Chapter One
The fireplace cackled. Flames shot up, warming the spacious room.
The only two occupants were Brian Littrell and Liz Williams. Curled up on the couch, the couple was cuddling and kissing occasionally, enjoying one another’s company.
Having been an item for nearly six months, the two were madly in love and couldn’t get enough of the other’s company.
Snow was falling outside, only making it more cozy and romantic for the two inside.
Pressing his lips against Liz’s, Brian murmured, “I love you.”
“I love you too,” she replied with a smile.
He held her close to him.
***********
Meanwhile, in other parts of the cabin, Brian’s fellow Backstreet Boys were hanging out. AJ and his girlfriend, Jenn Brown, were making out in his room.
Nick, who was currently single, was playing Nintendo and desperately trying to beat Bowser. Howie was busily writing to his girlfriend, who couldn’t take the time off from her job, modeling. Kevin was the only other single one of the group. It was by choice though.
No girl he found gave him that special spark of passion. None but one, and that one was off-limits to him. She belonged to his cousin. Liz Williams was what made Kevin’s heart beat, and it beat only for her.
Kevin was a hopeless romantic though he never admitted it. When he fell in love, he fell hard. He’d felt that way since he’d met her, six months back. But ever since then she’d belonged to Brian, and Kevin didn’t have the guts to try and change that. So he only watched her from the shadows and offered her his friendship.
The only sounds in the room were Howie’s pen scribbling back and forth across the sheet of paper and the soft sounds of Nick’s Nintendo.
Silently, Kevin reflected on his life, his eyebrows knitted together in thought. As the days passed, his need for Liz grew, and he felt he couldn’t fight it, but he pushed it to the back of his mind.
“Guys,” Kevin announced, “I need some air. I’m going for a walk.”
“Okay, Kev,” Nick said, his eyes not leaving the TV screen.
“In this weather, Train?” Howie asked, glancing out a window.
“Sure. Why not?”
Kevin donned a parka and stomped out into the snow.
Howie returned to his writing, and Nick to his game.
*****************
AJ’s lips traveled down Jenn’s neck.
They were a passionate couple and were always trying new things.
When they finally separated, Jenn asked, “Do you want any hot chocolate?”
“You know how to read my mind, baby--chocolate and you.” He laughed, pulling her closer to him.
“Can I go get the cocoa already?” Jenn laughed.
“Fine,” he gave in with a grin.
****************
The temperature was slowly dropping outside, but Kevin didn’t care. It helped him think and reminded him of his childhood in Kentucky with his father.
He wandered deeper into the woods, but he never went far enough so that he couldn’t see the cabin.
As time went on, Kevin’s mind strayed from Liz and made its way to his father. Sometimes he missed him so much. Other times, the pain subsided and he could focus his attention on other things. But at other times, the pain overcame him until he couldn’t think straight.
As Kevin mused, the temperature was slowly falling, unknown to the weary traveler.
Chapter Two
Meanwhile, back in the cabin, Howie was gazing through the thick, falling snow toward the edge of the woods.
“I don’t like that he’s been gone this long,” he stated.
“You worry too much,” Nick said, pausing from his game long enough to take a sip of his coke.
“You don’t think enough. That’s your problem,” Howie sighed.
Nick wasn’t paying enough attention to come up with a retort. He returned to his activity.
“He’s been gone for over a half hour,” Howie said. “If he’s not back in ten minutes, I’m going out after him.”
“You do that Howie,” Nick muttered, maneuvering his controller.
*************
“Cocoa,” Jenn stated, from her perch on AJ’s lap. “Marshmallows always cheer me up.”
“You always cheer me up.”
Jenn giggled and burrowed against her boyfriend. “This is heaven. Too bad we’re going to have to go back to Orlando in a couple of days.”
“Shh! Don’t even think about that yet.”
“Then what am I supposed to think about?”
“Hot chocolate... this.” AJ pressed his lips over hers, and they were busy for a time after that.
“It’s been way too long,” Howie grumbled. “I’m going after him. If I’m not back in twenty minutes, call for help, okay, Nick?”
