Chapter 19
At the airport, there were a few fans gathered to see the guys and Tyler said to them, "Why don't you go sign some autographs?"
"We need to pick up the tickets," said Howie.
"We'll take care of that," said Sonja.
Kevin took the business credit card from his wallet and handed it to Tyler. "Here. Use this to pay for them with."
"Where is the company's jet anyway?" asked Tyler.
"Having some work done on it. It will be ready for us to fly home next week for your appointment."
The guys went over to where the fans were standing to sign some autographs while Tyler and the girls went to get the tickets. They had to wait for them but it didn't take long.
When they got on the plane, Tyler took a seat while Kevin was putting her stuff in the overhead compartment. Before he had a chance to sit down, AJ and Nick plopped down on either side of Tyler.
Kevin looked at them. "What are you two doing?"
"Sitting with Ty," said Nick smugly.
"Well, get up!"
"Nope! We're her bodyguards and we're not going anywhere. We're sworn to protect her."
"Who's going to protect you when I kick your butt, junior?" asked Kevin as he grabbed Nick's jacket. "Go sit with your own girlfriend."
AJ and Nick moved to join Fiona and Lex who seemed to be annoyed by AJ and Nick's antics. Kevin sat down with Tyler and gave her a kiss as he handed her a rose.
"Where'd this come from?"
"A fan gave it to me and asked me to give it to you. They all asked if you were okay."
"Really?"
"Baby, I told you they love you."
"I know. I just can't get over how they have accepted you and me being together so easily."
"They're the best fans around."
Tyler yawned and put her head on Kevin's shoulder. Kevin kissed her on top of the head as he took her hand in his. Tyler said, "They definitely have good taste in guys."
Kevin looked down at her. "Are you tired, baby?"
"Sort of. I just feel drained. All this with Joey and Lou has really taken it out of me."
"You need to rest. Maybe you should fly home tonight with the others."
"No! I'm staying with you at least until next week," said Tyler. "I'll fly back with you for my doctor's appointment."
"I don't want you to wear yourself out."
"I won't. I can sleep on the bus while you're doing the shows or sound checks."
"Promise you'll tell me when you're tired?"
"Yes! Stop worrying about me, 'Boo'. AJ, Brian, Nick, and Howie will be looking out for me along with Kryss, Fiona, Lex, and Sonja. Then there's Linda, Fatima, 'Bull', Carlos, Tommy..."
Kevin laughed, "Okay! I get the point. You can stay with me for a week."
When the plane was in the air and everyone could move around, the guys and Sonja gathered around Tyler and Kevin. They talked and laughed about what had been happening over the last week. They all noticed that Tyler was much more relaxed and they were glad.
As they were talking, the stewardess came around with drinks. She asked, "Y'all are the Backstreet Boys, aren't you?"
Nick gave her his sweet, little boy grin and said, "We sure are."
"Could I ask you a really huge favor?"
"Name it," said Kevin.
"Would you please sing for us?"
"I think we could do that," smiled Kevin.
"What do you want to hear?" asked Brian.
Tyler suggested, "Why don't you do one of your new ones?"
The guys looked at each other and Nick started with 'Shape of My Heart'. When they were done, the entire plane applauded. Then the guys moved through the plane signing autographs.
Sonja sat beside Tyler and Tyler said, "Brian's been unusually quiet. What's up?"
"I don't know. He's been like this ever since last night."
"Are you two having problems?"
"No! He was very attentive and god, he was so sweet this morning."
Tyler said, "Maybe he's getting ready to ask you the big question."
"I'd love to think that but I don't want to get my hopes up."
Tyler looked around at Kryss, Fiona, and Lex. They were all sitting together several rows back and talking amongst themselves. Tyler thought it was kind of strange and she said, "What's going on with the other three?"
"I don't know. They've been acting funny too! So when do you think Kevin will actually propose?"
Tyler giggled as she thought about last night. She said, "Soon! Last night, he picked up his jeans and the ring fell out of his pocket! I picked it up but Kevin snatched it away from me and told me to be patient."
"I bet he's going to propose to you onstage tonight," said Sonja. "Wouldn't that be so sweet?"
"Kevin is so shy! I doubt that he'd do something like that in front of a whole crowd of people."
Meanwhile, Brian and Kevin were at the back of the plane when Brian said, "Can I talk to you...before we rejoin the girls?"
"Sure, what's up?"
Brian and Kevin sat down in two empty seats and Brian said, "I really envy what you have with Tyler and I think Sonja and I have a pretty good relationship."
"So what's the problem?"
"I want to ask Sonja to marry me."
"Go for it, Bri. Sonja's a really sweet girl."
"I don't want to upstage you and Ty though. Tyler's been through so much and she deserves to be happy."
"I don't think Tyler would mind. She and Sonja are best friends and I think it would only add to her happiness."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive! Have you bought a ring yet?"
"Not yet. I thought I'd let Sonja pick it out."
"What are you waiting on then? When we land in Vancouver, take her to a jewelry store and buy a ring."
Tyler came down the aisle and saw Kevin and Brian talking. "What's going on you two?"
Kevin took Tyler's hand in his and said, "We were just talking. Brian wants to ask Sonja to marry him."
"That's wonderful, Bri! When are you going to ask?"
"I guess later today."
Kevin grinned, "Did you miss me, baby?"
"As a matter of fact, yes!"
