“So, How was your day?” Nicole asked Devon. They stood outside of his day care in L.A.
“My day was good Mommy-I played Horses and then I took a nap that lasted this many!” Devon replied, holding up 3 fingers.
“That Many?” Nicole asked, sounding enthusiastic about the 3 hours he had slept.
“Yep” Devon replied, proud of himself. Nicole picked him up and kissed him. Devon pushed away.
“Mommy-That’s yucky” Devon exclaimed.
“Oh-I get it, you’re too old to kiss your mom” Nicole joked. Devon nodded. She put him on the ground as they started to walk towards their apartment. She looked around cautiously-She had lived in LA for almost 5 years and was still afraid to walk the streets.
“What are we having for dinner?” Devon asked.
“I don’t know Baby-Ricky’s cooking tonight” Nicole replied.
“Good, Ricky can cook better than you” Devon responded.
“Oh Thanks” Nicole laughed. For a 4-year-old, Devon was a smart kid. He knew how to count, spell his name, say the ABC’s and you could actually make interesting conversations with him. Most kids, at the day care he went to, would talk about things that didn’t interest Devon, which was the bad side of him being so smart at his age.
“Mommy-Can I ask you something?” Devon questioned.
“What baby?” Nicole asked, only a block away from their apartment.
“Where is my daddy? We have daddy’s day in day care soon and I was wondering who my daddy was” Devon explained.
“Well-Ricky can go with you” Nicole replied quickly.
“But Ricky isn’t my daddy” Devon replied. Nicole was about to reply when a hand went around her waist.
“Don’t move” A raspy male voice demanded. When the man had grabbed Nicole, Devon had been pushed in to wall and was laying still.
“Please don’t hurt me” Nicole cried. The man dropped his hands from her waist. She didn’t think telling him not to would stop him, but she was happy he had let go.
“Nicole?” The man asked. Nicole turned around. It was dark, but she knew who it was.
“AJ? What the hell are you doing in here? You scared the shit out of me” Nicole screamed.
“Sorry, I’m broke, why am I here? Well let’s say I’ve had mix between bad luck and 2 wives” AJ muttered.
“Well, shit, AJ-You scared me” Nicole yelled. She was still shaking from when he had grabbed her. He nodded and started to walk away.
“I know-OK, Do you have a place around here? We could go talk or something” AJ explained. She didn’t know if she wanted someone who had just held a knife to her to come over, but she decided he was harmless.
“Mommy?” Devon asked. Nicole whipped around and grabbed him.
“Baby, mommy forgot you were there!” Nicole exclaimed. AJ walked towards them.
“Whose this?” AJ asked.
“This is my son, Devon” Nicole replied. She expected AJ to make some comments, but instead he bent down and smiled at Devon.
“Hey there little man, I’m AJ” AJ exclaimed.
“I’m Devon” Devon replied. He put his hand to his leg.
“Well-We gonna go to your place or not?” AJ questioned. Devon’s leg was scratched a bit, so Nicole picked him up.
“Yeah” Nicole replied.
“Nice place” AJ exclaimed as she opened the door.
“Don’t steal anything” Nicole muttered. AJ smirked. Ricky, Nicole’s roommate, came out of the kitchen in an apron.
“Well Hello” Ricky exclaimed.
“Hey man” AJ replied. Nicole smiled. Devon ran towards Ricky.
“My leg” Devon exclaimed. Ricky scooped him up and got Devon a Band-Aid.
“So-Are you and Ricky married?” AJ asked. Nicole almost choked.
“AJ-Ricky’s gay” Nicole laughed. AJ smirked.
“I knew that” AJ replied. Devon ran back towards them.
“Want to see my Pokemon stuff?” Devon asked.
“Maybe later-I’m going to talk with your mom” AJ exclaimed. Nicole walked into the kitchen to get some Coffee’s.
“So-How do you know Nicole?” Ricky asked.
“Old Friends” AJ lied. Nicole and AJ had only met once before in Vegas.
“Really? Are you staying the night?” Ricky asked.
“Not in your bed” AJ muttered. Ricky smiled.
“You should let your feeling come out, you seem like you bottle all them up inside” Ricky replied.
“Whatever dude” AJ replied. Nicole gave AJ a cup of Coffee while Devon help make dinner with Ricky.
“So-Tell me about your life” Nicole exclaimed.
“Not much to say” AJ replied, taking a drink of coffee.
“Enlighten Me” Nicole replied. AJ set his cup down and leaned back.
