"Well, Cat," AJ said hugging her tightly. "Good luck."
"Thanks Jay. Take care of her," Catlyn said, nodding towards Kyndall.
"Oh, I will," he grinned, slinging his arm around his girlfriend's shoulders.
Catlyn hugged Carmen. "It was so wonderful meeting you. I don't think I've seen Howie this happy in a long time. Watch out for him," she smiled.
"I will," Carmen nodded.
"Howie," Catlyn smiled. "I'm so happy you found someone. I told you it would happen, didn't I?"
Howie grinned. "Yeah. I guess you were right," he said hugging her tightly. "Don't disappear forever. I'll miss you."
She laughed. "I'm just going home for a bit. It's not like I'm dropping off the face of the planet."
"Well, Oklahoma is kind of a world unto itself," AJ teased.
"How would you know?" Kyndall asked elbowing him lightly. "Ya'll always cancel your concerts there. It's not as if you've ever been."
"Oh yeah," he chuckled.
Catlyn's flight was announced on the overhead speaker. "Well, ya'll…that's me. One last round of hugs," she said hugging them all again. "I'll see ya'll later," she waved walking towards the ticket counter. Her eyes fell on a lone figure standing by the window. He stood watching her, his hat pulled low over his eyes. But she knew him by the way he stood, by the way he looked. She waved discreetly at him as she handed her tickets to the attendant. He waved back, watching her as she disappeared.
"I love you Catlyn," he whispered as he turned and walked away before anyone, including the group of people that had accompanied her to the terminal, could recognize him.
"Nick," Catlyn sighed as she got settled in her seat. He had come to see her off. Even if he didn't say anything. Even if he had remained hidden. He'd at least said goodbye. I guess that's how things are meant to be, Catlyn thought as she looked out the little window next to her. Not that the thought made her feel any better. She still felt as if a knife was being twisted in her heart.
Catlyn reached into her bag, pulling out her CD player. She put her headphones on, pushing the play button. George Strait played quietly in her ear, singing her to sleep.
o~/I burn with desire/Each time my heart fans the fire/Through that old flame/That burns inside of me/She cried when I left her/Now I cry to forget her/Oh how foolish I was/To ever want to leave//Cuz nobody in his right mind would have left her/I had to be crazy to say goodbye/Nobody in his right mind would have left her/Even my heart was smart enough/To stay behind//I still carry her picture/I wish her well/With her new love/I know she's found by now/Each night finds me dreaming/Each day I spend thinking/How much I wish/She was still around//Even my heart was smart enough/To stay behind/~o
"Well," AJ said putting his arm around Kyndall. "Guess we should be going." Howie and Carmen had gone to pull the car around to meet them.
"Yeah," Kyndall said softly. "I just…I wish she would have stayed."
"I know you do baby," he whispered hugging her close. "It's probably easier for her this way though. She doesn't have to see Nick, doesn't have to be faced with him around every corner she turns."
"I love you," Kyndall smiled, looking up at him. Moving in to kiss him, her eyes grew wide and she stumbled backwards. "Oh my," she said her hand flying to her mouth.
"What?" AJ asked, worried about her reaction.
"It…it's…" she pointed behind him.
"Huh?" he asked looking over his shoulder. "Whoa," he said. His eyes connected with Nick's as he was trying to sneak past them. His gaze fell to the floor as he realized AJ recognized him.
Nick slowly walked over to the couple, his head bowed. "Hey," he mumbled.
"What are you doing here?" Kyndall asked.
Nick looked at her, his eyes slightly puffy, as if he'd been crying. "I was…saying goodbye."
"Why?" AJ asked.
He closed his eyes tightly. "I don't know when I'm ever going to see her again," he whispered.
Kyndall looked at AJ and then at Nick. "Oh sweetie," she said wrapping her arms around him.
"What did I do wrong? I don't…I don't understand," he shook his head as he seemed to crumple in her arms. She quickly found a seat so that she could console him without ending up on the floor.
"You didn't do anything," Kyndall whispered. "Nothing at all."
"She…hates me," he mumbled.
Kyndall looked up at AJ. "I'm going to stay with him for a bit."
AJ nodded. "Okay. Call me if you need anything," he said softly, bending down and kissing her on the cheek. He patted Nick on the back before walking off.
"I'm such a loser," he laughed dryly. "And my fucking head hurts," he groaned as he sat up.
Kyndall laughed. "You're not a loser, and if you'd chill out on the drinking, I'm sure your head wouldn't hurt."
Nick looked at her and smiled sadly. "Yeah, I know." He closed his eyes tightly. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For staying with me. I guess ya knew I didn't want to be alone."
Kyndall nodded. "Although I really don't think the airport is the best of places to be breaking down," she teased.
He chuckled. "No, probably not. I can see the headlines now. 'BACKSTREET BOY COLLAPSES IN ORLANDO AIRPORT: DISTRAUGHT AND HEARTBROKEN AFTER FACING THE REJECTION FROM THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE." He shook his head. "Come on," he said grabbing her hand. "Let's get outta here."
