Chapter 3
Tyler didn't return home until the next morning. Howie and Kryss were there along with the other three couples but Kevin was visibly missing.
Howie went to meet Tyler half way across the room. "Where the hell have you been?"
"Good morning to you too, Howie, and I had a great time. Thanks for asking."
"Stop being such a smartass!"
"Stop trying to be my father."
"Tyler, I don't like you dating Joey Fatone. He's a jerk and the last time you two dated, he treated you like crap. He's not getting off to a good start this time either."
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"Let's start with the other night at Tabu! While you were up on the dance floor with us, he was hitting on Kryss and Fiona." Tyler looked at her friends who nodded their head to confirm what Howie had said. Howie went on. "Then, every time Kevin tried to talk to you or ask you to dance, Joey cut him off."
"I talked to Kevin that night."
"With Joey around? NO! Then the next morning, he took credit for those roses and he DID NOT send them."
"Why would Joey lie about it?"
"Well, gee, I don't know!" said Howie sarcastically. "Could it be because you were so happy and grateful to him? It was Kevin that sent them."
That floored Tyler. She never imagined that Joey would do something like that.
"Are you sure?" asked Tyler rather quietly.
"Kevin came by that day to see you."
I know. He passed us in the driveway."
Tyler didn't understand what Howie was trying to tell her about Kevin. She just figured that Kevin had sent the flowers because they were friends. They had always been friends since the day Howie had introduced them. "Howie, look, there's nothing between Kevin and me except a friendship. He's never asked me out and he never will. Please, I'm happy with Joey for now and I promise, if he starts treating me bad, I'll leave him."
Howie shook his head and Kryss said, "Let it go, baby."
Brian asked, "So, when are you going to see Joey again?"
"They have a couple more shows to do and then he's coming here. Guys, I'm going to get a shower. I'll see you in a little while."
They watched Tyler go upstairs and Howie turned to the rest of the gang. "We've got what, two weeks, to sink Joey Fatone."
Kryss said, "What do you have in mind?"
AJ said, "We need to make sure that Kevin and Tyler are together as much as possible in the next few days."
Lex added, "Alone would be better."
Brian said, "Guys, we can do all that but if Tyler is interested in Joey, Kevin's not going to force himself into her life."
"True, but if they're alone enough, maybe they'll both realize how they feel about each other," said Howie. "I can't believe Ty is being so blind to all this."
The whole gang sat together trying to plan how they were going to get Kevin and Tyler together. They all could tell how they felt about each other and knew they would be too stubborn to break their 'code of friendship' that they had.
That afternoon, things happened by chance that Kevin and Tyler were alone. Kevin had come over after lunch to hang out with the gang but each couple had left for one reason or another. Kevin and Tyler were left alone watching television.
"Kevin, did you send the roses?"
"Yeah, I did."
"Thanks! They're really beautiful."
To himself, Kevin thought, "They don't compare in beauty to you." But to Tyler he said, "I'm glad you liked them. How was the show last night?"
"Really good! Lou was there and he wouldn't even speak to me."
Kevin laughed, "That doesn't surprise me."
The two went back to watching television and were wrapped up in their own thoughts. Tyler wanted to tell Kevin exactly how she felt but she was afraid that she would scare him off. She knew that he'd been really hurt by Kristen several years ago and had been very reluctant to date since then.
Kevin watched Tyler as he fought with himself not to take her in his arms and tell her everything he'd planned to say. The entire time they were on tour, Kevin had imagined what he would say to Tyler to confess his true feelings for her. He had also imagined holding her close and feeling her body next to his.
Kevin became aware of Tyler's voice as she said, "Kevin! Hey! Where were you?"
Snapping back to the present, Kevin looked at Tyler and said, "I was just thinking."
"I need to ask you something."
"What's up?"
"We're just friends, right?"
"Of course we're friends. Why?"
"I was just a little concerned because I'm dating Joey. I know there's a lot of tension between the two groups and Howie has been really crazy since Joey asked me out."
Inside, Kevin was screaming, 'Dump the fool! I love you!' but he said to Tyler, "Don't worry about what goes down between the two groups, Ty. That's more because of Lou and what he did to us and it doesn't involve you. As for Howie, he's just worried about you. If you're happy, baby, then that's all that matters."
Tyler didn't let Kevin see it but she was disappointed. She had hoped that Kevin would say he loved her and she'd be able to tell him everything.
