"AJ just…GO. I don't care where. Just go. Leave me alone for about an hour. You're driving me mad," Lori snapped at him.
"I'm just trying to make sure you're okay," he said hurt by her outburst.
"I know you are baby," she said wearily. "I just need to spend a little time by myself. As much as I appreciate all you're doing for me, it's getting annoying."
AJ sighed. "Fine. I'll be back later," he said hanging his head. He grabbed his keys and walked out the door.
Lori shook her head. "Jesus," she sighed. "Didn't realize he'd turn into a mother hen," she said softly to her stomach. Feeling the now familiar wiggle of the person growing inside her she smiled. "Feisty aren't you. Gonna be just like your daddy," Lori said laughing. Walking over to the stereo, she opened the disc drawer to see what was in it. Wrinkling her nose at the odd assortment of music AJ had put in, she changed the CDs. Pushing play, she sat down in the window seat and stared outside. Swaying softly to the music, she closed her eyes as AJ softly sang her to sleep.
o~/Hey yes/Oh yes/Baby yes/Something about the way you moved it caught my eye/I really did have to try it/Yes/I can't deny it/The way your body swayed as I watched ya from behind/Got me so excited/Hmm/How could I fight it/Baby let me be the one to hold you/To give you things I know you missed/You know that we can wait another lifetime/But we could never find/Love just like this//If you lay down/Lay down beside me/You can get on inside me/And I can get on inside you too/If you lay down/Lay down beside me/You might wake up beside me/Forever/Forever and ever/Forever and ever//Baby/Let's take this chance to get to know each other better/Maybe we will discover/We can be more than lovers/I'll give you what you need just come to me and get it/Baby you won't regret it/No no no no baby/Baby move a little closer/I wanna feel your body next to mine/And before this night is over/You will know just what it means/To be loved until you scream//Tonite/We'll find/Find just what we've been looking for/Good good loving and a whole lot more/So/Hold on/Hold on/Inside/Hold you and don't you let go/Not til I tell you too/Hey/Oooh// /~o
She awoke sometime later by a knock at her door. Looking around sleepily, she stood up, placing her hand on the wall to steady her. Walking slowly over, she peeked in the peephole, seeing Kevin. Confused, she opened the door. "Hey," she said softly.
"I woke you up," he said recognizing the signs of her sleepiness.
She smiled. "It's okay. I just got rid of AJ. Come in," she said moving out of his way so he could walk through the door. Shutting the door behind him, she sat down on the couch, settling into her corner.
"How are you feeling?" Kevin asked sitting on the couch, close, but not right next to her.
Lori shrugged. "I'm okay. Tired a lot of the time. But I think that's mostly from AJ."
"Yeah. He's stressing himself out," Kevin chuckled.
Lori nodded. "He won't let me do anything. And that just drives me crazy. I'm pulling my hair out," she shook her head. "How are you? I haven't seen you in forever," she said changing the subject.
"I'm doing okay," he smiled. "Haven't done much. Writing a lot of stuff for the new album and such. Spending time with Carrie," he said softly.
"How…how is she doing?"
"Good," he answered. "We're happy. Moving along," he shrugged, looking down at his hands.
"What's the matter?" Lori asked noticing there was something bothering him.
"Do…do you ever think about…us?" he asked slowly.
Surprised by his question, Lori was quiet for a moment. "I…ummm…yeah. Sometimes, why?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. Are you happy?"
"Yeah. AJ is wonderful. He'd do anything to make sure I was taken care of."
Kevin nodded. "He loves you. Something I'd never have given him credit for. Taking care of and loving someone as much as he does you," he said softly. "But do you love him?"
Lori looked at him. "Of course I do. Do you think I'd be going through this," she pointed at her stomach, "if I didn't?"
Kevin smiled sadly. "I know."
"Are you happy?" Lori asked him.
Looking straight in front of him, he didn't say anything. Lori wasn't sure if he'd heard her question. "Yes," he answered finally. "I'm happy. I love Carrie. With all that I'm able to love her with. I don't want to lose her. She means everything to me."
"But…" Lori said.
"But there is this part of me that is having the hardest time letting you go," Kevin said looking at her. "I still love you. I just need to know that you're happy."
Lori smiled. "Of course I'm happy, Kevin. Yes, I miss you. Yes, I still love you. But that is something that is always going to be there. No matter who I'm with, no matter what I'm doing, no matter how much time goes by. But it wasn't something that was meant to last. I know that, you know that. Why it was at all is something I haven't figured out. But I know that we are both where we need to be."
