Chapter 15

While driving to the club, a tear began to roll down my cheek. When we reached a stop light Kevin took his hand and wiped away my single tear.

"What's wrong, Pumpkin?" Kevin asked. "You know you can tell me anything," he said, reassuringly.

I turned to look at him and said, "Nothing is wrong. I'm just so happy to be with you again. I was so afraid that you wouldn't talk to me."

"You were afraid that I wouldn't talk to you, why?" he asked.

"Because of the way I left and never telling you about. . .well, you know," I said.

"I'll admit that I was mad that you left without telling me. But what made me mad the most was what Jerry had done to you," he said.

"I'm sorry Kev. It's just that. . .well, can we talk about this later? I just want to have fun tonight with my best friend in the world," I said, looking at him while he was driving.

"Sure. No prob. Bob," he said.

I giggled at his remark. Then I realized that I finally felt completely safe and relaxed around someone. He was everything to me. I don't know how I lived without him for so long.

"Oh, and Kevin. I want to thank you for Back To Your Heart. It's the most beautiful song I've ever heard. The day your CD came out I bought it and read the thank you notes. When I read that you dedicated Back To Your Heart to me, I was in tears. And then during the concert I was a mess. I was bawling throughout the entire song and the people around me were looking at me funny. They must have thought I was crazy or something," I said.

"I'm glad that you liked the song. There was this tune in my head that I had been wanting to sit down and write. So I sat down at the piano and began to play and then the words just came so easily with the song," Kevin said as he pulled into the parking lot.

I smiled at him and then unbuckled myself. I pulled down the mirror and fixed my hair and make-up.

"Don't worry you look beautiful. And besides that, other guys don't need to be looking at you. I noticed that little skirt of yours and that tight little shirt," Kevin said, playfully.

"Oh, so you don't like what I'm wearing?" I asked, pretending to be hurt.

"Oh, no. I like what you're wearing, but the guys better stay away because tonight your my date," Kevin said.

"Yes, sir," I said while saluting Kevin.

"Come on, let's go," Kevin said as we got out of the truck.

A.J. came up to us and asked, "So are you ready to hang out with the sexiest man alive?"

"Oh, yes. I can hardly wait to be with Kevin," I said, answering him.

All the guys began to laugh.

"How could you do that to me? I feel so rejected," A.J. said, pretending to be hurt.

"Oh, come here baby," I said to A.J..

Then I gave him a big hug and kiss on the cheek. A.J. must have made a face or something while I was hugging him because the next thing I heard was Kevin.

"Bone, don't you even think it," Kevin said.

"Yeah, Bone. Train here is very protective with her. So you better listen to him," Brian said as I let go of A.J..

"Why? What did A.J. do?" I asked.

"Oh, nothing. A.J. was just being his usual horny self," Nick said.

"Sure," I said as we walked in. "I don't even want to know."

"Trust me Janel, not even me and the guys want to know what goes on in his head. But unfortunately we do," Howie said.

"So when are your friends getting here?" asked Brian.

"They should be here in about 15 minutes or less. Stacey's probably driving like a mad woman, and Lauren's probably telling her to go faster. Let's just sit down until they get here, so that way they can meet all of you," I said.

The guys agreed and we sat down in a booth. I was in the middle with Brian on one side and Kevin on the other. I talked to the other guys like I had known them all my life. Then the girls finally arrived.

"Uh, excuse us. Would you be Janel Evans?" asked Lauren.

"Hi, guys! What took you so long?" I asked while smiling.

"Okay. What have you down with Janel?" Stacey asked, jokingly.

"Yeah the Janel we know wouldn't be with five gorgeous guys and enjoying herself," Lauren said.

"What? I'm the same Janel," I said, happily.

"Yeah, just a slight bit happier," Lauren said.

"Oh, so what? I'm not allowed to be happy?" I questioned.

"Hey Pumpkin! I hate to interrupt this friendly little argument, but aren't you going to properly introduce us. Howie and A.J. are beginning to drool," Kevin said while laughing.

Howie, A.J., Lauren, and Stacey began to blush.

"Oh, sorry. Guys this is Lauren and Stacey my best friends," I said.

Lauren and Stacey both said hi. Then I introduced the guys, even though they already knew who they were.

"On the right there's A.J. and this is Kevin and. . .," I tried to continue, but they interrupted me.

"Oh my god! This is The Kevin!" Lauren exclaimed.

"Wow! We are actually lucky enough to meet The Kevin!" Stacey said while laughing.

"Shut up, you morons!" I said while blushing.

"She only talks about you everyday," Stacey said.

"Any ways, as I was saying. To my left this is Brian, and yes The Brian. Moving on there's Nick and Howie," I said.

They all said hi, while the girls remained standing.

Then both Howie and A.J. yelled, "Ow!"

Kevin had kicked A.J. and Nick kicked Howie. They stared at them and then at the girls, signaling them to ask the girls to sit down.

"Oh, sorry. Lauren would you like to sit down next to me?" Howie asked.

"I'd love to Howie," Lauren said as she sat down next to him.

"Stacey would you like to sit next to me?" A.J. asked.

"I guess so. Since there's no where else to sit and Janel's keeping Kevin to herself," Stacey said as she sat next to him.

"Okay, that's it. I'm leaving. Everyone seems to love Kevin tonight," A.J. said.