No response.
“Nick??!!” Howie yelled.
“Damn it! Look what you made me do! Game over. Howie, I swear I could kill you.”
“Listen to me! I’m going out to look for Kevin. If I’m not back in twenty minutes call for help.”
“Fine.”
“You got that?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Howie made his way over to the closet and bundled up in a sweater, parka, scarf, gloves, etc.
Bracing himself against the wind, he stepped outside. Yet he hadn’t been expecting the bitter cold that he felt. It was as though knives were piercing his body, but Howie knew he had to find his friend.
He fought against the wind and made his way deeper into the woods. His eyes scanned the white scenery.
“KEVIN??!!” he yelled despite the harsh blow of the wind.
He trudged through the knee-deep snow, always taking in as much of the area as possible with his eyes. Then his eyes rested on the nonmoving figure in the shade of a large pine tree.
Howie hurried over and kneeled down next to his fallen friend.
“Kevin,” Howie murmured.
Blue-faced, Kevin fought to open his eyes.
“Oh, great,” Howie managed, dragging Kevin to his feet. With Kevin leaning on him the entire way back, Howie led them both to safety and warmth.
********************
Laughing, Brian and Liz emerged from their room to get some snacks.
“Where’d everybody go?” Brian asked Nick.
Nick only grunted.
“Uh-oh,” Brian whispered to his girlfriend, “we interrupted play-time.”
Liz giggled.
Brian poured some macaroni and cheese into a bowl and heated it in the microwave.
Just as it was finishing up, the front door burst open to reveal two snow-covered figures.
“Oh, gosh!” Liz cried.
She hurried over and helped Howie with Kevin.
“Jeez!” Brian exclaimed.
He helped his girlfriend and friend drag Kevin toward the couch and fireplace.
“What happened, Howie?” Brian inquired.
“I don’t know. He went out for a walk--”
“In this weather?” Liz inquired, shocked.
Howie shrugged. “When he didn’t come back, I went out looking for him.”
“At least you found him,” Liz said, immediately taking over the roll of nurse.
She had trained to be a nurse originally, but she had found a passion for writing and turned to that. Yet by looking at her, you’d think she was a model. She was tall, 5”7 and incredibly slender with long brown hair with natural gold highlights that shown through her hair like sunbeams trying to surface. Her eyes were a shade of golden hazel that also reminded one of sunlight.
“It looks like Kev’s got frost bite,” Liz stated. “He won’t be able to go anywhere for awhile.”
“Oh, darn,” Brian joked, “looks like we’re not going to be able to go back to Orlando anytime soon, and I was just starting to miss sunny, ole Florida.”
“Let’s get him into bed,” Liz ordered.
“Yes, ma’am,” Howie grinned. He and Brian managed to drag Kevin to his bedroom and get him snugly put in his bed. Just as they were finishing up, Jenn and AJ emerged.
“What’s going on, guys?” Jenn inquired.
“We didn’t want to interrupt you,” Liz teased, “but Kevin’s got frost bitten and probably a cold. He’s lucky if he doesn’t get pneumonia.”
“What happened?” AJ asked.
The situation was explained again to the late two.
As they were talking, Kevin slowly opened his eyes to see his the love of his life sitting beside him on his bed.
Chapter Three
“He’s awake, guys,” Liz announced. To Kevin, she murmured, “How do you feel?”
“Cold,” he mumbled.
“Yeah, we’re working on that.” To the others, she ordered, “Put some more wood in the fireplace, and someone get him some more blankets.”
They mock-saluted her and went to do her bidding.
Rolling her eyes, Liz turned back to her patient. She felt his forehead. He was burning up. Biting her lip, she retrieved a thermometer and returned.
“Here.”
She managed to slip the thermometer into his mouth. He held it under his tongue obediently, all the while not being able to take his eyes off of her. Liz, however, was oblivious to this and continued doing her job. The thermometer beeped; Liz pulled it out.
Frowning, she shook it to cool it off.