Kevin nodded. "I know. I guess just being away from you, without talking to you and stuff made not having you in my life all that much harder. Sometimes being off from tour makes it difficult to keep up with those that you've grown use to being with everyday."
Lori smiled. "I'm still here. I'm still your friend," she said reaching over and hugging him tightly. Kevin wrapped his arms around her pulling her close to him. "I love you Lor."
"I love you, too Kev," she whispered.
"KEVIN!! What a ---" AJ said walking into the house. He stood at the door with his mouth hanging open watching Kevin and Lori move away from each other.
"What a what?" Lori asked standing up and pushing his lower jaw up to meet his top. Leaning over to kiss him, he moved away.
"What the fuck is going on?" he asked.
"Huh?" Lori asked confused.
"You fucking kick me out of my own house and I come home and find you in Kevin's arms. Did ya plan it that way?" AJ asked loudly.
"AJ it's not even like that. I just came by to see how things were going. It was a friendly hug. Jesus, don't blow it out of proportion," Kevin said.
"What the hell am I suppose to think?" AJ asked looking from Lori to Kevin.
"Well, for starters, you should trust her," Kevin said. "I'm going to go. I'm sorry I got you in trouble. When he calms down, tell him to call me," he said to Lori as he left.
"AJ, really. Nothing happened. He just wanted to see how I was feeling. We haven't talked in a while," Lori said as he walked over to the chair and sat down pouting.
He sighed and looked up at her. "I'm sorry baby. I just didn't…I…I'm sorry. I just don't want to lose you."
Lori smiled. "You aren't going to lose me," she said softly walking over and kneeling in front of him.
He looked down at her. "Am I really getting on your nerves?"
Lori nodded. "I don't mind you taking care of me, but…you go slightly overboard."
"Hmm," he said narrowing his eyes. "I'm sorry. I just want to take care of you," he reached out and cupped her face with his hand. "Something I'm not use to doing," he smiled. "Guess it was a little much, eh?"
"So you and Lesh are engaged? Man, you are smooth," Brian grinned at Nick. "You had us all going."
"I considered telling you. But I wasn't sure how you'd be able to keep it from her," Nick said. "And I still wasn't sure how things were going to turn out."
Brian nodded. "Awesome plan, though," he said. "And pulling it off as well as you did," he shook his head. "I'm impressed."
"Thanks. I'm just glad it didn't backfire," Nick said looking across the yard to where Leighanne and Alesha were talking quietly. "I don't know what I'd do if I'd lost her for good."
Brian smiled. "You weren't going to lose her. She was waiting for you. She had never truly given up on ya'll."
Nick looked at him. "I'm glad she told YOU that," he grinned.
"Wow. That is so romantic. He's just full of surprises, isn't he?" Leighanne smiled as Alesha told her how Nick had proposed.
"Yes, yes he is," Alesha said looking across the lawn at him.
"I'm so happy ya'll are back together. Ya'll would never be happy with anyone else," she said softly.
"This coming from the one who thought I was only after his wallet and name," Alesha teased.
"Thanks for reminding me of what a bitch I can be," Leighanne laughed.
"No problem."
"So…what was Scotland like?" Leighanne asked.
"Oh my god, it was beautiful," Alesha said, her eyes getting dreamy as she talked about the country that she didn't want to leave. She talked about the landscape, the people, the buildings. She and Nick had spent two weeks there. They had backpacked halfway across the small country, camping and living outdoors. It was an interesting experience, one she was glad that Nick had thought to share with her. "Being there, in the land where both of our families came from was one of the most beautiful experiences we'd had together," she said softly.
"Did you get to see your family estate over there?"
Alesha nodded. "I got to meet my great-aunt Donita and her husband Thomas. They were the sweetest people in the world. We stayed in the castle and got to do the official tour of the lands. It was so beautiful. When up in one of the towers, you could look out over the lands. You could see the mountains in the horizon, surrounded by lush green valleys. There is a river running through our families area, the color bluer than the ocean. The air was so fresh and clean," Alesha sighed. "I had a hard time coming home," she smiled.
"I can imagine," Leighanne grinned.
"MOMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Taelen cried and Brian and Nick chased him around the yard.
"What in the world?" Leighanne asked looking at Alesha.
"I think he has the water gun," Alesha grinned.
"Oh god," Leighanne said, her eyes wide. "Ready to go inside?" she asked.
Alesha laughed. "What? And miss all the fun?" she rolled her eyes and got up quickly as the boys started in their direction.