"I know! I'm just so damn sexy!" Kevin said while laughing.

"No A.J., don't leave. I'm just joking. Nothing turns me on more than a guy with a different hair color each week. Now that's a real man!" Stacey said while laughing.

We all continued to laugh at A.J..

"Okay. Let's get out on the dance floor. I spot a pretty lady waiting for me," Nick said, anxiously.

"Hey Frack, calm down. You have a girlfriend, so behave," Kevin said. "And that goes for you too, Frick."

"Us misbehave? Never," Nick said, innocently.

"What are you talking about Train? I think you and Janel need to behave tonight," Brian said while laughing.

Then he turned to me and said, "Oh behave!" in an Austin Powers accent.

"Let's just go have fun!" I said while laughing at Brian. "Um, excuse me. Do you two think you could pry yourself from A.J. and Howie for a sec? We'd like to get out of this booth," I said, smiling at the two couples.

"Oh, sure. Come on A.J. let's dance," Stacey said as she grabbed A.J. and headed to the dance floor.

We all got out on the dance floor and separated into our couples. Nick asked that girl he was staring at to dance and some girl asked Brian to dance. After that I didn't notice anything else around me, except for Kevin. It felt like old times being with him. Then a slow song came on and our arms immediately went around one another.

We never once said a word, we just started into each other's eyes. I stared deep into his green eyes remembering what it was like to be held by him. After the song was over, we noticed that everyone was sitting at the booth watching us. We both blushed. Then he grabbed my hand and we walked over to the booth.

"Hey, you guys. Glad you could join us," Howie said.

Me and Kevin just looked at each other and smiled.

"You want to get some drinks?" asked Kevin.

"We'll get them," Stacey and Lauren said.

"Are you sure? I can get the drinks," Kevin offered.

"Nope, that's okay. We've got them, right Janel?" Stacey said.

"Sure," I said, knowing that they wanted to talk to me.

"So what's everyone want to drink? I know Nick will be having a Coke and so will I," I said.

"I'll take a beer," Kevin said.

I flinched as I heard Kevin's order. He noticed and then he changed his order to a coke. The girls took the rest of the guys orders and then we headed over to the bar.

"So what's gong on between you and Kevin?" asked Stacey.

"I knew that was why you two volunteered to get the drinks. You just wanted to find out the scoop," I said.

"Of course," Lauren said.

"Nothing is going on between us. We're just friends," I said, trying to convince them.

"My butt you're just friends!" Stacey exclaimed.

"I don't know what we are, but right now we're just friends," I said, ending the conversation.

I wasn't sure what we were and I still needed time to think about it. I wasn't even sure what Kevin felt for me.

"Hey Janel! That big guy over there is totally checking you out. He's been checking you out since you got onto the dance floor," Lauren said.

"Oh, really. I haven't noticed," I said.

"Oh yeah, and he's headed this way," Stacey said.

"Maybe if I just turn around and ignore him, then he won't say anything to me," I said as we turned towards the bartender.

"Hey baby doll!" the guy said.

I pretended not to hear him and kept looking towards the bartender. Then he put his arm around my shoulder.

"Dude! That guy is hitting on Janel!" Nick exclaimed.

"What? Let me out of the booth," Kevin said, angrily.

"No man. You can't just go and rip that guys head off," A.J. said trying not to move, while Kevin was trying to push him out.

"Cuz, it's okay. Janel can take care of herself. Just give her a few minutes and then if he doesn't leave, you can go over there," Brian said, reasoning with Kevin.

I quickly turned around so his arm hit the counter.

"Oh, I'm sorry. You startled me. Are you okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he said. "So I've been watching you all night long, that sexy little body of yours. How about me and you dance, babe?" he suggested while grabbing ahold of my hand, getting ready to lead me onto the dance floor.

"Sorry, but no. I'm here with someone tonight," I said while pulling away.

"Yep, she's taken tonight," Lauren said, trying to get him to go away.

"Well where is he? He left this sexy woman all by herself," the guy said.

"No we're here, and oh, our drinks our ready," Stacey said as she showed him the drinks.

"Well it was nice talking to you, but I have to go now," I said, pulling my little hand out of his big hand.

"Hey, if you need another dance partner, just ask for Jeff," he said.

"I'll remember that, Jeff," I said while walking away with Lauren and Stacey.

After we got far enough away we started talking about him.

"Whew! That was a close one!" I said, relieved that I didn't have to dance with him.

"Yeah, you might have had to dance with that gigantic guy! He was like three times your size!" Stacey said.

"Yeah! He was tall, but he was also, well husky," Lauren said.

"Yeah, right! Husky's being nice," I said while laughing.

We got back to the table and gave everyone their drinks.

"See, Kev. There was nothing to worry about," Howie said.

"I knew Pumpkin could handle herself," Brian said.

"Oh, were you worried about me? How cute!" I said. "But you should have got up and helped me," I said, jokingly.

"Yeah, that dude was like three times her size. He could have crushed her in like five seconds," Stacey said while laughing.

"Your hand was as big as his palm," Lauren said.

"You held his hand?" Kevin asked, beginning to get jealous.

"No, it was more like he took my hand. I'm so glad we got our drinks or else you would have had to rescue me," I said.

"That's the last time I listen to you idiots," Kevin said, jokingly.

We all sat next to our men and continued to have a good time. We were laughing so hard that we were crying. Then it began to get really late.