Chapter Ten

Maggie could tell Scott was a touchy subject but still wanted to know more about what AJ meant about Kevin. She changed the subject for the benefit of her friend; she knew Nicole would have to spill a story sooner or later. "Do Ma and Pa know you're here yet?"

"Talked to Mom yesterday before the show." Maggie asked why she hadn't called today yet. "I wanted to call you first Mags."

They both smiled at each other when AJ piped in, "Awe, how cute. Can we get a group hug."

Maggie slyly mumbled, "I'll give you a group-" Nicole heard the sentence begin and knew it would be something he shouldn't hear—something racy and perverted. She flashed a wide-eyed look, stopping Maggie from continuing the remark and they both began to laugh.

AJ turned to the two girls. "I'm scared to know what you were about to say." Maggie and Nicole broke out laughing hysterically.

Once the laughter broke down, Maggie continued the discussion of Nicole's family. "Well, since you're in town are you gonna visit?"

"Oh, yeah of course. We're having dinner Wednesday night. You're invited of course. It's only fitting." Nicole brought her hand up to her mouth so as to hide her next comment, but proceeded by talking in a loud whisper so AJ could hear. "I'd hate to leave you with a bunch of Backstreet Boys alone anyway."

Maggie tried to stifle her laugh. "You make it sound like that's a bad thing."

"Oh, it is. You haven't seen these boy's hygiene." The two friends broke out laughing again.

AJ felt he needed to add to the conversation. "If you're going to dinner, is Jes working Wednesday night?"

"Yeah, who else would?" Nicole responded.

Maggie was somewhat concerned, "What about the show?"

AJ agreed, "Yeah, what about the show. You're not gonna come?" Maggie's face dropped because of how much she was looking forward to seeing them perform.

Nicole sensed Maggie's disappointment, then AJ's. She turned to AJ placing her hand on his extended arm that was rested on the steering wheel. "Dear, you're here for like four days, three concerts and a hell of a lot of hotel time. It's not like I won't see you." She turned to Maggie, "Three concerts. We’re only missing one."

This seemed to calm Maggie, but AJ still seemed bothered. "You know Kristin's coming on Wednesday." Nicole gave a "Yeah and I care because?" look as she shrugged. "Who am I gonna make fun of her to? Kevin will kick my ass if I say a word."

Nicole began to laugh. "Try the other guys who don't like her, I do believe there are four others who hate her, including Jes." Maggie questioned about Kristin and Nicole filled her in on the basics about her and Kevin being together, but didn't leave a single detail out when discussing the confrontations she shared with the girlfriend.

"So do you not like because she's a bitch, or because she's Kevin's bitch?" The other two broke out laughing and AJ responded, explaining that she would have to wait to meet Kristin and wouldn't need a real reason to not like her.

"What are you gals gonna do tonight then? Some sight seeing perhaps?"

Maggie responded, "I live here. I know the sights."

"Yeah, I think me and Mags are just gonna catch up." Nicole turned and gave her friend a smile.

"No entertainment?"

Nicole answered trying not to laugh, "Well, besides the strip show later tonight? No." Maggie began to laugh, causing Nicole to laugh.

AJ decided to get back to the family question. "Are you gonna bring your parents around?"

"Are you kidding me? No, no how, no way."

Maggie defended AJ's question. "Oh come on Nickie, they'd love your parents."

She first shot an angered look at her friend for using the nickname she hated. Then, through clenched teeth, she spoke. "No."

"Come on Nicole, I wanna see the kind of people who pity you." Nicole motioned towards Maggie and said, there you go. "No, I mean like really put up with you. For your whole life."

Maggie chimed in, "Then you would want to meet Jason." She laughed at her friend's evil look. AJ asked why and Maggie continued, "He would have fun with you guys."

Nicole's look got more aggressive as she gritted her teeth again and said, "Maggie," begging her friend to stop talking.

"Who's Jason?"

"Her brother, older brother. Real older brother."

"It's like two years." Nicole finisher her thought without speaking, "You make it sound like a decade."

"That's cool, what like 27, 28?" Maggie laughed at the thought that Nicole's brother was 28, making them 26. "What? What's so funny."

Maggie continued, "AJ, do you know your math?" He nodded his head in response. "Well, dear, two plus 22 is only 24." She continued to snicker at AJ. He was in disbelief. Nicole had never told them how old she was.

She shrugged oddly, feeling weird in that particular moment. "What? No one ever asked."

"Like it was never brought up?" he asked with his voice sharp.

"No. No one ever asked. Like there's an issue with age?" She felt he was beginning to dismiss her ability to do the job, being four-five years younger than he had believed.

"No, you just seemed much more mature than that." He sat thinking then asked another question.

"Did you graduate college?"

Both girls laughed but Nicole answered. "Yeah, last year."

"How'd you get this job at such a young age?"

"Four things. Connections, connections, keeping my mouth shut and connections." He looked confused so Nicole explained how she had already known Jessica from a previous job. She then went into detail about the interview process. "There were about four other girls. Jessica told me later I was the only one to not mention your names." Nicole chuckled to herself. "I kept saying how I could help Jessica do her job, in turn helping you guys, but I never, never, said your names." AJ looked in disbelief. "Yeah, I still don't know how I didn't do it. She said they didn't want fans."

AJ spoke trying not to smile too hard. "So that's why you hide it?"

Nicole didn’t understand, "Hide what?"

"You're obsession."

"My obsession with what?" Maggie continued to watch the discussion as a spectator but was beginning to see where it was headed.

"Kevin." Nicole couldn't believe what he had just said. He looked over and saw her face, then smiled, patting his hand on her knee. "Sorry dear. Ok, not an obsession. Your longing passion for that 'fine piece of male specimen ass.'" AJ said the last part of his sentence in a slightly feminine voice.

Nicole gave him the evil eye. "You're stealing my lines."

He chuckled and she couldn't help joining him.