CHAPTER 93

Why did you grab a plant?” Connie asked as she passed Kevin the boxers and sweats she had bought for him. “That seemed…I dunno…’artistic’?”

Kevin cracked the bathroom door just wide enough for her to see him snarl.

“It was either the plant or a salt shaker!” he answered icily.

His face disappeared as he began to get dressed. Connie glanced over her shoulder towards Nick and Hannah, who were staring, and flashed them a wooden smile.

“You’re not mad, are you Kevin? I mean, I’m sure Nick has seen you naked before and Hannah… Well, you know Hannah doesn’t care.”

Kevin’s face reappeared. “Didn’t you see me standing there?” he snapped.

“Well yeah… sort of. You were standing behind the island. I only saw you from the waist up…” Kevin said nothing as he pulled the sweatshirt over his head. “You are mad at me aren’t you?” Connie pouted.

Kevin’s expression softened. Although Connie looked petulant, she wasn’t going to feel massive guilt over this incident. And she shouldn’t. Besides, Kevin wasn’t really mad – just a little embarrassed. Knowing Nick would use this again and again didn’t help but he guessed the pipsqueak was due a little teasing ammunition.

“No,” he said, unable to suppress a small smile. “I’m not really mad…”

Connie straightened her shoulders, satisfied that she had been vindicated. “Good,” she nodded, turning on her heel. “It’s such a small little thing. You shouldn’t be upset.”

Kevin rolled his eyes heavenward. “Well, thank you dear…” he said sarcastically.

His words went unheard.

*****

There was no more talk of sausages or snake plants as the group sat down to breakfast. The day was already getting away from them. A driver, along with Carlos, would pick up Kevin and Nick and whisk them to a radio interview and then two tapings. Connie had another meeting at Plymouth but that was later and would allow some time for her and Hannah to catch up a little.

Connie and Kevin planned to meet back at the apartment later, share a light supper and go on to the show. Tomorrow would be a ‘free day’ until 7:00 pm, when busses would take them on to Phildelphia and Baltimore. Kevin would continue on tour for another two weeks and Connie would return to Orlando, hoping that there would be no more New York meetings to prevent her from joining Kevin near the end of this relatively brief tour.

After Carlos dropped Kevin’s bags off, and Nick made trip to the bathroom, the three boarded the elevator to begin their day of small talk and PR. Connie went to her desk, opened her briefcase and pulled out her datebook with a sigh.

“Looks like you’ve got two careers going, “ Hannah commented before taking a drag from her Marlboro. “All of this Backstreet shit must keep you pretty busy. Seems to me you were kept busy emough with the editing and book stuff….”

“It’s not too bad,” Connie replied, before glancing at a page in her book. “Thank God for laptops…” She closed the book and returned it to her briefcase before looking back at Hannah. “I’m taking a class, too. That might have been a mistake.”

Hannah leaned forward. “A class? In what?”

Connie twisted her mouth into an embarrassed wince. “Creative writing…” She quickly added an explanation. “I thought it might help me work with my authors better. You know, I could be more understanding and all…”

Hannah shook her head, grinning as she snuffed out her cigarette. “You’re plenty understanding as it is and you work with your authors just fine. They say so and Steven says so.” Raising her eyes to meet Connie’s, she spoke past the practical. “You know Connie, it’s okay for you to do something for yourself once in a while. I know you can write. S’about time you looked into yourself a little. Your life revolved around Trevor, the King of the Assholes. Then work took all of your energy and time. Now it’s work and Kevin and Backstreet.”

“Well, Steven kind of made a face when I mentioned it to him…”

“Shit… That’s because he’s gotten used to having you available all the time. This is one more potential inconvenience for him.” Hannah paused befor she asked the next obvious question. “What about Kevin?”

“He hasn’t said much one way or the other,” Connie shrugged. “I don’t think he really cares. It kinda blew past him, ‘ya know?” She turned to close her brief case. “It’s really not a big deal… I’d better jump in the shower,” she said, changing the subject. Two seconds later, a Bic lighter flew into her back and she spun around “Ouch!”

