CHAPTER 43

You don't care that AJ told me, do you?"

Connie really didn't mind. Kevin had introduced them after Leighanne had blown out of the room and one of the first questions out of Amanda's mouth had been, 'Soooo? You're deaf as a post, huh?' Connie had found her bluntness refreshing - Kevin had been less enthusiastic.

"Amanda's the diplomatic one..." Kevin had rolled his eyes and made a face. "She has a real flair for delicacy..."

Even Hannah had laughed. Obviously, Amanda wasn't one to tip-toe around the issues and that produced a kind of instantaneous respect, as far as Hannah was concerned. She was pretty good at sizing up people and she decided early on that she liked Amanda. She looked a little cheap but in an honest sort of way. She liked big hair, lots of make-up and long red fingernails. Her clothes were mostly synthetic and stretchy. Accessories were shiny, sparkly and meant to be noticed. She wasn't making the slightest attempt to be 'natural'. Leighanne, on the other hand, took great pains trying to achieve a 'girl next door' look. She was successful. She did look like the girl next door - the call girl next door. The difference between the two women was like the difference between those two types of girls everyone knew in high school. The ones who were screwing the hell out of half the football team and playing the innocent virgin versus the ones who were screwing the hell out of the other half of the team, enjoying the shit out it and didn't care who knew. You kind of had to respect their veracity.

Actually, Amanda was happy to have found two worthy allies. She wasn't at all put off by Hannah's masculinity. She had crossed the fence a few times herself and generally liked lesbians, finding that most of them who were open enough to be honest about their sexuality were also open and honest as friends. If pushed, Amanda would describe herself as '25% bisexual' or 'quarter-bi'. The description usually drew puzzled stares but she felt that was a fair assessment of her preferences. She was quite happy with her and AJ's relationship but if the timing was right, the scene and circumstances were right and the woman was right... well...sometimes soft was better than hard. She didn't 'go after' women. It had just 'happened' a few times, that's all, and she refused to deny the fact that her experiences had been pleasant. AJ hadn't seemed to mind. In fact, he often found the imagery a little too interesting.

AJ loved to gossip. He had been telling Amanda about the adventures of 'Connie and Kevin' since the day Connie had wounded Kevin's truck. Amanda's immediate reaction had been 'What about Brandi?' and AJ's equally immediate response had been 'Who gives a shit?'. Now, judging from Leighanne's obvious animosity towards Connie, she wondered if that score had been settled. She had seen the glances that passed between Kevin and Leigh when Leigh had purposely made a point about 'old friends' and hadn't failed to notice Hannah's interest in those glances, as well. Connie hadn't picked up on that quick flash of warning. These factors made Amanda think that the subject of Brandi hadn't come up yet. She would have to ask Kevin about that - or Leigh.

By the time Kevin left to take Connie to the airport Sunday night, she had pretty much figured out what was going on. She almost wished that she didn't know. The groundwork and general background had come from AJ.

"Goddamn, Panda, it was almost funny! Almost? Hell... it WAS funny! Connie bugged the living shit out of him. She dented up his new truck, cut open his arm and dumped beer all over him within hours of her and Hannah even getting here. He thought she was ignoring him 'cause Connie wouldn't tell anybody she couldn't hear. Something about being judged and all... She stood up to the asshole, though. She didn't know Backstreet from shit and couldn't have cared less. She was on assignment - plain and simple. Nothin' more. She didn't even want to be here, according to Hannah... I swear, baby - we all say it all the time - You know, that crap about wantin' to be liked for 'us' and not because we're famous. That's true and all, I guess, but we all got ego, man! It'd been a loooong fuckin' time since Kevin Richardson - or any of us - was treated like nobody special for real. She didn't want nothin' from him and sure didn't expect nothin' from him! I think that caught him off guard. It's been quite a while since Kevin met a woman who didn't want nothin' from him. I think he was... facsinated or somethin....

Nick was Amanda's next victim. He loved to talk, too, but he was pretty cautious when it came to discussing Kevin's private life. She would have to catch him off guard - wait until he was preoccupied. Amanda got her chance late in the afternoon when Nick was in the middle of a video game battle. She had already determined that Kevin was crazy about this redhead. She wanted to know how Brandi fit into the picture or if she was in the picture at all.

"Naw, I haven't seen her and haven't heard Kevin say anything. I guess they busted up but I don't know when that happened. You know Kevin. He's not exactly blabby when it comes to his personal life but I'm glad Brandi's outta here. Kevin's nicer around Connie. I think he kinda feels protective or somethin'. Not 'cause she's deaf but 'cause she's... I dunno...nice, maybe. And honest."

