Alex opened the door and let Lauralee in. Lauralee flopped on the couch and Alex put his keys on the table.
“What a party,” sighed Lauralee.
“Yeah it was good,” Alex took off his jacket and slung it over the couch. “Wish I could’ve drank more.”
“Who says we can’t now?” Lauralee smiled.
“What are you talking about?”
“One minute,” Lauralee ran to Alex’s room. “Now close your eyes.” Alex closed them as she came back. “OK, open them.”
Alex opened his eyes to Lauralee holding a bottle of Jose Cuervo Gold, two shot glasses, limes and salt. “Where did you get this?”
“I knew at the party you had to be on your best behavior, so Laura got this stuff for me in New York.”
“Aw honey, you remembered our very first drink,” Alex took the bottle from Lauralee.
“I’ll be bartender, maybe we could make this the BSP II,” Lauralee winked as she setup the shots when Alex heard his answering machine beeping.
“Who could be calling me? Everyone I know was at that party,” he pressed the play button.
“Alex? It’s your dad. Just wishing you a happy birthday… um haven’t heard from you in a while son, so give me a call when you get the chance.”
Lauralee stopped pouring and looked at Alex. He was leaning on the table, shoulders tensed, and looking straight at the machine. He pushed it off the counter and it hit the wall.
She jumped at the sound of the machine crashing against the wall and put the bottle down. She got up, went to Alex, and put her hand on his shoulder. He turned to her.
“Alex…”
“I’m OK.”
“No you’re not.”
He looked back down. “He always does this.”
Lauralee didn’t know what to say. She just stood there as Alex turned around and leaned on the table, his arms supporting himself. “Ever since I saw my dad again, it’s been so messed up. He only calls on holidays, he never calls just to say ‘Hey, how you doing?’ He tells all of these people that he’s the father of a Backstreet Boy, not the father of Alex McLean. I just don’t get it!”
Lauralee just stood there. She knew that Alex had seen his father again about a year ago, and it went great for about a month, but Alex was right. He only called for Christmas, New Year’s and now his birthday. His house looked like a shrine to Backstreet. He always asked Alex to come over, and when he did, he had all of his friends over to meet his “famous” son. He never went over there anymore, because he knew his father would use him as a trophy instead of a son.
“Sometimes I wish I never went over there that day.”
“Hey,” Laura took his face in her hand. “You wanted to go there because you were curious about seeing your father again, and you did. You wanted to find out about him and maybe a little more about yourself. So he’s not what you expected, but at least you found out now as opposed to never. I only wish I could have my father in a room for 30 seconds just to tell him how much I love him and I miss him.”
“But it’s not the same.”
“It isn’t. Some fathers are the best in the world, and some are just plain pricks. I know it’s not the same, but look at what else you have had. You have a mother who adores the ground you walk on; you have a grandmother who loves you like a son, and your grandfather was a father figure to you.”
Alex let a tear escape his eyes. “You forgot one thing.”
“That is?”
“You,” Alex put his hand on top of hers. “You didn’t accept me as AJ, you accepted me as Alex. I never thought I could find anyone like that before. Even Marisa started to think of me as a Backstreet Boy rather than a human being, which’s why we broke up. You, Mom, and Grandma are the only family I have.”
“And you have the guys, Laura, Veronica, Bianca and Liz.” She put her other hand to his face. “We won’t ever leave you.” Alex smiled as Lauralee put her forehead to his. “Happy birthday baby,” she whispered.
“Thank you.”
“Hey I owed you one remember? The night of that club opening?”
“You don’t ever have to owe me anything.” He put his arms around her waist and drew her in close. “I just want to love you forever.”
“You will.”
“Good,” he gave her a soft kiss on the lips. “Now, I’m 21, and supposed to be drinking, so let’s christen this the BSP II.”
Chapter 38
Contents
Chapter 36