“Don’t minimize it!” Hannah scolded. “It is a big deal! Now, tell me what you do in this class.” She was pointing to a chair, silently commanding Connie to sit.

Connie groaned and plopped down on a red chair.

“I just started but we’ll have weekly assignments. You know, short pieces. We’re not trying to write novels or anything…”

“Do you have a assignment now?” Hannah lit another cigarette.

“I have to do a biography. Write about the ‘dreams of my youth’…” Connie phrased the description dramatically, waving her arms in the air. “Then we’ll work on other things, like character development, which is supposed to help us when we get to the genres. We’ll have to do a short thriller or mystery, a histoical piece – so we can work on research, a futuristic piece, erotica, a comedic piece, slice of life…and so on. The class is only twelve weeks.”

“Then you’ll write your novel…” Hannah laughed.

Connie threw a pillow at her. “Sure. I’ll be the new Margaret Atwood…”

Hannah tossed the pillow back. “Or the new Jackie Collins…”

*****

When the elevator doors opened onto Connie’s flat, Kevin stepped inside to find Connie busy at her desk, mumbling and cursing under her breath. She was pounding at the keyboard, typing a little, then backspacing, then typing again. Kevin flicked a nearby lightswitch, announcing his presence. Connie jumped and then looked at him with a dumbfounded expression before checking her watch.

“Damn! I didn’t know it was so late! Time got away from me.”

“What are you doing?” Kevin asked, dropping his coat. “You seemed pretty intense.”

She had not changed her clothes from her earlier meeting and she looked so…..different. So…..professional. Connie had manipulated her thick curls into a French twist that was anchoed into place by a back comb. Single black pearls adorned her ears. Her wool suit was a gun metal color, the skirt slit up one side. A long, fitted jacket, very tailored except for the scalloped lapels, covered a teal silk blose. The first buttons were undone, showing the barest hint of cleavage. French cuffs were held together with black pearl cufflinks. The heels on her patent shoes were very high and struck Kevin as very impractical – and very sexy. He began to have a vision of doing her on a desk or conference table…..

“KEVIN!”

“Huh? What?”

“What’s the matter with you? Didn’t you hear me?” Connie stood and walked over to him, placing her hand on his forehead. Kevin noticed that she was significantly taller. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Yeah. Fine,” he coughed. “Sorry. What did you say?”

“ I said that I was doing homework and that dinner was all ready.”

“Homework?”

“I told you I was taking a class,” Connie frowned. “I have homework…”

“Oh. Yeah… I forgot.” Kevin wasn’t sure what to say but Connie was staring at him as if she expected some sort of comment or confirmation. “Is it hard?” It wasn’t much but seemed to do the trick.

“I kind of like it,” she answered, smiling. “I need a hobby. I think. It’s harder than I thought but I think I could get into it. Besides, It’ll give me something to do when I’m stuck in strange places with you and your’re busy. All I need is a notebook and a pencil.”

“Can I read what you’re doing?”

A look of alarm passed over Connie’s face. “NO! Don’t you dare!” Then, feeling a little foolish at her outburst, she added, “At least not until I’ve done a few things and they’re graded. With any luck, you’ll have forgotten by then and won’t be curious.” Suddenly, she was three inches shorter. She had kicked off her shoes. “Carlos will be here soon. I’ll get supper on the table while you jump in the shower,” she said, padding into the kitchen.

*****

The Boys had gotten excellent reviews thus far. The only slightly negative comment they’d read was in the Time’s review of their first show in New York and that wasn’t about the show itself, but about the fact that “for a short time, the eldest of the quintet, Kevin Richardson, seemed a bit distracted…”. If they only knew….

