwrap the bars and devour them.
“And you love me so you’d sacrifice your last piece of candy for me,” says Nick with his mouth full.
“As if,” Ali rolls her eyes. “Candy is SACRED.”
“Right,” I nod and Brian holds out his half-eaten Snickers to me. He widens his eyes as much as he can without looking like a lunatic and pouts.
“I love you THIS much.”
“Ok honey, you can keep the candy,” I laugh. He grins and carries on eating. “Y’know… When chocolate gets eaten it kinda looks…not nice.”
Ali laughs. “I know. Kinda like sh-”
Her words are cut off by Nick’s hand over her mouth. “Don’t even,” he warns her. “We worked for this.”
Ali laughs as he removes his hand and mimes pulling a zipper across her mouth. There’s a knock on the door. “Come in!” Ali yells and the door opens. It’s Kevin. He looks like a guy ready to do some serious ass-kissing. That turns into ass-whupping as he spots the chocolate all over the bed.
“Uh ho,” mutters Brian, finishing off the Snickers bar.
Kevin marches into the room, closing the door behind him. He walks over to the four of us on the bed and stares at the chocolate. “You got chocolate?!”
“Yeah, ok we completely fucked up Fatima’s diet but…” Nick starts off.
“It’s CHOCOLATE!” says Brian.
“Man,” Kevin shakes his head before grabbing a Mars bar and unwrapping it quickly, stuffing it into his mouth. As he starts chewing, he moans slightly and closes his eyes. “Oh I’ve missed you Mars…” He opens his eyes. “And you Kit Kat… And Snickers…” he whimpers.
“Take a seat on the candy bed,” offers Ali and Kevin sits down happily.
“Snickers?” I offer and he takes it with a big grin.
“Thanks Jady…” He starts eating it. “I actually came to apologise to you guys.”
“Apologise?” Ali says.
“Yeah. I’ve been pretty yucky with you lately. Especially you, Ali. I’m just really missing Kristen and I feel out of the loop here. I mean…you guys got each other, and AJ and Howie are best buds.” He looks at Nick, “And I was jealous. I want Kris to be on the tour too but her job means she can’t. I mean I know she was with us in New York but…. I miss her,” he sighs. “But I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. I was wrong.”
“Whoa…” Nick’s eyes widen and he looks at Brian. “ I thought Kevin just said he was wrong?”
“That’s what I thought he said too,” Brian replies.
“Kev, I love ya,” Nick smiles goofily and gives the older man a big hug.
“I love ya too Nicky,” Kevin grins back. “But you tell anyone else ‘bout the me bein’ wrong thing and I’ll say it was the chocolate talking.”
“Ok,” Nick laughs.
“Aww,” Ali looks at me and clutches her heart. “Ain’t it just SO sweet?”
“I’m almost crying,” I reply with a giggle. “And talkin’ about crying, I WILL be soon if I don’t get some sleep.”
“Ditto,” Ali yawns. “Seein’ as SOMEBODY woke me up before 8am…” She looks at Nick pointedly who catches her yawn himself.
“It was worth it though,” he says to her quietly.
“Never said it wasn’t,” she replies kissing him.
“That’s our cue to leave,” Kevin stands up with me and Brian. “Thanks for the chocolate girls.”
He heads out of the room and we follow him, saying our goodnights to Ali and Nick. We walk towards our rooms which are next-door to each other.
“G’night Kev,” Brian says handing the room pass to me.
“See you guys tomorrow mornin’,” Kevin waves and heads into his room.
“Man, I’m whacked,” I mutter as I open the room door and step inside.
I swear my jaw almost hit the floor when I saw what had happened to the room. There are dozens of white candles around the room, giving off a soft warm glow. The bed is covered with red rose petals and there’s a champagne bucket nearby. The table is covered with vases of roses and there’s a big box of luxury chocolates. I stare at the room and then at Brian. He’s standing by the door looking very pleased with himself. I giggle and beckon him over to me. He obliges and I wrap my arms around him for a long kiss.
“When I said that stuff about romance… I didn’t expect you to take it so literally.”
“I just wanted to do somethin’ for you… You had a bad day.”
“So did you,” I remind him.
“Yeah, well I’m kinda hopin’ this’ll turn into my treat too.”
“Yeah?” I giggle and let go of him. I walk towards the bed and sit down. “Rose petals? Cute touch.”
“Thanks,” he grins. He walks over to me and gently pushes me down onto the bed. “I hope you’re not TOO tired…”
“I’ve got this sudden rush of energy,” I tell him as I unbutton his shirt.

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