Chapter Eight -- Make Things Right
One Month Later
*Shannon*
I stared up at Nick. “You want me to what?” I asked incredulously. I couldn’t believe this.
We were sitting on AJ’s deck. He’d invited us over for a cookout. He wanted us to be able to relax before they all left me. But Nick had just dropped a bombshell.
“You heard me. I want you to come on tour with us,” he said, running his thumb around the rim of his glass.
I couldn’t believe this. Wasn’t it bad enough I hadn’t seen Cassie in weeks? He insisted Cassie wasn’t a very good person, and I, stupidly, followed him. “Nick, I can’t just up and leave. I have responsibilities.”
“Come on, Shan. It’s not like you have to go to work. Just quit,” he said with a dismissive wave.
“Nick, I love my job. I love playing music. You know that.”
“So you can write and play on tour. Come on, baby. I don’t wanna have to miss you.” Reaching over, he covered my hand with his. “You know you can’t live without me,” he murmured.
Nodding, I wet my lips and glanced out into the back yard. AJ was at the grill, working on the steaks. We’d brought Nick’s dogs with us, and now all of them were tearing around the back yard, yapping and barking happily. “Do you really want me to go?” I asked softly, turning to face him.
“Of course I do, honey.” Reaching up, he ran his finger over the bruise on my forehead. “It’ll give me time to tell you how much I’m sorry,” he said, leaning close.
“Nick,” I whispered with a glance at AJ. He was eyeing us carefully. I didn’t want him to know what was going on. Over the last month he’d become a pretty good friend, although Nick hated it when we talked alone. He kept telling me that he loved me so much he wanted me all to himself.
“Say you’re going,” he whispered urgently in my ear, his fingers grazing my neck.
“I’ll go,” I whispered.
*AJ*
I watched as Nick and Shannon began to practically make up on my deck. Rolling my eyes, I wondered when D would show up. At least then I’d have somebody to talk to. Shannon hadn’t said more than three words to me. I hadn’t missed the bruise on her forehead. She’d waved her hand dismissively when I’d asked about it, and Nick gave some lame excuse about her falling.
Right. She probably fell when he slapped her. I hated seeing the marks on her--when I saw her. Nick pretty much kept her to himself. What, was he afraid I’d kidnap her or something? Please.
Setting down the fork, I trotted up the steps as Nick got to his feet. “They’ll be done in a few minutes,” I announced, flopping into the seat he’d just vacated. Reaching for my cigarettes, I saw Shannon watching the pack with something akin to desire.
“Cool. I’m gonna go use the bathroom,” Nick said with a shrug. “Baby, you want a drink?”
She nodded. “Sprite,” she murmured, looking at her hands.
The moment the door shut behind him I looked at her. “You okay?” I asked softly.
“He wants me to come on tour,” she said suddenly, sighing as I lit a cigarette.
“Yeah? What about the symphony?” Pushing the pack towards her, I gave her a smile. “Go on, have one.”
“Thank you,” she said, taking the pack gratefully. “I haven’t had one in a while. Nick hates them.”
“Nick hates a lot of things.” She hadn’t answered my question, so I gazed at her over the rims of my shades. “So, are you quitting the symphony?” I asked.
She sighed, exhaling a plume of smoke. Closing her eyes, she leaned back, and almost had a dreamy look on her face. “I guess so.”
Damn him. Why did he have to have her on the tour? But I couldn’t help but be a little pleased she was coming with us. I was selfish. I wanted to be able to spend what little time I could with her.
Smiling slightly, she glanced at the closed door and then looked at me. “Thanks, AJ,” she whispered, getting to her feet.
“For what?” I asked, watching her walk to the steps. Had she lost weight?
She turned to face me, rolling the cigarette between her fingers. “For not asking a million questions. For being so nice to me.” With another glance at the door, she turned and hurried down the steps.
Watching her from my vantage point, I saw her take a final drag off the cigarette before dropping it in the gravel. Then she walked towards where the dogs were. Getting to her knees, she snapped her fingers and immediately all of them lumbered over to her. Hugging the Shih Tzuh close, she smiled, and I couldn’t remember seeing her that relaxed since I’d met her.
I was still watching her when the back door opened. Expecting Nick, I glanced up, but D came out instead. “’Bout damn time, man,” I said, looking back at Shannon. She was sprawled on the ground, and Tank--my amorous bulldog--was licking her face.
“Excuse me for having to pack. Some people don’t just cram whatever into a bag,” he said, looking around. “What’s your dog doing to her?” he asked with a grin.
“You silly mutt! Get off me!” she squealed. Pushing him away, she sat up, laughing.
She was so beautiful when she laughed. Her entire body relaxed, and her eyes widened with joy. I could watch her laugh all day.
Howie was looking at me like I had lobsters crawling out of my ears. “What?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head.
“Howie!”
She sure looked happy to see him. Rolling my eyes, I got to my feet to check on the steaks.
*Shannon*
Disentangling myself from the crowd of dogs, I got up and went to greet Howie. “Hey,” I said with a smile.
“How’s it going, honey?” he asked, giving me a quick hug.
“Pretty good. Did Nick tell you? I’m going on the tour,” I told him with as much enthusiasm as I could muster. Hopefully he wouldn’t note the lack of it.
“Yeah. That’s great. So, you were able to get off work for a while?” he asked, glancing down at the Pug sniffing his foot.
“What?” I asked. Able to get off work?
“Nick said the other day that you’d be coming if you could get off work,” Howie said with a smile.
“Oh. Yeah.” Whatever. I’d learned that Nick pretty much told the guys something, and I found out about it later.
“Shan, baby, where’d you put the potato salad?” Nick called from the door.
“I’ll get it.” Sighing I headed to the house.
*Howie*
I watched her walk away, not missing the way her shoulders sagged as she neared Nick. She’d changed in the past month. She wore her hair differently--when we’d met her it had been kind of wavy, now it was straighter, and there were some blonde highlights in it.
Well, maybe she’d wanted a change. It wasn’t very nice, but being Nick Carter’s girlfriend, she had an image to uphold. She had to make him look good. Didn’t she?
“Yo, D, gimme a hand,” AJ called.
Walking over to him, I eyed the steaks and chicken he was grilling. “Looks good,” I observed.
“Yeah. Run into the house and grab me a plate.”
Howie Dorough--son, brother, friend, singer, servant, I thought, heading up the steps. “Alright if the mutts go in?” I asked, opening the door.
“Whatever.”
Good, cuz they’d already gotten into the house. Tripping over one--I couldn’t tell them apart if somebody paid me--I caught myself on the door and walked into the kitchen. Nick and Shannon were by the table, and I rolled my eyes when I saw they were kissing.
“Don’t let me interrupt,” I said, chuckling when they pulled guiltily apart.
Back outside, I held the plate as AJ piled the food on. “Should I worry?” I asked carefully, glancing at the door.
“Bout what?” he asked.
“Them,” I said. “Something’s wrong.”
AJ shrugged. “With Nick, something’s always wrong,” he muttered. Taking the plate from me, he went towards the deck without another word.
Well, damn. What was his problem?
So don’t go away, say what you say
But say that you’ll stay
Forever and a day...in the time of my life
Cuz I need more time, yes I need more time
Just to make things right