“Well, In October 2000, We had our last CD come out, It didn’t beat the record that time, in fact, it didn’t even come close. So, since Brian and Kevin were married, we decided to lay off for awhile. Nick made a solo CD and made lots of money-so he left the BSB. Then, one after one, we left until BSB was nothing but a name.” AJ explained.
“Yeah…” Nicole replied.
“So-Kevin and his Fiancee Kristin did the whole modeling thing, ya know, they moved to Europe, we don’t see much of him around. Howie isn’t married yet-He owns Condo’s down in Florida, but he does date around. Brian and his wife Leighanne divorced. I think it’s because of their difference in age-but I don’t really know. Brian writes music for his Brother, who’s a country singer and other groups. Nick is still single; he’s making money doing a solo gig. Me and him don’t talk much though, I let him use some of the songs I wrote and he never gave me shit” AJ explained.
“And you? Why is your life so bad your in alley stealing money?” Nicole questioned.
“Yeah, where do I start? Well, I left the group, My first wife, Amanda divorced me and got half of my money, then my second wife Andrea did the same to me, so I had a lil’ bit of money left-I had 5 houses so the money was gone quick. Brian and Howie paid off my debt-but now I’m broke. I saw you walking and thought-I could always steal money for food, ya know, but of course, that didn’t work” AJ explained.
“Ever think of making more songs and selling them to Nick” Nicole suggested.
“No” AJ replied.
“You can sleep here tonight if you need to; Or would you rather sleep in a cardboard box on the street” Nicole joked. AJ smiled. “Yeah That would be cool, I think I’ll stary here” AJ replied.
Nicole set her plate in the sink and slowly walked back to the table.
“That was a great dinner Ricky” Nicole exclaimed. Ricky smiled and kissed her cheek.
“Great-Listen, I would hate to leave, but I promised I’d meet my man at 6” Ricky replied. AJ coughed on the bread he was eating.
“What?” Ricky questioned.
“I never thought I’d hear a guy say ‘his man’” AJ exclaimed.
“Well, Mr. Sexy, I did, So, I gotta run-ta ta” Ricky exclaimed. He went towards the door and left.
“I can make the couch up for you” Nicole suggested.
“What if in the middle of the night, that Ricky dude comes out” AJ joked. Nicole rolled her eyes.
“I guess you could sleep in my bed-It’s a king” Nicole replied. AJ smiled sweetly.
“I’d like that a lot” AJ replied.
“So-Devon, What you looking at?” AJ questioned. Nicole was taking a shower while AJ was trying to tuck Devon in for the night.
“It’s a picture Mommy keeps on her dresser-I t’ink it’s my daddy” Devon exclaimed. AJ took the picture from Devon and smiled, he wasn’t surprised when he saw Brian’s face smiling at him. AJ had tried to forget that he was sleeping in the same bed as Brian’s EX, but he couldn’t. AJ gave the picture back to Devon.
“Do you know if that’s my daddy?” Devon asked.
“Hey lil’ man, I don’t know” AJ replied. “Is he your friend?” Devon asked. AJ smiled. “Yeah-He’s an old friend of mine” AJ replied. He picked Devon up and put him in his bed.
“Nighty-Night” AJ exclaimed as he shut the lights off.
AJ closed his eyes and tried to sleep. He kept having a little voice in his head tell him to sleep on the couch-Though he had managed to shut it up. He heard the shower go off and Nicole’s bedroom door open. Even with the lights off, AJ could make out her silhouette from the light shining in from the window. He stared at her until she reached her dresser. She turned and looked at him, making sure he asleep. AJ shut his eyes tight. He heard her open her dresser, then heard a towel drop. AJ opened one eye and saw her bending down, pulling on a big shirt. The voice in AJ’s mind told him to turn away-but he kept his eyes on her. She lifted the covers and crawled in.
“Night AJ” Nicole whispered. AJ didn’t reply.
“Bye AJ” Nicole exclaimed. “Listen, you didn’t have to buy me a ticket for the plane” AJ commented. “When you sell some songs you can pay me back” Nicole joked. AJ hugged her quickly then ran towards his plane. Devon was waving good-bye even after AJ was gone.
“Devon honey-AJ’s gone” Nicole replied. Devon shook his head.
“I know mommy,” Devon replied, putting his hand down. When they got back to the car-Devon pulled out something from the crack in the car seat.
“Mommy-AJ forgot his wallet!” Devon exclaimed. Nicole looked down and took it. She opened it up and saw the numerous credit cards he had.
“Well baby-We’re going to Florida next week for mommy’s vacation, we can give it back to him” Nicole replied. Devon smiled.
“I liked AJ mommy-He was nice” Devon replied.
“Yeah, he was nice” Nicole replied.