Chapter 70

The guys walked off the tour bus to find their girlfriends waiting for them. Kevin just stood there with his luggage in his hand as he watched the guys hug and kiss their girlfriends.

Then he walked up to Howie and Lauren.

"Kevin," Lauren said.

"Lauren," Kevin said as he shook his head.

"Okay, let's go," Howie said.

Everyone said good bye and then climbed into their vehicles. Kevin followed Lauren and Howie and got into their car with them.

"So where am I taking you?" Howie asked.

"The airport," Kevin replied.

"Going to New York?" Lauren questioned.

"I'm going to Rick's," he said.

"If you find her, you tell her that we all love her and miss her," Lauren said.

'I will," he said.

The rest of the car ride was silent.

Then Howie stopped the car to let Kevin out.

"Thanks D," Kevin said.

"No problem. And good luck," Howie said.

"Thanks," Kevin said as he got out. 'I'm going to need it,' he thought.

Kevin bought his ticket and then went to get something to eat. He bought himself a cup of coffee and a bagel for his breakfast.

New York

I sat down at the table with a bottle of water.

"Hey girl," Char said as she sat down across from me.

"Hey," I said.

"So you're finally taking your break?" she asked.

"Yeah, I was going to die if I didn't," I said. "They've got me running around everywhere."

"I know. I've seen you," she said.

"Hello," Rick said as he sat next to Char.

"Hi Rick. What are you doing here?" I asked surprised.

"Just came to visit," he said.

"Oh," I said, knowing there was some reason he came to visit me, he never just dropped by.

"I'd like you to meet my friend, Char. And this is Rick."

"Hi nice to meet you," Rick said.

"You too," Char said as she stared at Rick.

"So what do you have planned for tonight?" Rick asked me.

"Nothing. Why?" I asked.

Rick just stared at me like I was crazy or something.

"What's tonight?" asked Char.

"Her birthday," he said.

"Oh yeah," I replied like I had forgotten.

"It is? Happy Birthday," Char said.

"Thanks," I said.

"Well if you're not doing anything then I'm taking you out to dinner," Rick said.

"You don't have to," I said.

"I know I don't, but I'm going to," he said.

"I don't know if I really feel like going out," I said.

"You're not going to argue with me Janel. I want you to be at my house at 6:30," he said.

"All right," I said. I didn't really feel like arguing with him, and a night out sounded kind of nice.

"Good," he said as he stood up and kissed the top of my head. "Bye."

"Bye," I said.

"Nice meeting you," he said as he waved good bye to Char.

"Same here," Char said as she watched him leave.

Then she turned to me. "You and him are just friends or what?"

"Yeah, we're just friends," I said.

"So he's not the father?" she asked.

"Um. . .no. That's another story," I said.

"Oh," she said. "So you two aren't going out?"

"Nope, just friends," I said.

"Oh," she said.

"Why? Do you like him?" I asked.

Char smiled. "He's pretty hot."

I laughed. "Yeah, he is. He's also a great guy."

"Really? Because those good guys are very hard to find," she said.

"Yeah, I know," I said.

"So if he's a great guy then that means he has a girlfriend," she said.

"Actually no, he doesn't," I said.

"Really? Why not?" she asked.

"I don't know, he just doesn't go out on dates a lot or looking for that matter. But I could fix that," I said as I smiled at her.

"Would you?" she asked excitedly.

"Yeah, why not. I'm sure Rick would love to go out with you," I said.

"Thank you so much. Let me know what he says," she said as she stood up.

"Sure thing," I said.

I finished my water and then went back to work.

Kevin walked off the plane and grabbed his bag. Then he got a cab and checked into a hotel.

Kevin walked into his room and threw his bag on the floor. He sat down on the bed and turned the t.v. on. Then he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.

He opened it up and read the information on it. It was Rick's address and phone number. Then he placed it back into his pocket. He decided that he would go over there later, since he didn't know when Rick got off of work. Until then he was going to watch the basketball game that was on.

"Bye Char," I said on my way out.

"Bye, see you tomorrow! And Happy Birthday!" she said as she waved to me.

"Thanks," I said.

I walked out to my car and drove home. Once I got home it was 5:45 p.m., so I decided to get ready.

Kevin looked at the clock. It was 6 o'clock. He figured that Rick was home all ready, so he called a cab and then walked downstairs. He got into the cab and gave the driver the directions. Then they drove off.

Rick pulled into his driveway and quickly got out. He went in and set his briefcase on his couch. Then he went upstairs to change.

Kevin paid the cab driver and then got out. He walked up to the door and stood there. He wanted to knock or ring the door bell, but he was afraid of what he might find. And he didn't know if he could handle it. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then he rang the doorbell.