Amanda didn't try to pull anything out of Hannah. Hannah was sharp and Amanda didn't want to raise her suspicions or cast doubt unnecessarily. What she didn't realize was that Hannah wanted info, too, and Amanda unexpectedly found herself in the hot seat.

"I'm very fond of Connie. Known her a long time. She's a strong woman but she has weaknesses and fears like we all do. I like Kevin, too. I just hope he's being completely honest with her. I know he's no innocent. He says he loves Connie and I think he probably does. I just hope he loves her enough. I see the 'looks' that fly between him and Leighanne. I don't know what that's all about but I hope that it has nothing to do with Connie. Leigh doesn't like Connie - treats her like she doesn't belong here - like she has no right to be with him. I don't know what her game is or what it has to do with Kevin, or more importantly, with Connie but I don't like it. It's like she knows shit that would upset the apple cart if she said anything. I hope I'm wrong. I heard her call him a player once. He'd better not be playing Connie..."

Hannah's final remark was leveled at Amanda with a look that had the potential to cause bodily harm. It seemed that Leighanne might be the one who was holding the edge pieces to this jigsaw but Amanda was going to have to 'play the game' with her in order to frame this puzzle in. She and Leigh had always gotten along okay but they weren't exactly best friends. Although Kevin was considered controlling, he had nothing over Leighanne. Leighanne had already planned her immediate future and that future was wrapped up in Brian - personally and professionally. She guarded Brian's 'Backstreet moments' as if they were rare jewels, going so far as to actually clock the amount of solo or front time he had on any given CD - and he'd better have as much, if not more, than Nick or AJ.

She approached Leighanne carefully and played dumb. Playing dumber than Leighanne took some doing. Leighanne was shrewd but she wasn't bright.

"So..." Amanda squatted down beside Leighanne who sat beside the pool painting her toenails. "Connie seems nice..."

Leigh frowned and continued painting with no comment.

"Kevin seems to be quite taken." Amanda continued. "Nice to see him so happy for a change."

Leighanne rolled her eyes and groaned but still offered nothing. Her agitation, however, was growing. Amanda kept pushing.

"I can't believe AJ didn't tell me that he and Brandi broke it off. When the hell did that happen?" Amanda took a drag from her cigarette before throwing the final spear that she hoped would be the key to the floodgates. "AJ thinks this might be 'it' for Kev. AJ says Kevin is really in love - this time..." Amanda laid a lot of emphasis on 'this time'.

That did it. Leighanne twisted the cap back on the nail polish and slammed the small bottle onto the bleached concrete. She was about to let loose.

"Let me tell you something, Amanda. Connie isn't 'it'. Kevin's just gone to long without a piece of pussy, that's all! He hasn't busted up with Brandi and he won't. They suit each other too well. Brandi's on location! That's why she's not here. Shit - Connie doesn't even know anything about her and Kevin doesn't want her to 'cause this is just a temporary thing - a fling - and that's all. Kevin likes sex and I don't think Hannah is his type! Connie is available - plain and simple. She's a piece of ass and that's it! She's on her way back to New York and things will get back to normal."

"I don't know, Leigh..." Amanda went on. "I've been watching Kevin. This doesn't look like it's just sex to me..."

"Shit! That's all it is! Kevin's been playing the 'knight in shining armour' to Connie's 'damsel in distress' routine. She's helpless because she can't hear - blah, blah, blah! It's a game!"

Amanda had to chuckle. "She doesn't seem all that helpless to me..." she replied, recalling Connie's comment about Joe Pesci.

Leighanne jumped up to her feet and shook her left foot in an attempt to dry the red polish.

"Well, it doesn't matter now, does it? She's leaving - finally. Things can get back to normal. Kevin needs somebody who knows how things work - somebody who knows the business and can handle it. The only reason he seems happier right now is because she's spreading her legs for him!"

"If that's all it is, Leigh, then why does it all bother you so much?" Amanda mused out loud.

"It doesn't bother me!" Leighanne was practically shouting. "I just want Kev to be happy! 'Long term' happy! He'll get that from Brandi and he knows it!"

"Hmmm?" Amanda sighed before she delivered a final blow. "That's funny... AJ said that Connie was only supposed to be in New York for a few days and then she was supposed to come back here. He said that Kevin wants her to move in with him when he goes back to Orlando... "