Lori stepped out into the hall, quietly closing the door behind her. Turning around she bumped into Kevin. "Hey," she said softly, startled by his presence.
"Hello," he said a little stiffly.
"Headed out?" she asked looking at the gym bag slung on his shoulder.
"Yeah, going to the gym. What are you doing?" he asked.
"Umm…" she said looking down. "Going back to the room."
"Back? You were never there," he said almost accusingly. He looked at AJ's closed door that she had just left. "What'd you do last night?"
"I ummm…didn't see you around last night. I got bored. So AJ and I went out," she said softly.
"Hmmm," he replied. "I…I was out. What did ya'll do? Anything interesting?" he asked looking from the door back to Lori.
Lori shrugged. "We went out to a club and hung out and stuff," she said looking up at him.
"Just getting back?" Kevin asked raising a brow.
"No. Umm…it was so late when we got back, I didn't want to wake you up," she said looking away. "So, ummm…AJ…AJ said I could crash here," she mumbled.
"So ya stayed the night with AJ?" Kevin asked, an edge to his voice. Lori nodded. Kevin looked away. He switched his bag to the other arm. "Is there…is there something going on with you two?"
Startled, Lori looked up at him. "What do you mean?"
Kevin shrugged. "Ya'll seem to be spending an awful lot of time together. Hanging out, clubbing, spending the night."
Lori's eyes narrowed. "I'm kinda surprised you care. I mean, YOU haven't exactly been around all that much lately," she said snidely.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Kevin asked, his green eyes flashing. "I'm here. As much as you are."
"You were the one that disappeared last night," she pointed out.
"You didn't tell me you were leaving, where you were going, when you'd be back. I tried calling you. You didn't even bother answering your cell phone."
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize that I had to check in with you before going out with a friend," he retorted coldly.
"Well, AJ is MY friend, and I didn't think I had to submit an itinerary before going out with him," she snapped.
"Friend, huh?" Kevin said shortly. "That's all?"
Lori sighed. "Do we REALLY have to do this here? I mean, we ARE standing out in the middle of the hallway."
"Do what?"
"Have this…discussion…or whatever you want to call it."
"Would you like to take it somewhere else? Or will AJ miss you too much?" Kevin said sarcastically.
"Well, Kevin. I'm sure AJ will miss me about as much as Carrie misses you," she spat back at him.
Startled, Kevin stared at her for a moment. "Car…Carrie? What does she have to do with anything?" he asked slowly.
"Really, Kevin," she rolled her eyes in disbelief. "You're actually going to stand there and pretend that there's nothing happening with you two?" She laughed dryly. Shaking her head, she looked at him, her eyes misty. "When were you planning on telling me?"
"Telling you what?" Kevin asked.
"That you and Carrie are sleeping together," Lori answered annoyed.
"Is that what you want me to tell you?"
"It's the truth isn't it?"
Kevin sighed. "There's more to it than that…" he trailed off. Looking at her suddenly he asked. "When were you going to tell me about you and AJ?"
"Actually, that is where I was headed."
"You…were?" he asked surprised.
"Yes."
Kevin looked at her for a moment, lost in thought. "Do you love him?" he asked quietly.
"Yes, very much," she answered.
Kevin nodded slowly. "So, what you felt for me…you don't anymore? Or did you ever?"
"Oh Kevin," Lori said sadly. "I did love you. I DO love you. I didn't want to fall for AJ…but I did." She looked up at him. "Do you love Carrie?"
"Yes. I do. But it was something I've felt for years. Something I thought would never matter to anyone but me," he said softly. "It had nothing to do with us." He sighed. "I didn't want it to be this way…I'm sorry Lori."
Lori nodded, her eyes filling with tears. "Me either darlin," she said.
"I never meant to lie to you or hurt you."
"I know that Kevin," Lori said softly. "I didn't bargain for this either."
"Do you…do you think that we could…start over," he said looking at her. "Be friends and all?"
"I'm counting on it," she said, wiping a tear away.
"I can't guarantee that I'm going to be all okay with you and AJ, but I'll try."
Lori smiled softly. "He loves me Kevin," she said.
Kevin sighed. "I know he does. He has for a while."
Lori looked at him, surprised. "You know? You knew?"
Kevin laughed quietly. "It's hard not to darlin. I'm with the guy 24/7." He shook his head. "The way he acts when your name is brought up, the way he talks about you, the way he looks at you. Yeah…I knew."
"Wow. I had no idea," she shook her head slowly. "It must have been hard for you."
Kevin shrugged. "No, not really. I mean, yeah, in a way. He is my friend. And I hate seeing him miserable. But I was happy too because you were with me," he shrugged again.
"So…we…you and I…were real?" she asked softly.
"I'd like to think so, yeah," he replied. Kevin looked at her, tilting her head up to look in her eyes. "Are you happy now?"
Lori closed her eyes slowly. Opening them, she looked deep into his. "I was happy with you Kevin. Believe me when I say that." She smiled softly. "But I'm happy with AJ, too. Are you happy?"
Kevin nodded, dropping his hand to his side, he smiled. "Well, now that everything is out in the open? Yeah. I'm relieved and glad that we can get on with our lives…and at least be friends. I hope that things work out with me and Carrie. It's a new step for us."
Lori nodded and smiled. "I'm happy for you darlin."
"Are you?" Kevin asked looking at her.
Lori smiled again. "Of course I am. I'll miss you, you know. But I'm happy for you."
Kevin laughed. "I'll still be here ya know." Looking down the hall and then back at her, he asked, "You don't hate Carrie?"
"Weeellll," she said. "It'll take some getting use to. But no, I don't hate her."
Kevin nodded. "Almost like me with AJ."
Lori smiled. "Yeah."
"Guess we can't expect to be doing the double date thing anytime soon," he smirked.
"Guess not," Lori agreed. Looking at him, she smiled. "I love you," she said simply.
Surprised Kevin stared. "I…I love you too, Lori," he said setting his bag down and holding his arms out to her.
Stepping into his embrace, Lori laughed softly. "We're just sad, huh?"
Kevin hugged her tightly and chuckled. "Yeah. Just a lil."
"Guess you're gonna kick me out now," she said moving away from him.
"Well, ya know. I had already contemplated that," he grinned at her. "I'm just kidding. You don't have to leave. I mean, I'll understand if you do."
"Don't you think I'd better? I mean, what's to keep me from ravishing you?" she teased.
"Umm…AJ?" he asked laughing. "Somehow I don't think he's going to be letting you out of his sight too often when he finds out things are out in the open."
Lori grinned. "You're probably right," she said.