“Am I sick?” Kevin asked.
She smiled gently. “It seems so.”
“What’s my temperature?”
“103. You’d better cool off.”
“But I’m so cold.”
“Your face isn’t, but that’s what happens. Keep your head uncovered and the rest of you body bundled up and you won’t have a problem, but you’re going to have to listen to me if you want to get well.”
He would have listened to her if she told him to follow her around the world. “Whatever you say,” he mumbled in response.
“That’s what I like a guy to say,” she joked.
He managed a smile.
“I’m going to go get you some medicine. I’ll be right back.”
Liz left the room to see everyone else gathered in the living room.
“How sick is he?” Brian asked, coming over and taking Liz’s hand.
“Very. We’re gonna have to work hard to make sure he doesn’t get pneumonia. Why would anyone in their right mind go out in this sort of weather anyhow?”
“He’s always been stubborn,” Brian replied.
“Maybe too stubborn,” Howie sighed.
“What happened?” Nick inquired.
AJ rolled his eyes. “Is your Nintendo all you care about that you don’t even know that our friend is deathly ill?!”
“Kevin’s gonna die??!!” Nick exclaimed.
“No,” Liz cried. “AJ, stop exaggerating. He’s just has frost bight and a cold--hopefully not pneumonia, but we’re going to have to call in a doctor as soon as possible.”
“I’ll go call him,” Jenn stated. When she returned, she told them, “He’ll be here as soon as this blizzard dies down.”
Liz gathered some blankets, and with Brian trailing behind her with fire wood, she returned to the ill’s room.
He was staring at the ceiling, out of it.
Liz spread the blankets over him and tucked him in some more.
Kevin didn’t even seem to notice.
“That can’t be good,” Brian murmured. “If someone doesn’t notice a pretty girl like you tucking them into bed, there’s a problem.”
Liz blushed and tried to remain professional. “He’s delirious.”
“Almost like when he’s drunk.”
“Stop kidding around, Bri.”
“Sorry. It’s what I do when I’m nervous,” he explained apologetically.
“I know.”
“He’ll be okay, won’t he?” Brian asked, sounding like a child.
“I hope so.”
They left to go join the others, leaving Kevin sleeping restlessly. He dreamt about his father and Liz--confused nightmares that he’d wake up from, sweaty and panting.
Once waking up from one of them, he found Liz beside him, checking his temperature.
“Your sweating. Good. That means the fever’s breaking.”
“Liz, don’t leave.”
“I’ll be just out in the hall. Don’t worry.”
He grabbed for her hand, narrowly missing it. She slowly exited the room.
“Liz,” he whispered, but she was gone.
**********
“How is he?” Jenn asked.
“The fever is breaking,” Liz replied happily.
Brian grinned and pulled her down into his lap.
“But he’ll be sick for a while,” she added.
“You like playing nurse, don’t you?” Howie teased.
“Sure. You become close with your patients and the benefits are amazing.”
“Then why’d you quit med. school?”
“Stop the questions, Howie!” She broke into a good-natured smile.
“Yeah,” Brian agreed. “Why are you cross-examining my girlfriend?”
“Touché.”
Chapter Four
As the days went by--all too slowly for Kevin--he regained his strength and could slowly make his way around the cabin.
One day, the others had gone out to ski, leaving Kevin and his “nurse” back at the house. Kevin had urged her to go out and have some fun, but she had denied, claiming that her patient needed her. Kevin couldn’t protest much because her presence cheered him, and he could hardly keep his eyes--much less his hands--off her.
Kevin was sprawled out lazily in an easy-chair, sipping hot chocolate from time to time.
Liz was scribbling at a table.
“Whatcha writing?” Kevin asked her, peering around the side of the over-stuffed chair.
“Just a story,” she replied without looking back at him.
“Can I read it?”
“When it’s finished.”
Kevin slowly walked over and glanced over her shoulder.
“Stop that!” she exclaimed, but her face quickly softened in a smile.
“What?” he asked.
“I don’t like it when people read over my shoulder.”