Tonight’s show had gone off without a hitch and the group was looking forward to a day off. Connie and Kevin spent that day quietly – sleeping late and doing a little afternoon shopping. No one in this eclectic New York neighborhood paid them any mind and Kevin was happy that they weren’t at the Ritz, where throngs of fans kept vigil on every Backstreet coming and going. Kevin felt normal and happy as he and Connie browsed through music shops, book stores, antique stores and a gallery or two. He savored the anonymity that allowed them to savor each other.

But, all too soon, it was time to board the busses. Kevin picked up their bags with a sigh as Connie grabbed her briefcase and laptop befores boarding the elevator, answering Carlos’ buzz. Their brief respite had done them good. Kevin was relaxed – almost jovial, and Connie felt confident and secure. They just fit together so damn well.

As they passed through the lobby, Connie stopped for a moment to speak to Fred. They exchanged instructions and a few laughs before he reached down under the lobby desk.

“You’ve got some mail,” he said, holding out a fistful of flyers and envelopes. “Thought that since you were here, I’d just give ‘em to you instead of forwarding this stuff to Florida.”

Connie thanked the kindly doorman and ran to catch up with Kevin as he loaded their bags into the van. She stuffed her mail into the flap of his knapack.

“Carry this stuff for me, will you darlin’?”

Chapter 94

“I like her.” DeeDee accented her declaration by blowing a smoke ring. “Kevin seems almost normal around her. She’s nice but she’s not a doormat, ‘ya know?”

AJ flopped back on the sofa cushions, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, I know. They kinda started off buttin’ heads but things seem to have worked out. He needs someone that won’t take his shit. Right Nick?”

One of the busses had suffered transmission failure and the five bandmates had been forced to share two busses. Howie, Leighanne, Brian and Jeffrey and three bodyguards were on one. AJ, Nick, DeeDee, Kevin, Connie and two bodyguards were on the other. It was crowded but the trip to Philly wasn’t too long.

Nick was leafing through the latest Playstation magazine and didn’t answer AJ’s affirmation so he repeated it.

“Right, Nick?”

“Hmmm?”

AJ eyed the young blond suspiciously. His eyes were a little too wide and he was acting a little too innocent. Something was up.

“You heard me,” AJ frowned. “What’s goin’ on?”

“I don’t know what you mean. Nothin’s goin’ on J. I’m just looking at my magazine, that’s all….”

“Bullshit! Your voice has risen about five octaves. I know when you’re holdin’ something back. What is it? Is it something about Connie bein’ a doormat?”

“NO! I dunno. No. Nothin’! Shut up, AJ!”

AJ pulled himself off the built in couch and stepped over to the door, which afforded the bus ‘lounge’ a modicum of privacy. Kevin was up front, talking to Marcus and Carlos. Connie was writing in a notebook. He gently closed the door and then turned back to Nick.

“Are those two havin’ trouble?”

By this time, DeeDee had lit another cigarette and was leaning forward in anticipation. Nick was squirming.

“No trouble that I know of. I mean, you know Kev…

“Yeah, I know Kev. So what happened? Didn’t you go to Connie’s place this morning? Spill it! I know something happened…”

Nick tried to think fast. Unfortunately, he was as easy to read as the comics he loved. He struggled and then relaxed as he formulated his explanation. He would tell the truth – just not the whole truth. Being strangled to death by Kevin was not his preferred method of dying.

“Okay.” Nick sighed. “It’s no big deal. Hannah and me went by Connie’s this morning and walked in on Kevin in the kitchen. Naked.”

AJ began to laugh. “No big deal is right!” he cackled. “I knew that son-of-a-bitch was a nudist at heart..”

DeeDee exhaled softly. “Ooooh…”

AJ threw her a frown and then glanced back at Nick. He seemed a little too relieved.

“What else?” he demanded.

Color began to rise on Nick’s cheeks. Shit… “Nothin’!”

AJ looked thoughtful for a moment. The kid wasn’t going to spill the beans. He’d have to resort to blackmail. He stepped over to Nick and placed his hand on his shoulder, smiling…. the smile of a crocodile.