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The next time Tyler was alone with Kevin was a week later and that had to be engineered by Howie and AJ. They had decided to take matters into their own hands because the two weren't progressing the way everyone else had hoped they would. While Tyler was at work, Howie and AJ drove over to Disneyworld and found Tyler's car. Howie had the spare keys so he unlocked the door to pop the hood. Then AJ disconnected the battery then closed the hood. When they got home, they told everyone except Kevin that they were not to take any calls from Tyler so that Kevin would have to be the one who went to her rescue.
Kryss asked, "What makes you think Tyler will EVEN call one of us for help?"
"She told me this morning that she was going to work late so that she could take several days off. By the time she gets off work, all the shops will be closed and she's not going to spend the extra money to call a tow truck out on an emergency call."
"I hope you're right about this," said Sonja. "I don't like the idea of Ty being stuck at work late at night. Something could happen to her."
"She'll be okay. The parking lot is well lit and there's security," said Howie.
It was almost midnight when Tyler got off work and went to her car. She got in and tried to start it but nothing happened. She tried again but still nothing. She took out her cell phone and tried calling all the guys but not one seemed to be at home. She finally decided to call Kevin and he answered it sleepily.
"Kev, I'm sorry to wake you but my car won't start. Can you come get me?"
"Where are you?"
"At work."
Kevin looked at the clock by his bed and saw how late it was. He said, "Stay in your car with the windows up and the doors locked. I'll be there as quickly as possible."
Kevin got up and dressed quickly. He slipped on his shoes and grabbed his keys and wallet as he headed out the door. On his way, he passed Howie and Brian with Kryss and Sonja.
Howie asked innocently, "Where are you going in such a hurry, Kev?"
"Ty's car won't start so I'm going to get her."
"Cool. Tell her I'm staying with Kryss tonight."
Kevin waved his hand to acknowledge Howie as he got into his truck. The whole way there, Kevin worried about Tyler being alone in the parking lot. It was well-lit and there was security but he still worried.
When he got there, Kevin spotted Tyler's car in the empty lot but Tyler wasn't anywhere to be seen. Kevin called Howie, "'D', what's Tyler's cell number?"
"555-0824. What's up?"
"I told her to stay at the car but she's not there."
"She knew you were coming?"
"Yeah!"
Howie was concerned. It wasn't like Tyler to not listen in a situation like this. He said, "When you find her, let me know."
Kevin hung up and dialed Tyler's number. As he was waiting for her to pick up, he could hear a phone ringing inside her car and he looked in to see her cell phone on the front seat. Looking around the parking lot, Kevin decided to go check Tyler's office. As he was walking in, Kevin noticed a tall man leaving her building but he couldn't tell who it was. Kevin rushed into the building and ran up the stairs to Tyler's office. He spotted her as she was closing her door.
"Tyler! What happened? I thought you were going to wait in the car?" said Kevin.
Kevin startled her and she gave a small scream. "Kevin! God! You scared me!"
Kevin took her in his arms and she welcomed the hug as Kevin said, "I didn't mean to scare you but you weren't at your car and then I saw some strange man coming out of the building. I was worried about you."
"I forgot something so I got security to walk in with me. That was probably the security guard leaving that you saw."
Kevin pulled away. "I'm just glad you're okay."
The two walked out together. As they walked, Kevin had his arm around Tyler's shoulders and she rested her head on his shoulder. It felt so right for both of them and Tyler thought for sure that tonight would be the night she told Kevin how she felt.
At the truck, Kevin asked, "Are you hungry?"
"A little."
"Why don't we grab some breakfast?"
"I should call Howie so he won't worry."
"He's not home. He told me to tell you he's staying with Kryss tonight."
"Let's go then."
Kevin drove them to a Denney's, the only thing open at one in the morning. They spent the next hour laughing, talking, and having fun.
When Kevin took Tyler home, he walked her to the door knowing Howie wasn't there. He wanted to be sure that she got in safely.
At the door, Tyler turned to Kevin and looked up at him, her hands on his sides. "Thanks for coming to my rescue tonight. I had a lot of fun."
"Me too," said Kevin.
He put his hands on the sides of her face, brushing her cheek with his thumb and lifting her chin to look her in the eyes.
Softly, Tyler said, "Kev..."
Kevin whispered, "Shhh.." as he leaned in to kiss Tyler.
Headlights shown on the couple before Kevin could kiss her and a limo pulled into the driveway. It surprised both of them.
Kevin asked, "Who is it?"
"I don't know."