He shrugged, taking a sip from his mug of cocoa.
Her golden eyes laughed up at him. She abruptly stood up, snatched her story, and walked towards her room.
Not completely thinking rationally, Kevin followed her.
Laughing, Liz ordered, “Leave me alone. I have work to do. Why’d you think I didn’t go skiing? I have a deadline.”
“I thought you stayed to nurse me.”
“That too.”
“Let me read your story and I’ll leave you alone for the rest of the afternoon.”
“Fine.” She reluctantly handed the pad of paper over to him.
Kevin flashed her a teasing grin and made himself comfortable in a chair.
As he scanned it, he commented from time to time. “Very good. Wait, wait. That’s a misspelled word.”
“Oh, give it to me.”
“No.”
“Why do you have to be so immature? You’re the oldest one here.”
“I resent that. Now you’re really not going to get it back.”
Trying not to laugh, Liz said sternly, “Give it to me.” But her face cracked and smiled.
They childishly fought over Liz’s notebook. Liz was pulling it toward her, and Kevin was pulling it toward him.
“Oh, this is pathetic!” Liz exclaimed, dropping the notebook.
Kevin fell forward onto her.
“Oh, sorry,” he mumbled.
“Yeah,” she said.
Kevin stared down into her golden eyes, and she stared up into his ocean-green eyes. For a moment, they held eyes and didn’t move. Slowly, Kevin lowered his lips to hers. She didn’t push him away, but welcomed him, kissing him in return. It was deep and full of feeling. When they pulled away, Liz stared up at Kevin unbelieving.
He quickly jumped to his feet and helped her up too.
“Oh, gosh,” she mumbled, turning her back to him.
“Liz.... I didn’t... I didn’t mean to do that.”
“I know. Neither did I.”
At the same time, they both blurted out, “It just happened.”
“So what do we do know?” Kevin asked her, his eyes searching for any emotion on her face.
“I don’t know,” Liz murmured, “but I do know that I wanted to kiss you... but what about Brian? I can’t hurt him. I love him, but... I feel something for you. I don’t know what it is yet, but it’s there. Oh, God.
“Can you just let me be for a little while? I need to think.”
“Are you going to tell Brian?”
She thought for a moment. “No. No, I couldn’t do that to him.”
“Okay.” Kevin gave her a weary glance and left the room. He made his way to his room and sat on the edge of his bed. He felt so guilty now that he’d gotten what he’d wanted for so long, but he wanted more. His feelings were erupting within him, having been sparked by such little fuel. He’d betrayed his cousin, his friend, but he couldn’t help it. He’d do it again in an instant.
Chapter Five
Brian slid up to the ski lift and waited his turn to head back up. He wasn’t looking forward to it. As much as he loved to ski, he hated heights. The combination was inevitable, but he still dreaded the ride to the top. Biting his lip, he tried to summon up courage. Ultimately, his turn came and he firmly placed the bar around him and the girl who was sharing it with him.
She gave him a shy, amused look, but she didn’t say anything.
Brian nervously looked straight ahead, not looking down.
He wished to God that Liz could have been there, holding his hand and comforting him. She always knew how to make him forget that he was in mid-air, as difficult as he made it for her.
At the top, Brian and his fellow passenger separated. She went toward the expert trails, while Brian preferred the intermediate. He didn’t like looking straight down the mountain. He preferred to zigzag through tree covered trails.
As Brian cautiously skied down the mountain, he felt someone behind him.
Hurriedly, he glanced over his shoulder to see Jenn right on his tail.
Laughing, she skidded around him at a dangerously close distance.
Smugly, she smiled at him.
Brian moved up next to her. “Where’s AJ?”
“On the beginner’s. You know how he sucks at sports of all kinds.”
Brian grinned his famous cheeky grin and laughed. “How many runs has he done so far?”
“Probably two if he’s been lucky.”
Brian laughed. “It’s nearly lunch time too.”
“Yeah. Is Liz meeting us for lunch?”
“That’s what she told me.”