Brian said, "We're coming now, Ty."
Kevin and Brian followed Tyler back to their seats. Each couple was involved in their own conversations for the rest of the flight.
Getting off the plane, Tyler noticed that Howie seemed somewhat upset so she grabbed his hand and pulled him to her. "What's wrong, Howie?" asked Tyler softly.
Howie looked at his cousin and she saw the tears in his eyes. He said, "I'll talk to you later."
On the ride to the arena, Tyler noticed that the AJ and Nick were also extremely quiet and the girls were in a separate limo from them. When they reached the arena, the guys went to their respective buses.
As Tyler and Kevin were getting on his, Tyler looked over at Howie and then said to Kevin, "Baby, I'm going to talk to Howie. He was extremely upset when we got off the plane and Kryss went somewhere other than here."
"Okay. We're going to do sound checks and a run through in a couple hours."
"I'll be back in time and then take a nap after the sound check. I love you, 'Boo'!"
"I love you too, 'Tadpole'," said Kevin with a kiss. He watched her board Howie's bus and then he got on his bus.
On Howie's bus, Tyler found him sitting on the couch crying. She went to him and sat down putting her arm around him. Howie leaned against his cousin as she held him.
Softly, Tyler asked, "What's wrong, 'D'?"
"Kryss and I broke up. She said she's tired of the constant touring, the fans, and all the special..." Howie stopped suddenly.
Tyler asked, "All the special what?"
"Nothing. Just forget that."
Tyler felt like she'd been hit in the stomach with this news. "When did she break up?"
"After we signed autographs. Lex and Fiona broke up with AJ and Nick too."
Tyler was really shocked because none of them had given any indication that they were going to do this. She asked, "Is that why they didn't come here?"
"Yeah. They went to a hotel and will be at the show tonight. Then they are flying home."
"Howie, I'm so sorry! If I'd known, I'd have said something."
"How could you have stopped it, Ty? She said she still loved me but that she just couldn't handle it any more."
"But that's who you are and she knew going into the relationship what it was going to be like. I warned them ALL about it."
"Not everyone can stand up to it like you, Ty. Kristen and Amanda left because of it. So did Leigh Anne. That's partially why I was so hesitant to even get involved in the first place. When I thanked you last night, I thought Kryss was like you. God! I was so WRONG!"
"I can talk to her."
"No, let it go. If we're meant to be together, then things will work out."
"Are AJ and Nick okay?"
"AJ is indifferent to the whole thing, especially since this is a repeat of what Amanda did to him. As for Nick, he's angry because of the reason Fiona gave him."
"Are you okay?"
"I will be. Tyler, you've been through so much. Stop worrying about me."
"Somebody has to! Besides, you were there for me," said Tyler as she hugged her cousin. "I have a favor to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Would you be my baby's godfather? Look out for him or her like Mami and Pops did for me?"
"I'd be honored," said Howie with a hug.
Howie and Tyler sat and talked for the next hour while they ate the lunch that Linda had brought them. Tyler told him all about the plans for the wedding and she asked him about singing for her. They also talked about songs that Tyler wanted to do for Kevin.
When Tyler went back to Kevin's bus, she found Sonja and Brian talking to Kevin. She sat down with Kevin and he put his arm around her. "Fatima needs to talk to you before the sound check, baby," said Kevin.
"What does she want?"
"I don't know."
Sonja said, "What's up with Kryss and Howie?"
Tyler shook her head, "All three of them broke up with the guys."
"You're kidding," said Brian shocked.
"I wish I was. Howie said that AJ and Nick are okay, mad but okay. Howie is taking it pretty hard. He was holding back something, the real reason they broke up but I don't know what it is."
"This came out of the blue," said Kevin.
Sonja said, "Not really. Fiona and Lex have been talking a lot lately and not telling me what they are talking about."
"Then why did they come to the Grammies and the show?" asked Tyler.
"I’m not sure. I guess because they were worried about you."
Kevin looked at Tyler as she played with his ring on her necklace. "Are you okay?"
Looking up at Kevin, she said, "I was just thinking about Howie."
"Let's get your mind off it and go see what Fatima wants. Have you had any lunch?" asked Kevin.
"Yeah. I ate on Howie's bus. Sonja, are you two coming with us?"
"Yeah," chorused Brian and Sonja. The two couples headed in to where the dancers were waiting and when Fatima saw Tyler, she ran to her to hug her.
"I am SO glad to see you! Linda told me some of what happened. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine now. Kevin said you wanted to talk to me."
"I need a HUGE favor. Connie has the flu and can't go on tonight. She's really key to all this. She's the one who dances with Kevin and I thought since you two were together, you would want to do it."
"I don't know the steps to the new stuff."
"I can teach them to you. You're a quick learner and Kevin can get you through part of it, the slow stuff."
Tyler looked up at Kevin and he said, "Are you up for it, baby?"
"I guess so."
Fatima took that as a 'yes' and grabbed Tyler's hand pulling her to the stage to start practicing.
Brian asked Kevin, "Is this your doings?"
"No, but it certainly helps to get Tyler on stage."
Sonja said, "She is DEFINITELY not expecting it. She said you were way too shy to propose in front of a crowd like this."
Kevin laughed, "She's right but Tyler brings out something in me that makes me want to shout it to the world that I love her."
"I know the feeling," said Brian as he hugged Sonja