“Hey, Nick,” AJ said sweetly, “you don’t have to say anything you don’t want to, man. I know how Kev is about personal shit and I admire your loyalty…”

DeeDee took another drag. She wasn’t buying AJ’s ‘understanding’. Nick looked a little suspicious, too. AJ continued….

“Hey, I’m loyal, too. In fact, I’ve been feelin’ a little guilty about not tellin’ Kev what I knew about that ‘incident’ in ’99. You remember. It was that time somebody injected a little Tabasco through the foil on Kevin’s rubbers. Remember, Nick?” Nick had turned the color of a stop sign. “Yeah, it took a day or two but he eventually got to the right condom. Man, he was inflamed! Had to sit in a cold tub half the night. Remember that, Nick? He was just yellin’! Never did figure out what had happened…”

“AJ….” Nick stammered. “You b-b-better n-not…”

“Yeah – that ‘ole ladder dance just about killed him for a night or two… What’d you tell him, Nick? Something about readin’ a story on the internet about a condom recall ‘cause of - how’d you put it? – ‘tainted lubricants’….”

“AJ…”

The tattooed singer grabbed his crotch. “OUCH!” he laughed. “That was pretty damn good, Nick. I was proud….”

Nick dropped his arms and hung his head. He had been defeated.

“Asshole…” he muttered. “Okay. Look it was probably nothin’ – it just caught my attention, that’s all…”

“WHAT?” DeeDee was practically screaming.

Nick plopped down on a chair, slightly embarrassed.

“Well, I was over at Connie’s and Carlos came up and told us it was time to go. I had to piss so I headed for the bathroom…” Nick looked at AJ, frowning. “Didn’t want to have to run to the john in the middle of an interview, like some of us have done…,” he spit.

“Yeah, yeah… So what was in the bathroom?” AJ was almost rubbing his hands together.

‘Nothin’. It was on the bed…”

“What?”

“Well, there was this thing – like a scarf. But it had been folded up and the ends were tied in a knot…. It was just a little odd, that’s all, you know, to see it there, like that.”

“Was the bed made?” DeeDee asked.

“No.”

AjJ and DeeDee exchanged ‘looks’. Then AJ folded his arms.

“Well, what do you think it was, Nick?”

“Polly nothin’, J! Prolly a headband or something. You know how women tie those things around their hair sometimes…”

“They don’t usually wear them to bed,” DeeDee observed.

AJ tapped his index finger against the side of his cheek as if trying to solve some mathematical mystery.

“True. Couldn’t it have been something else, Nick….”

“Well, it d-don’t m-matter. None of my b-business…”

“Like a – Oh, I dunno – a blindfold maybe?”

Nick wiped his hand across his mouth. ‘Blindfold’ was actually the first thing he’d thought of. He’d never seen Connie tie a scarf around her head – even at the beach - and, so far, Kevin hadn’t made that fashion choice, either. He didn’t mention the longer scarf he had spotted on the mattress near the headboard. He glanced over at DeeDee in time to see her mouth ‘wow!’….

AJ thoughtfully scraped his fingers down the length of his sideburns. “So who do think wore it – Connie or Kevin?”

Nick just shook his head, already aware that he had been coerced into saying way too much. Unfortunately, he couldn’t escape the mental pictures that formed in his brain. It never occurred him that Kevin might have been wearing the blindfold yet he sensed that Kevin could be quite ‘dark’. Ten years of practically living with someone gave you certain insights or suspicions, even if they were shadowy and unformed. Individual group members had grown used to their lack of privacy but Kevin had been the one who had always maintained a degree of secretiveness. Even in the early days, when the others were too young to go to clubs and they were carefully watched, Kevin had been able to slip away to places unknown. Nick wasn’t about to make any judgments in this matter. When his eyes reconnected with AJ’s, they carried a warning and a plea. Leave it alone, AJ…

AJ simply nodded at sat back down.

“Guess that’s their business, right? I know where the line is, Nick. I might come close, but I won’t cross it.”