“Okay. See you food court.” Jenn took off quickly down the spiraling path.
Brian finished and put his skis up. Then he stomped to the food court.
There, he met up with the others.
“Liz isn’t here?” he asked Nick.
“Uh-uh.” Nick shook his head.
Brian shrugged and went to get his food.
When he returned, Liz came hurrying up. Her face was flushed, and she was slightly flustered.
“Hey, babe,” Brian greeted her, standing up and kissing her lightly.
“Hey,” she replied nervously.
“What’s going on?”
She took a deep breath and was herself again. “Nothing. I’m just a little late, that’s all.”
“Good.”
Liz headed over to buy her lunch.
After everyone had eaten, they agreed at a time to meet up again.
“I say we meet up around four,” Howie suggested.
“Fine with me,” Nick concluded.
The rest agreed as well, and they all set off.
“Yo, Jenn,” AJ called after his girlfriend.
“What?” she inquired slyly, smiling mischievously at him.
“Why don’t we blow this and go back to the cabin? No one’s there--”
“Except Kevin, Bone. Is that what you think about all the time?”
“You know it, baby.”
Jenn rolled her eyes, but she gave in and kissed him. Pulling away, she stated, “I want to ski. There’s only so many times a year that we get to do this, and I’m going to enjoy it.”
Grumbling, AJ gave in.
***************
Brian accompanied Liz to rent her skis. Once she’d been fitted and the appropriate size had been found, they headed back toward the mountain.
“How have you been?” Liz asked him, referring to his problem with heights.
“Pretty good, but it’s been tough. I did all right though.”
“Good. I’m proud,” she said with a teasing glint in her eye. She managed to lean over and kiss him in her sizable parka.
They made their way over to the ski-lift. They spent a happy afternoon together.
The only thing that ruined it for Liz was that she felt overwhelmingly guilty about kissing Kevin. As much as she loved Brian, she did feel something towards his cousin, and she felt awful because of it.
*************
Nick spent the afternoon skiing around and on what he called “chick patrol.” He was wandering around the ski resort looking for hot girls. He was a hot-blooded male looking for cold girls to keep warm or at least that’s what he thought.
As he skied down an advanced trail, he felt someone on his tail. Glancing behind his shoulder, he saw a girl just behind him.
“Jeez!” he cried. “Could you please not be so close?”
“I can’t help it,” she shrieked. “I haven’t skied since I was in fifth grade.”
Nick swerved out of her way as she flew down.
He couldn’t conceal his laughing smile when he joined her at the bottom of the hill.
She gave him a sour look. “I don’t think that was very funny.”
“I do.” Nick laughed.
She started to head back toward the ski-lift.
Nick followed her, and they ended up sitting together on the ride up.
Nick took this time to study her. She was considerably shorter than him.
He estimated her to be around 5'5" with long, dark, curly brown hair and hazel-green eyes. She wasn’t beautiful, but Nick felt himself incredibly attracted to her and wanting to know her better.
When they got to the top, she turned toward a beginner’s trail this time.
“I’d recommend that for you,” Nick joked.
“You’re not kidding. I suck.”
“Yeah, you do.”
“Thanks,” she said sarcastically. Even though she knew what he said was true, she didn’t enjoy being told it.
She pushed off down the mountain, narrowly missing trees.
Nick easily kept with her, even though he avoided the trees.
“And they call me Kaos!” he laughed.
“I’m not normally a clutz. I guess I just can’t ski.”
When they’d made it down--to safety, Nick introduced himself. “Nick Carter.”
“Marie Holland.”
“Good to meet you.”
“You too, I guess.”
They started to ski together, also beginning to get to know each other better.
Chapter Six
Nick skied with Marie for the rest of the day. He condescended to stay on beginner trails with her too. He got a pretty good picture of her personality: proud, stubborn, and a great sense of humor.
“Are you ready for a cup of hot chocolate?” Nick offered before they braved another ride on the ski-lift.
Marie shot a glare at the mountain and then smile at Nick. “Sure, but if I take a break now, I’m afraid I’ll loose what little skills that have resurfaced.”
“My treat,” he tempted with a laugh.
“Uh-uh. I’ll pay for myself, thank you.”
“But I insist--”
“Absolutely not.”
They made their way towards the resort. Inside, Nick told the vender, “Two hot chocolates.”
Marie looked like she was about to protest, but she kept her mouth shut in the end.
The vendor delivered their drinks, and Nick carried them over to a table. He and Marie sat down.
She dug through her jacket pocket and retrieved a dollar. She thrust it at him. “Take it.”
“No way.”
“I mean it. I barely know--”
“I can change that.”
Marie laughed quietly and shook her head.
“Next time,” Nick offered.
“You’re not tricking me again then.”
Nick grinned from ear to ear. “Well, we’re going to have to change that we don’t know each other, won’t we? Let’s say two strangers ski all day together and then have dinner, are they strangers anymore?”
“Who says we’re dining together?”
“Who says I was talking about us?” Nick’s big, blue eyes stared across the table at her innocently.
“Okay,” Marie gave in. “I’ll have dinner with you.”
“Are you staying at this resort?”
“Yes, but let’s meet in the dining room around seven.”
“Yes, ma’am. Now are you ready to try skiing again?”
“The keyword here is try.” She laughed. “I might as well.”
“I’m going to have to keep out of your way.”
She hit him playfully. “I might have to run you down on purpose then!”
***************
Kevin stared out at the white snow. The sunlight glinted off of it. It was the kind of day he would have loved to spend with someone special, but that person was with her boyfriend, not him.
Images of Liz filled Kevin’s head. He longed to hold her, but just seeing her would have been enough at the moment.
The front door opened suddenly, waking Kevin from his drowsy thoughts.
Jumping up, he peered to see who’d returned.
Laughing voices carried over to him before he saw them. Yet he recognized the voices without having to see them. It was Brian and Liz. Sure enough, the couple walked into view.
“Feeling better, Kevin?” Brian inquired.
“Yeah,” Kevin replied hurriedly, unable to disguise his guilt. “In fact, I’m actually feeling a little tired. I’ll be in my room.” He hurried down the hall and shut the door behind him.
Ten minutes passed. Kevin was sitting on the edge of his bed, staring out the window again.
Slowly and quietly, the door opened in back of him.
Kevin leapt up and spun around.
To prevent him from crying out, Liz pressed her small hand to his lips. Gently thereafter, she removed her slender fingers.
Silently, Kevin gazed at her with questioning eyes.
“Brian, doesn’t know I’m here,” she whispered.
“It’s not a crime to be seen talking with me,” Kevin replied bitterly.
“Well, what we’re going to talk about is. We need to straighten out what happened between us.”
Just like Liz, he thought, she has to analyze everything that happens.
Out-loud, he said, “What are your feelings on this?”
“You know what I think. I still don’t know how you feel though.”
“You don’t want to know what I feel.”
“Kevin, I do.”
Should he tell her?
Her golden eyes bored into him, searching for some kind of emotion. Any.
Taking a deep breath, Kevin prepared to spill it all. “Gosh, where do I begin?” He pause, his gaze meeting her own. “Liz, I... I love you.”
“Don’t say that!”
“You said you wanted to know what I felt!”
“I did, didn’t I?” She slumped down onto his bed, staring at the ceiling.
“This is so confusing,” Kevin whispered, carefully taking her hand in his own. “All I know for sure is that I want to be with you, but I also know that I can’t. You belong to Brian--”
“I belong to no man. I belong to me,” Liz snapped.
“Sorry, but at all hours of the day I long to hold you and...” How was he saying this?
She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. “Kevin, that’s so sweet. I don’t know what to do. I love Brian, but I also feel something new for you. I don’t know what it is though: a crush... passion... or whatever. All I know is that it’s there, and I can’t fight it.”
Their faces were inches apart, and then their lips had met. Kevin roughly pulled her into his lap, kissing her hardly.
She wrapped her arms around him and returned the kiss.